The purpose of this article is to galvanize institutions toward a movement to value teaching excellence in higher education. Colleges and universities that demonstrate this value are Teaching Excellence Colleges and Universities (TECUs), but they have never acted as a group. Many of these institutions lack power in the higher education landscape.…

This report focuses on systems thinking and its place in education transformation. It reflects on key published literature and on specific outputs from the Education Development Trust's own programme of research. The report offers an overview of the evolution of systems thinking and the relevance for policymakers and practitioners as they tackle…

Six studies of formal interorganization collaborative partnerships are synthesized. The types of outcomes associated with collaboration and organizational characteristics and processes deemed essential for continuity are identified. (Author/MT)

Scottish teacher education was located in specialist institutions (monotechnics) until quite recently, but is now almost fully integrated into the universities. This change was related to government policies that promoted institutional collaboration, financial and other pressures that made merger with a university attractive to colleges of…

State-endorsed education service agency (ESA) type organizations are found in 26 state school systems, 23 of which have a complete statewide network serving all local districts. These organizations promote collaboration among local school districts in substate regions or serve as a conduit for implementation of state initiatives. This report…

This paper reports on a study of the sources and characteristics of facilitation of internal change in schools successful in the implementation of the League of Professional School's core premises of shared governance, schoolwide educational/instructional focus, and action research. First, an assessment is presented of an analysis of all League…

Denmark has a long tradition of adult learning with roots that go back to the 19th century folk high school movement. Since the late 1950s, an independent adult vocational education and training (VET) system has developed. In the last decades, attempts have been made to link adult VET systems with adult liberal education. More recently,…

Taiwan is facing these three challenges: cultivating a world-class work force, preventing shortages of industry-related workers, and increasing industrial competitiveness. To meet them, technological and vocational education (TVE) needs to integrate the curricula among the technical arts programs in junior high schools, senior vocational high…

Discusses common themes in the limited research on Appalachian institutions of higher education: interinstitutional links and links between institutions and the broader community. Reviews trends that offer research opportunities (the impact of K-12 reforms on higher education, effects of information technology on higher education, student…

Addresses the need to integrate services in rural areas and provides guidelines to help practitioners move toward systemic change that facilitates service integration. Presents case studies of three sites in the Pacific Northwest that are utilizing community and school-level service integration to expand service delivery to rural families. (LP)

Researchers and policymakers have pointed to the lagging scores of eighth graders on international, national, and state assessments as evidence that students are not prepared to meet high academic standards and that middle grades reform is needed. In response to these concerns, educators have introduced reforms designed to provide middle-level…

The California Academic Partnership Program (called CAPP-Eisenhower in recognition of the act of Congress that funded the program) was established in 1983 to facilitate collaboration between secondary and postsecondary institutions. This volume, the program's final product, offers 16 papers in 3 sections, providing, respectively, highlights of the…

Educational partnerships, i.e., partnerships between high schools and businesses, are a promising way of working together that is both old and new. The following features characterize collaborative partnerships: shared goals; mutual respect and trust; cooperative effort; shared power; contribution of varying talents, perspectives, and resources…

This report focuses on the role Southern philanthropy can play in addressing racism, poverty, and inequality by supporting education and workforce improvement. "Framing the Conversation" takes input from George Autry (MDC), William Bynum (Enterprise Corporation of the Delta), Lynn Walker Huntley (Southern Education Foundation), and…

Students with special needs living in rural areas face a difficult challenge as they prepare for employment and adult life. Access to vocational education in rural areas may be limited by isolation, problems in teacher recruitment and retention, curriculum and instructional deficiencies, and weak financial support. In addition, program relevance…