Seven years ago, SC Johnson--A Family Company approached Gateway Technical College with a need to further strengthen their incumbent workforce's technical training and education. Retirements, brain drain, and competition for technical expertise were the forces driving SC Johnson to develop a comprehensive, flexible, and timely workplace education…

External communities of practice are groups formed by company clients and employees based on common interests, commitment, mutual trust and collaboration whose members regularly share knowledge and learning. This paper examines how external communities of practice contribute to the creation of relational capital through an empirical investigation…

The analytical approaches used to develop and evaluate policies at the water-use planning sites are intended to provide insight to decisionmakers and to help stakeholders structure their thinking and deliberations. These objectives are fundamentally different from those of evaluation approaches favored by many economists, which seek to provide a…

In Vietnam, agricultural extension has contributed to rural development and poverty alleviation over the past two decades of agricultural decollectivization, but it was not very effective in reducing disparities within farmer communities. The study examined how better interactions of extension services with other agencies and information sources…

Making effective financial decisions and knowing how to manage money are skills critical to enjoying a secure financial future. Yet many individuals and families lack the knowledge necessary to make sound financial choices, as evidenced by falling savings rates, mounting consumer debt, and a growing dependence on alternative banking institutions.…

For the past two years, accredited learning has been made accessible to over 40 voluntary and community organisations through a sub-regional partnership of the Central London Learning and Skills Council, six London boroughs, representatives from further and higher education, and the authors' organisation--the London Open College Network (LOCN).…

Background: Quality of life is a popular measure of outcomes and its widespread use has led to recent calls for a better understanding of the construct, emphasizing the need to build a substantial body of knowledge around what determines perceptions of life quality. Three widely reported and used conceptual principles are examined in this study.…

This account of practice is about starting action learning set meetings. It focuses on a process sometimes known as the "check-in". The paper is based upon the experience of one of the authors (Mark). It raises questions about the contribution of the check-in to an action learning set meeting and whether the checking-in process has a…

This is an account of one particular set meeting during a year long programme for social entrepreneurs. It triggered a number of questions and insights for me about the amazing value of honesty, and its power. It released a great deal of energy, ownership and "control". I realized how important it was to highlight, discuss and reflect on…

The colleges in the Illinois Community College System submit detailed credit student records twice during each fiscal year. This year's report is based on fiscal year 2005 enrollments and completions. Comparative information is supplied from four previous fiscal years (2001-2004). Detailed tables comparing fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2005…

Economic and demographic changes are dramatically increasing the need for adult education, basic literacy, and English-as-a-Second Language (ESL) programs. Millions of Illinois residents lack the level of literacy skills needed to obtain good jobs, perform well on the job, and function well in an increasingly complex society. Addressing the scope…

Historically, religion and spirituality have been major influences in the social, cultural, and political lives of African Americans. Spirituality is deeply embedded into their rich cultural heritage, and it is intertwined into all aspects of their life, including beliefs about health and illness. For African Americans, health and illness are a…

Since the events of September 11, 2001, Islamic institutions of learning have received much attention. Indonesia's "pesantren" (Islamic boarding schools) have been increasingly described as fostering radicalism and violent militancy, particularly in light of purported links between a few of the country's "pesantren" and some of…

Increased policy emphasis on lifelong learning at the European level has been reflected in a drive to increase participation in learning in the UK, especially through Adult and Community Learning initiatives that take HRD beyond the workplace. Such an approach is important for promoting social inclusion since the unemployed are usually excluded…

A research industry is growing fast around the aim of improving teaching and learning for adults. Millions of pounds of public money are being spent on the inspection of adult learning in colleges and adult and community education, and on development projects run by the Learning and Skills Development Agency and the National Institute of Adult and…