Friesland College (FC) in the province of Friesland, the Netherlands, provides students with an array of vocational education, including full-time senior secondary vocational education in 3- or 4-year programs; 2-year programs of full-time short courses; and an apprenticeship system, in which students learn a trade at a company while attending the…

A consensus that unions must develop coherent and comprehensive policies on new work systems and continuous learning in order to guide local activities, was the central theme of this conference on the interrelated issues of the high performance work organization. These proceedings include the following presentations: "Labor's Stake in High…

From the perspectives of both school and industry, this paper outlines the past, present, and future of a partnership between Ivy Tech State College (Columbus, Indiana) and Cummins Engine Company and other local industries formed to provide the southern Indiana area with a highly skilled workforce. First, David Beatty traces on-the-job training at…

This document focuses on investigations of three main issues of "User Choice," which has been applied to New Apprenticeships since 1998. The issues are as follows: (1) why some firms do not access User Choice when arranging training for their trainees and apprentices; (2) whether the size of the firm has a significant impact on User…

A major proposition is that dual training arrangements alone do not necessarily solve quality problems in the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) nor improve VET links to the labor market. An essential strategy for Australia should be to further develop holistic training courses linked to apprenticeship models and embed both into a…

Compares employers' stated needs for entry-level workers possessing better academic skills with their training programs and hiring practices to supposedly meet this need. Discovers a dichotomy between the stated needs and the corrective practice. Most remedial training emphasizes short-term job skills and hiring practices do not reward academic…

Provides a historical overview of the prerevolutionary Russian government's attempts at youth vocational education. Although the people favored these efforts, political opposition often weakened the policy. Entrepreneurial vocational schools and school/business cooperative efforts flourished in this environment. Briefly discusses selected schools…

The challenge of preparing young people for employment and facilitating the smooth transition from school to work has spurred the enactment of the federal School-to-Work Opportunities Act (STWOA), in May 1994. The intent of STWOA is to establish a national framework in which states can create work- and school-based learning systems that include…

In many respects, career education has never been needed more than it is today. The need to keep abreast of technological change and to participate effectively in today's high-performance workplace requires each worker to possess a set of basic competencies and a foundation of skills and personal qualities. The competencies, foundation skills, and…

The Employer Specific Skills Training (ESST) Program strengthens New York State's economy by assisting employers and employees to become more productive and competitive through customized training and education. The program has three goals: (1) to foster cooperative ventures; (2) to use resources of local education agencies to respond to local…

The Pittsburgh Plan, a voluntary hometown plan designed to place minorities in local building trade unions, is described in detail from the perspective of its operations, its effectiveness in carrying out its purpose, and the individuals it serves. A benefit-cost analysis of the Pittsburgh Plan is presented. The significance of the results and its…

This book analyzes vocational education and training (VET) systems in seven advanced industrial countries (AICs) to determine institutional arrangements for skills creation most promising in attaining the learning society. The AICs are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, United Kingdom, United States, and Sweden. Chapter 1 discusses special problems of…

This study estimates the net impacts and private and social benefits and costs of 11 workforce development programs administered in Washington State. Six of the programs serve job-ready adults: Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Title I-B Adult programs, WIA Title I-B Dislocated Worker programs, Community and Technical College Job Preparatory…

The economic upswing in Central and Eastern Europe can be achieved only with a skilled work force. In view of the traditional exemplary reputation of its dual system of vocational training, attention is being directed toward Germany. The dual system differs from that of other countries in that not only the state determines which qualifications may…

This report provides the recommendations of a private sector committee to advise the Manitoba government on strategies for preparing the provincial work force to compete in the global economy. The report contains 10 sections: (1) background to the initiative; (2) Manitoba's changing labor market; (3) partners in skills development; (4) developing…