The beginning of the 21st century is characterized by globalization--the integration of national economies and the development of technology and information technology--and by a new type of society--the knowledge-based society. Changes in society require changes in education, the mission of higher education institutions, and traditional ways of…

Considers societal changes, namely the computer revolution and the World Wide Web, that have impacted information literacy standards and have left students lacking needed skills for employment and postsecondary education. Identifies desired outcomes of information literacy, discusses the need for lifelong learning, and suggests roles for business,…

Identifies 10 pervasive forces shaping the future of postsecondary education and warns that if community colleges are to get and hold the initiative on their own behalf in the determination of public policy, their leaders will have to become sophisticated participants in the political process. (JG)

These proceedings contain the texts of, panel reaction to, and panel discussions of the papers presented at the national conference on "Vocational Education and Training Policy for Today and Tomorrow." Included in the volume are the following conference presentations: "Trends and Changes in Federal, State and Local Government Roles during the…

A two-day national conference was held to examine vocational education and training policy for today and tomorrow. Speakers from both the public and private sectors shared their expertise in various areas affecting vocational education. Focus of the papers and panel discussions presented during the conference was on the following topics: the…

The five major societal changes in the past twenty-five years which have had a major impact on education services are (1) our transition from a rural, agrarian society to an urban, technological society; (2) changes in occupational and employment structures; (3) education services have become a major enterprise; (4) expansion of Federal and State…

To project the effects of population change on vocational/technical education, a project surveyed the literature (1977-79) on the futures of general and vocational education and on the effects of declining enrollment and applied these concepts and projections to the field of vocational/technical education. Vocational/technical education seemed…

An international congress produced discussion and debate regarding the factors that will shape technical and vocational education in the new century and the new millennium. Speakers declared that the 21st century will be an era of knowledge, information, and civilization. According to the speakers, key features of the 21st century will include…

This document summarizes the proceedings of a meeting of the Organisation for Economic Development's Education Committee that focused on the theme of making lifelong learning a reality for all. Part 1 explains the participants' decision to focus on making learning a process extending from early childhood through retirement, describes the main…

This paper examines the personal and societal choices that will shape the kind of country Canada will become. It is argued that Canadian policymakers' current approach to work, family, and urban life is based on patterns and associations that were developed in an earlier time and no longer reflect Canadians' experiences in the 2000s. Recent trends…

The evolution of cadre (political elite and bureaucratic functionaries) education in China from 1949 to the present was evaluated in terms of leadership development and the underlying interests of the Chinese Communist Party as it integrates more fully into the world economy. Historic achievements include: (1) increased knowledge about market…

A representative survey of over 30,000 people aged 16-64 years across the 15 member states of the European Union and Norway sought Europeans' preferences for increasing or reducing the number of hours worked per week. Key finding included the following: (1) 51% preferred to work fewer hours in exchange for lower earnings while 12% preferred to…