This document details the sources and distribution of financing of vocational education and training (VET) in Italy. Part 1 presents basic information on the political, economic, legislative, and administrative contexts of financing VET. Part 2 describes the sources and distribution mechanisms of funds for the following forms of initial vocational…

Presents a World Bank policy paper on vocational and technical education and training. Reviews the performance of vocational and technical education in both developed and developing nations. Provides four recommendations for donors who might wish to assist countries in meeting skill needs. (CFR)

This paper reviews Iceland's performance in skills accumulation against the backdrop of a rapidly changing economic environment and discusses directions for further improvements. Since the late 1990s, the government has considerably raised expenditure on education, which is now among the highest in the OECD relative to GDP. Nonetheless, Iceland…

This advisory report presents 18 recommendations for cost sharing, cooperation among institutions, and meeting future demands for higher education in Ontario. A framework for public policy is offered which stresses the themes of excellence, accessibility, and responsibility and urges differentiation in strengths among colleges and universities, a…

Enhanced autonomy of sub-national governments has spurred innovative management. Spending assignments across levels of government, however, often overlap and/or are not yet fully understood by most citizens. Sub-national governments' accountability is further reduced by the heavy reliance on federal transfers, as opposed to own-revenues (taxes and…

This document, prepared by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, presents six policy recommendations and implementation strategies to state and higher education leaders. This agenda for the 21st century is suggested to help higher education serve the needs of a multicultural society in a global and technologically oriented…

Extensive data tables on higher education in Missouri present information on: the academic preparation of college freshmen (fall 1996), including distribution of American College Testing (ACT) scores and high school rankings; tuition, fees, and financial aid (state and federal, by aid type, including merit-based scholarships) and trends;…

This policy paper is part of the plan for achieving universal literacy in New York State. It acknowledges accomplishments in creating a statewide network of public and private providers, in public financing, and in the public recognition of literacy's importance; it then examines what must be done to further meet literacy needs. The proposed…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) examined private-sector workforce training practices for information technology (IT) and non-IT professionals. Data were collected from the following sources: a literature review; discussions with academic and professional authorities; interviews with executives and managers at leading companies regarding their…

This document contains seven papers examining the implications of proposed major reforms to the United Kingdom's post-16 sector. "The New Learning Market--Overview" (Caroline Mager) argues for balancing market-driven and planning-driven approaches to planning post-16 education. "Education and Training as a Learning Market"…

This booklet, which is intended for organizations making the transition to individual training accounts (ITAs) under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), explains how educational and training institutions can make vouchers work for them. After a brief overview of the WIA's main provisions regarding ITAs and the future of voucher programs, the…

The return on investment (ROI) obtained by enterprises that invest in training was examined through case studies of seven Australian work organizations. The case study organizations included a government-owned transportation company, a privately owned company, a major nongovernmental charitable organization, a publicly listed corporation, and two…

To help families leave public assistance and escape poverty, the public sector must invest in career advancement strategies that enable parents to access jobs with family-supporting wages, benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Welfare time limits have made career advancement more important than ever. The following services promote…

The effects that recent changes in Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system over the past decade have had on VET practitioners were examined. Interviews were conducted with 28 VET teachers working at a variety of sites across Australia, including technical and further education, adult and community education, private colleges,…

The increasing emphasis on entrepreneurship and self-employment training in vocational education and training (VET) worldwide was examined. Special attention was paid to the following themes: (1) the content and various concepts of entrepreneurship, including the distinction between external and internal entrepreneurship; (2) trends in…