This compilation includes abstracts of 140 research and development studies in agricultural education completed during the period July 1, 1977 to June 30, 1978. Thirty-three of the completed studies represent staff research, fifty-six represent master's theses, and fifty-one represent doctoral dissertations. Studies are arranged alphabetically by…

The education systems that are in place throughout the world were created for a society different from the one that exists now. These outdated educational systems lead to a lack of motivation on the part of teacher and student and stifle new initiatives. Actions to improve this situation include the following: (1) revising the current amount and…

A two-phase study examined the skills required of competent end-users of computers in the workplace and assessed the computing awareness and technological environment of first-year students entering historically disadvantaged technikons in South Africa. First, a DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) panel of nine representatives of local business and…

As exporters of oil in the Middle East and throughout the world, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) must address the following challenges in the area of development and economic growth: (1) an increasingly integrated world economy in which technology and knowledge will be paramount; (2) the need to diversify its economy from a natural resource-based…

Three abstracts and seventy-five acquisitions related to adult literacy are presented. A few of the acquisition entries are in French. The abstracts are of the following: "Directory of Organizations Offering Literacy Training Courses," by the International Institute of Adult Literacy Methods; "Directory of Universities and Institutes Offering…

This document reviews the 10-year history of the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), which is an intergovernmental organization that was created by Commonwealth of Nations heads of government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education knowledge, resources, and technologies. The following are among the topics…

The Fifth International Conference on Adult Education (CONFINTEA) and its "Hamburg Declaration" and "Agenda for the Future" have already had demonstrable impacts in various areas of adult education policy and practice. The following are among the specific areas and activities developed as a result of CONFINTEA: (1) promotion of…

During the past decade, funding mechanisms for universities and technical education institutions and colleges have undergone massive restructuring in developed and developing countries alike. Governmental support has generally decreased, resulting in greater reliance on fee-based education or creation of privately sponsored engineering/technical…

No longer is it possible for individuals to go through their working lives using only the skills and training they acquired during their initial schooling. Instead, they need to continually acquire new skills and re-think their career goals to meet changing job requirements and economic conditions. In order to help adults learn new skills and…

A study examined irregular workers and vocational education and training (VET) centered on laborers in the Korea's manufacturing industry. The study established that, despite the increasing number of irregular workers in Korea, existing VET programs for them fall far short of those for regular workers. Compared with regular workers, irregular…

The status of adult education in Swaziland was examined. Data were collected through a survey of 100 practitioners at 20 institutions that elicited 66 usable responses (response rate, 66%), consultative meetings with leading scholars in adult education inside and outside Swaziland, and a review of pertinent documents and literature. Key findings…

Technological education is more effective than general education in improving social mobility. Remarkable gender disparities currently exist in overall enrollment in secondary and higher education in the Arab states. Encouraging more Arab women to enroll in technological education would lead to higher percentages of women in higher-paying jobs,…

This book contains the following papers on open and distance learning today: "Preface" (Daniel); "Big Bang Theory in Distance Education" (Hawkridge); "Practical Agenda for Theorists of Distance Education" (Perraton); "Trends, Directions and Needs: A View from Developing Countries" (Koul); "American…

A multinational, multidisciplinary team examined the impact of globalization on education, training, and small and medium sized enterprise development in Ghana, Kenya, and South Africa. The study focused on the following issues: developing a learner-led competitiveness approach; building learning enterprises; education for microenterprises and…

Data drawn from 3 cycles of data collection for the International Adult Literacy Survey (IALS) were analyzed to identify the levels and distributions of literacy skills in the adult populations of 20 countries. The following were among the main conclusions: (1) in 14 of the countries, at least 15% of all adults have literacy skills at only the…