The article starts with the serious question of why educational reforms do not lead to better learning. Although access to education has increased remarkably, the quality of education can be very low. The reality is that by 2030 there will be 800 million young people who do not have basic skills in reading and math. The answers will be sought from…

Higher education in Louisiana faces the consequences of a decade of disinvestment, radically reducing state support for colleges and universities and disproportionately shifting the funding burden to students and their parents. The consequences of this defunding hobbled the public institutions for a generation, just as excessive student debt…

Creating a fertile space for debate and ideas in order to drive innovation in learning and skills is integral to LSN's (Learning and Skills Network's) mission. To achieve this LSN has pioneered a new approach to making learning work from classroom to boardroom--and created the Centre for Innovation in Learning. This new, independent think tank…

In 2000, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) launched the programme "Learning Regions--Providing Support for Networks'" in cooperation with the Lander. It was co-financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). Some 90 regions were selected and financially supported. After one year, 71 regions continued to build-up…

The European Community must develop policies regarding a number of challenges: free circulation of people across borders, disadvantaged regions, economic restructuring, access to vocational education, and cooperation with Eastern Europe. (SK)

A study of nonformal education providers in Ghana, Senegal, and Burkina Faso identified government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and for-profit organizations. Decentralization has increased nonformal education. Most projects involve multiple providers with various actors playing different roles. The lack of process-oriented projects…

Reviews adult education legislation in Norway during three time intervals (1935-1963, 1964-1975, and 1976 to the present) to trace the evolution of legal responsibility away from localized adult education activities toward a comprehensive act oriented toward lifelong learning. (EM)

This volume discusses the Airlie House Lifelong Learning Leaders Retreat and also contains the texts of papers presented during the retreat. Included in the first section of the volume are the following consultants' position papers: "An Opportunity for Cooperation," by Lloyd Davis; "Thoughts on Developing America's Human Resources…

Examining the meaning of lifelong learning within the context of "community" (defined in terms of interests and locality), the author explores many learning resources and opportunities and identifies related research questions. The content of this study is presented in three sections. The first section on the community as a setting for…

Discusses the trend in the United States toward expanding continuing education for adults, describes planning processes at the University of Wisconsin to illustrate policy issues facing all states, and notes difficulties in accomplishing this expansion. Examines nine specific issues and presents differing views of the university role. (MF)

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,…

Describes the formation of local organizations for adult and literacy education created all over Portugal after the end of the fascist regime in 1974, the coordination and certification plan of the Ministry of Education's Division of Continuing Education, and the ensuing legal status of the local "popular" educational associations. (MF)

This booklet, which was produced as a follow-up to the Fifth International Conference on Adult Education, examines the politics and policies of the education of adults in a globally transforming society. After a brief overview of the three-part workshop from which the booklet emerged, the following issues and challenges facing adult education…

This guide is designed to help community members have productive conversations about how schools and communities can work together to meet the challenge of educating youth in today's society. The foreword presents a rationale for community discussions regarding improving education, and the introduction highlights new challenges facing schools. The…

The following papers and workshop presentations are included in these proceedings: "Grandparents and Grandchild" (Goezinne-Zijlmans, Hirsch); "Call for an Open Discussion among the Professional Educators" (Klercq); "Energetic But Marginal--Paradox and Promise" (ter Steege); "Integration of Older People within the…