This document consists of four papers presented at a symposium on core directions in human resource development (HRD) moderated by Verna Willis at the 1996 conference of the Academy of Human Resource Development. "Reengineering the Organizational HRD Function: Two Case Studies" (Neal Chalofsky) reports an action research study in which…

Britain's National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work qualifications that measure what an employee or potential employee can do as well as how much he or she knows and understands about a particular job. Used as written proof of usable workplace skills that can be put to profitable use by an employer, NVQs range from basic Level 1, for…

The research literature on the preparation of young people for work proves that policy recommendations are based on two false premises--academic skills are good substitutes for occupation-specific skills and increases in job turnover and skill obsolescence rates have caused a decline in the return to occupation-specific training by schools.…

The North Carolina Department of Community Colleges (NCDCC) prepared this reference manual as a resource guide for planning and implementing continuing education (CE) courses. The manual includes essential information on courses, rules, resources, and procedures that are appropriate to course implementation and operation of a continuing education…

This report presents the views expressed at the Labor/Higher Education Council's National Meeting, the theme of which was "Education and Work: Redefinitions and New Strategies." Section 1 includes two keynote speeches: "Priorities for Economic Investment in People, Technology, and Public Works" (Ira Magaziner) and "Organized Labor's Stake in the…

U.S. business and government are managing an increasingly heterogeneous work force. Between 1985 and 2000, white females, nonwhites, and immigrants are projected to represent 88 percent of new workers. Approximately 4 million new immigrant workers will join the work force during the next 10 years. Therefore, it is imperative that employers…

This report presents findings of a study of the theoretical and practical methods of access to continuing vocational training. It summarizes six reports that compare the following: the construction sector in Spain, France, Italy, and Luxembourg; the banking, insurance, commerce, and administration sectors in Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and…

This monograph describes the various approaches to vocational training in Ireland. The report was compiled from existing statistics, various studies, and interviews with representatives of all the organizations, colleges, companies, and institutes involved in vocational training. Section 1 provides background information on political structures,…

The extent to which computer-aided drafting and design (CADD) was being used in local businesses in Saginaw, Michigan, was investigated. Focuses of a literature review were types of CADD systems, categories of CADD users, and the symbiotic relationship between industry and education in providing CADD training. The survey questionnaire was…

A study examined the changes that occurred in the program offering mixes and outcomes of Massachusetts' Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and secondary vocational education programs between 1987 and 1993. Most Massachusetts vocational programs experienced sharp declines in numbers of graduates between 1987 and 1991; however, the distribution and…

The Nevada Council on Occupational Education (NCOE) recommends that the following agencies/organizations continue to bear responsibility for third-party (private sector) assessment and monitoring of vocational education and job training programs in Nevada: State Job Training Partnership Coordinating Council, private industry councils, state…

This handbook contains five research papers and extensive reference materials on general immigration, immigrant policy, and related federal and state programs. "Immigration and Immigrant Policy" (Jonathan C. Dunlap) presents an historical overview of U.S. immigration, 1820s-1980s; defines various immigrant statuses and eligibility of each for…

Research conducted by the General Accounting Office (GAO) indicates that the current system of multiple employment training programs requires major overhaul to reduce costs, streamline the bureaucracy, and improve results. The current system of 163 different federal employment training programs wastes resources and confuses and frustrates clients,…

As schools attempt to foster smoother transitions for youth into the workplace, differing realities must be considered. A school-to-work opportunities system cannot be restricted to those occupations meeting an elusive definition of "high wage." Three possible workplace learning opportunities are as follows: the high-skill, high-wage workplace;…

A 1993 study compared trends in the structure of qualifications for occupations related to the installation, management, and maintenance of computer networks in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Staff involved in networks required specialized new skills related to feasibility and design, installation,…