Mission statements of 168 United Kingdom universities and colleges were examined to determine to what extent the institutions were making an effort to differentiate themselves in a context of expanding demand for higher education. Analysis focused on institutional status and market position, intentions regarding differentiation, and managerial…

Addresses the issue of educational rights and entitlements and theories of liberalism in education. Describes Pierre Bourdieu's logic of practice and Sheldon Wolin's political insights, discussing ways in which 'the box of liberalism' both advances and constrains educational concerns. (Contains 12 references.) (NB)

Explores how the increasing number of potential college students, particularly minorities, presents a two-fold challenge: how to afford and allocate resources so that all who want a college education get one, and how to provide enough college-level human capital to meet the needs of individuals and employers in our new knowledge economy. (EV)

The purpose of this article is fourfold: first, to report on a university-wide survey assessing demand among bilingual undergraduates for foreign language study in a management university in Singapore; second, to determine those factors influencing students' foreign language choice and also those influencing decisions not to pursue foreign…

Many proponents of school choice use the claim of the market's capability to enhance efficiency and improve performance to call for its expansion. But no markets are perfectly competitive, and the local market for public goods is filled with institutional arrangements that make it differ from the neoclassical ideal. In this paper, we look at a…

As the demand for education rises, and with the increasing availability and sophistication of the means of delivery, open education and e-learning is being seen as a way to rapidly increase student numbers. This paper explores some realities of providing traditional open education and e-learning in an international environment and examines the…

Interest in prior learning recognition among Canadian adults is estimated on the basis of a large-scale national survey and illustrated by an account of the development of a prior learning assessment centre and the individual experiences of participants. Both the common principles and the distinctive activities that characterise the prior learning…

One of the salient concerns in contemporary higher education internationally is access, which is rapidly expanding. Another salient trend is the rapid expansion of private higher education. These two salient tendencies have not been treated in scholarship as heavily intertwined. Much of the reason is that many people associate "private"…

Addressing the many complex issues associated with culture, race, and diversity is tough under any circumstances. But such issues become even more complex in school settings where large numbers of students speak different languages and reflect diverse ethnicities and socioeconomic statuses. In this article, the author describes how the faculty…

In the summer of 1995, 371 establishments in Bedford County, Pennsylvania, were surveyed regarding their opinions of the quality of the local work force. The purpose of the study was to provide evaluation data for planning and curriculum development at the secondary and post-secondary school levels. Forty-three percent of the employers responded.…

Using findings of exemplary precedents in other countries for what another country hopes to emulate or avoid is a common practice in policy discourse. This paper argues that recent British moves toward greater choice and diversity in secondary education should neither be prematurely judged as successful within their own context nor applied…

Although the World Conference on Education for All, held in March 1990 in Jomtien, Thailand, fostered international consensus on educational goals and raised expectations, obstacles to successful achievement of education for all (EFA) must be identified. This paper describes the five most important obstacles--political factors, economic/financial…

This report, one of a series of country studies on higher education and employment, particularly in continuing professional education, looks at recent developments in Japan. The first of five sections defines the scope of continuing professional education in the context of Japanese economy and society, and sets forth a theoretical framework for…

A study that was part of a larger research project about vocational teacher education used institutional, state, and national statistics and studies to provide an overview of vocational teacher education. Included were enrollment data about vocational teacher education in subject-specific program areas traditionally identified with vocational…

The significant progress made in the United States' foreign language education system in recent decades is not enough. If the current system is to expand adult foreign language competency and use, both a change of perspective and a new organizational superstructure are necessary to serve those needs more directly, which in turn demands a…