The automotive industry continues to be the only industry that has set national standards for vocational-technical education and certification programs that meet those standards. The certification program for automotive technician training has proved that it improves the quality of training in programs at secondary and postsecondary levels.…

A study identified the environmental and personal factors that promote or hinder the development of entrepreneurship in the informal sector in South Africa. A developmental perspective of informal businesses set forth in the literature supported the global approach chosen for the research. Information was acquired through indepth interviews with…

A study, part of a doctoral dissertation at Oklahoma State University, identified those clerical occupations that fall within the realm of the office assistant program. It also determined from employers major concerns and problems encountered in terms of employee performance in selected occupations. Phase I collected data from 22 instructors of…

A study assessed the attitudes of 702 Washington State employers toward vocational education at the secondary and postsecondary levels. The majority of respondents perceived community colleges and vocational-technical institutes, but not public high schools, to be doing a very good job of preparing students for job and careers. Over 90 percent…

As a result of studies on fitting and machining apprentices attitudes toward employers, a study was conducted to obtain the attitudes of a sample of employers toward apprenticeship. Three hundred questionnaires were distributed to employers of fitting and machine students studying at a number of Sydney (Australia) Technical Colleges. An…

THE NEEDS FOR VOCATIONAL-TECHNICAL EDUCATION IN THE SHIAWASSEE-CLINTON AREA OF MICHIGAN WERE DETERMINED FROM QUESTIONNAIRE RESPONSES FROM 1,146 SENIORS OF 1965, 416 GRADUATES OF 1960 AND 1962, 1,034 PARENTS OF FIFTH GRADERS, AND 250 BUSINESS FIRMS. EXISTING COURSE OFFERINGS WERE DETERMINED FROM COURSE TITLES IN AREA HIGH SCHOOLS. ANALYSIS OF DATA…

The effect of enrollment in prerequisite courses on success in advanced courses was examined in a study of a sample of students who completed a business cooperative experiences program between 1994-1995 and 2001-2002. Of the 163 students in the sample, 80 completed the prerequisite courses (Technology Lab I and II) before the advanced course, and…

A study analyzed the schooling, further adult course participation, and informal learning of organized and unorganized workers in different occupational classes across Canada. Data were obtained from the first Canadian national survey of 1,562 adults' informal learning practices, conducted in 1998, and field notes and interview transcripts drawn…

This publication introduces youth apprenticeship and reports on the experiences of businesses adopting this model. Part I presents the four fundamental components of the youth apprenticeship model--applied academics, on-the-job training, links with postsecondary learning opportunities, and standards and credentials--and posits its use as a…

The changing educational needs of midwives in England were assessed, and an open learning package for midwives was developed based on the findings. Data were collected from the following: questionnaires mailed to 1,100 registered midwives (70% response rate), all 205 coordinating supervisors of midwives in England (83% response rate); 1 randomly…

A study collected and examined information on the nature and extent of business and postsecondary occupational program linkages. Findings from a survey of 661 employers indicated the following: (1) three-fourths had some involvement with postsecondary institutions; (2) modes of involvement identified most often were employee recruitment, advisory…

The effectiveness of the "user choice" approach to allocating public funds for training was examined through telephone interviews with 46 employers who were associated with 48 of Australia's 50 User Choice pilot projects (including employers associated with 7 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander initiatives). The employers uniformly…

Tennessee employers were surveyed regarding secondary vocational education as a source of entry-level employees and on their perceptions of issues in the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act of 1990. A survey instrument secured ratings for various types and levels of educational and governmental agencies. The population consisted…

The changes in teaching, learning, and assessment brought about by the introduction of the National Certificate in Scotland were assessed. Data were collected through interviews with and a survey of 511 teaching staff (398 responses) and 1,646 students (1,277 responses) in a number of colleges throughout Scotland and a survey of 344 employers (68…

This paper provides a critical review of economic models of employers' decisions to train workers: what training is undertaken, where it is undertaken, and who finances it. The focus of the review is on the provision of job training to workers with no unusual training problems. The first two sections consider the nature of on-the-job training more…