This book describes the history, structure and institutions of open and distance education in six countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Germany, the UK and the US. It discusses how open and distance education is evolving in a digital age to reflect the needs and circumstances of national higher education systems in these countries, and explores…

The FE (further education) and and Skills sector will be transformed by the announcements of the Spending Review. The impact will be far more wide-reaching than a simple reduction in the amount of central funding the sector will receive from government. The decisions taken will directly affect issues as diverse as uptake, retention, curricula,…

The discussions and presentations in an international workshop on defining and implementing institutional mission are summarized. Focus was on the primary issues and the roles of leadership and government, using experiences of Canada, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States as illustrations. (MSE)

This case study provides information on the formal and informal technical and vocational education systems operating within the United Kingdom. It is intended to assist policymakers, planners, administrators, and experts in technical and vocational education. Part I provides basic information on the country and its economy with special emphasis on…

The current state of student assessment in higher education in the United Kingdom is examined, particularly in light of the introduction of government-sponsored, standardized national vocational qualifications, marking a new stage of government intervention. A review of current practice finds confusion about what to assess, how to assess it, and…

Examines the "evaluative state" that is, public management-based evaluation systems--in the context of experiences in the United Kingdom and New Zealand, and suggests that further research is needed to examine problems in the evaluative state itself, in how market competition impacts upon it, and how academic oligarchies influence the…

Recent elimination of binary higher education systems in the United Kingdom and Australia have common causes (increased secondary school retention, trend toward government regulation and away from autonomy, academic improvement of polytechnics). However, changes made in the systems are different and will affect educational opportunities, teaching…

This paper explores the range of sources of funding for further education (FE) provision in the United Kingdom through maintained colleges. A description of the pre-1990 procedures, including the resource assumptions of central government funding of further education in the United Kingdom is included. An indication is given of the advice proffered…

This document, which is intended for senior staff at the United Kingdom's further education (FE) colleges, examines the content and possible impact of recent government proposals to change how school sixth forms are funded. The following are among the topics discussed in sections 1-8: (1) reasons underlying the talk about change; (2) existing…

Analyzes government's role in promoting computer use in the United Kingdom educational system from 1980 to 1990. Evaluates the Microelectronics Education Programme (MEP) in initiating policy. Concludes MEP's contribution was ultimately positive. Considers problems of top-down innovation, teacher attitudes and training, and hardware and software…

This collection of essays, which is arranged in four sections, concerns flexibility in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems of Europe. The first section, "Introduction," includes the following chapter: "Shaping Conditions for a Flexible VET" (Nieuwenhuis et al.). The second section, "Institutional and…