Higher level vocational education and training (VET) programmes are facing rapid change and intensifying challenges. What type of training is needed to meet the needs of changing economies? How should the programmes be funded? How should they be linked to academic and university programmes? How can employers and unions be engaged? The country…

"Education at a Glance 2011: Highlights" offers a reader-friendly introduction to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's (OECD's) collection of internationally comparable data on education. As the name suggests, it is derived from "Education at a Glance 2011", the OECD's flagship compendium of education…

Concepts and quantitative tools of economics and sociology are applied to the definition of students' demand for post secondary education for several purposes including an analysis of the characteristics of young adults enrolled in colleges. Studies on the effects of policy instruments used to affect changes in demand are considered. (Author/AM)

A study investigated the impact of a negative income tax and a program of schooling subsidies on the demand for schooling of adult heads of families. Strong effects of the schooling subsidies were found, but net effects of the negative income tax on schooling were not significant. (LRA)

The current discourse about access can be changed by using three adjectives: old, wide, and deep. Regarding the first, since the 1870s, when the professionalization and specialization of knowledge took off in so many fields, inequalities in education have actually increased where it matters most--who knows how much of what is available to be…

The major provider of adult education in Switzerland is the largest supermarket organization, Migros, through its Ecoles-Clubs Migros, subsidized from store sales with course topics selected according to consumer demand. The article describes the organization and operation of the program. (MF)

The task of managers of academic institutions is to provide better services to new constituencies. Five constituencies identified include traditional college-age young people, already well-educated adults, socially and economically mobile adults, employees who seek to update or upgrade their skills, and professionals. (MLW)

A study to determine the effects of free counseling services and a program of subsidies for the direct costs of education and training revealed that the subsidies did induce increased school attendance, and both counseling and training affected labor supply. However, no subsequent effects of increased human capital have been found. (LRA)

Arguments for increased planning for part-time higher education in the United Kingdom are presented, based on the increased demand from the mature population. It is suggested that traditional students should be encouraged to make use of part-time opportunities, and proposals are made for education linked to guaranteed jobs. (JMF)

The Commission on Post-Secondary Education in Ontario was appointed in 1969 to advise the Ministers of Education and of University Affairs. The Commission was asked to consider, in the light of then-current provisions, the pattern necessary to ensure the further effective development of post-secondary education in the Province to 1980, and in…

Although rural education is entering an era of opportunity in terms of both youth and adult needs, the capacity of rural areas to provide needed educational services may be diminished due to rapid economic and social change, particularly in agriculture. Three federal policies operating over the past two decades have created an unfavorable…

This book is designed to give planners of open and distance learning programs the technical information needed to determine the cost of programs and analyze the behavior of costs. The following are among the topics discussed: budgets; classification of resources (human resources, premises and accommodation, and equipment and furniture); a basic…

This "think piece" on ways to increase demand for learning in the United Kingdom is designed to stimulate debate among policy makers and managers in the new learning and skills sector. Section 1, on context, addresses these issues: low skill levels; delivering skills to employers; low adult participation; and negative attitudes. Section…

Further education colleges have been recognized for significant contribution to delivery of the government's agendas of economic competitiveness and social well-being. These two priorities have been identified: widening participation and raising standards. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 has established the Learning and Skills Council to plan and…

The document is an appendix to the final report of an analysis of selected issues in adult education; it comprises an annotated bibliography and a selective bibliography of references consulted in the study. Abstracted are 100 references that mention roles, policies, and/or strategies for Federal involvement in adult education. References directly…