This document consists of four papers presented during a symposium on work force issues moderated by Jan DeJong at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). "Rethinking the Ties that Bind: An Exploratory Study of Employee Development in Utilities in Canada and the United States" (Michael Aherne, David…

This document consists of four papers presented at a symposium on contextual learning issues moderated by John Henschke at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development (AHRD). "Self-Directed Learning in Organizations: An Analysis of Policies and Practices of Seven Resource Companies in Western Canada" (H. K. Morris…

This report describes the current status of families headed by persons under age 30, and compares the economic well-being of the current generation of young families in 1990 with that of young families in the 1970s and 1980s. The report documents falling incomes and growing poverty among young families, factors underlying young families' economic…

A research study identified the work force education and training requirements for communication and information technologies that form the key elements of a human resources development plan at the U.S. Army Aviation Center (USAAVNC), Fort Rucker, Alabama, for the 1990s. Qualitative data were collected from key personnel interviews, discussions by…

Work Keys (occupational tests developed by American College Testing) could support an employer's human resource function in a number of ways: (1) communicating to educators the skill requirements for an employer's particular jobs on a national basis; (2) providing students with a realistic preview of skills needed for jobs and an assessment of…

This report presents detailed tabulations of data on school enrollment of the civilian noninstitutional population in October 1993. It also includes a summary time series of data collected since the beginning of the survey in 1946. Data cover enrollment in "regular school" from nursery school through college and professional schools. Data are…

A study evaluated the use of comparability of vocational training qualifications by both employers and workers in the European Community. The appropriate equivalences (joint description and comparative survey of vocational training qualifications) had been published for 16 of a total of 19 sectors or occupational groups. All Euroadvisers (n=240)…

North Carolina employers were asked to evaluate the skills possessed by graduates of the state's educational institutions. The study also profiled any problems employers had in finding qualified applicants for positions. Baseline data were collected to profile education and training programs provided by employers. A random sample of 2,334…

Representatives of the School-to-Work Roundtable studied education systems and work force training programs in Denmark and Germany. The group visited vocational schools, technical colleges, and firms sponsoring apprentices in Copenhagen and Munich and spoke with students, teachers, and mentors in apprenticeships in metalworking, textiles,…

The convergence of three trends makes service to minority students an imperative for continuing education: (1) increasing proportions of diverse groups in the U.S. population and work force; (2) continuing education and retraining as keys to survival in a workplace of change; and (3) declining college enrollments of diverse populations and…

The six articles in this issue attempt to answer questions that have arisen due to the increase in programs that cross existing or traditional age barriers in literacy education. They draw upon recent and current research and practice both in the United Kingdom and the United States. "Family Literacy: An Intergenerational Approach to…

A key component to Eastern Iowa Community College District's (EICCD) strategic planning process, called "2020 Vision: A Perfect Vision for the Future," was the publication of the report "An Environmental Scan" in 1989, which summarized major trends occurring in the external environment which may impact the community college,…

A basic skills needs assessment developed a picture of the basic skills levels and needs of the construction industry in British Columbia and the Yukon. The three parts of the assessment were interviews with business managers and managers of other programs provided through joint labor/management initiatives, a questionnaire administered to…

In the second half of the 1980s, Kalamazoo Valley Community College (KVCC) in Michigan played a leadership role in three multi-partner coalitions: Education for Employment (EFE); the Southwest Michigan Coalition for Tech Prep (SMCTP); and the Kalamazoo Valley Partners for Quality (KVPQ). In the EFE partnership, KVCC works with the Kalamazoo Valley…

In spring 1992, the Southport Institute for Policy Analysis conducted a study of the role that community colleges play as providers of workplace education (WPE) programs, i.e., programs established for, or in cooperation with, a private sector company to help employees obtain a General Equivalency Degree (GED) or upgrade their basic skills. A…