We provide the first causal evidence of the returns to maternal educational curricula on offspring's health at birth. Educational programs that aim to deliver more general knowledge may potentially improve women's earning potential and maternal prenatal investment by increasing the portability of skills across occupations and improving women's…

The Bologna reform aimed at creating a more transparent system of comparable degrees. Taking a demand-side viewpoint, we discuss two types of employer perception, namely, whether Belgian employers perceive Bologna as successful in facilitating the comparison of degrees and whether they are satisfied with the knowledge and skills of those of their…

This study explores Portuguese academics' acceptance of employability as a purpose for higher education further to the Bologna reforms, focusing on their understandings of employability and their teaching practices. The data were gathered through focus groups in which participated around 70 academics from 3 disciplinary areas, belonging to…

In this collected edition, globalization and its consequences on vocational education systems are described and, at the same time, combined with the question of whether new phenomena of inclusion but also of exclusion are produced. Inclusion and exclusion are differentiations that predominate in all kinds of (vocational education) systems,…

A study examined vocational education in Greece. First, vocational education was placed within the context of Greece's political and administrative structures and economy. The evolution of vocational education in Greece was traced. The structure, objectives, and delivery of general education and initial and further vocational education were…

A study examined vocational education and training in Italy. First, vocational education was placed within the context of Italy's political and administrative structures and economy. Italy's systems of general and vocational education were described, and the legislative aspects were examined. Special attention was paid to funding from various…

Korea's labor market was analyzed to inform efforts to develop a scheme to improve the utilization of vocational qualifications. The study examined the different meanings of qualifications in South Korea's labor market and how utilization of qualifications is influenced by factors such as types of human resource management, vocational training…

Australia's system for helping youths make a successful transition from initial vocational education and training (VET) to working life was assessed through an analysis that focused on the following features that were identified by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) as contributing to successful transitions: learning…

The labor market prospects of out-of-school young adults and options for improving the employment and earnings potential of all young adults were examined. The following issues were among those considered: demographic and social factors affecting young adults' employment prospects; employment trends and labor market problems in the United States…

This document contains 21 papers and an introduction on work force preparation in a global context. The following papers are included: "Introduction" (Johanna Lasonen); "Access of Girls and Women to Vocational Education: Implications for the Workplace in Swaziland" (Comfort B. S. Mndebele); "Intersectoral Approaches to…