Purpose: This paper aims to focus on the changing nature of quality assurance systems within the sixth form college sector. Design/methodology/approach: Ten sixth form colleges were surveyed across England and staff from varying levels within college hierarchies questioned about how quality assurance systems were implemented. Research involved…

As part of the Transforming Learning Cultures in Further Education (TLC) project, questionnaire data were collected from three consecutive cohorts of students in a wide range of learning sites, initially four in each of four Further Education (FE) colleges in England. This paper focuses on changes in perceived learning environment as mapped by…

The authors define action or "on the job" research as a type of applied research undertaken by practitioners in order to solve practical problems and improve operations in the educational or institutional setting. Advantages and disadvantages of using action research are presented and procedures for conducting it outlined. Two tables list…

A survey of the manpower who staff learning centers of the State University of Nebraska (SUN) is reported. Four learning centers in different geographical locations in the state--Scottsbluff, Kearney, Lincoln, and Omaha--are available to learners who enroll in SUN courses, or wish consultation and advice on educational opportunities to meet their…

The way in which Columbia College, Missouri, is perceived by potential students, government officials, donors, and neighboring institutions was surveyed. Of the 900 randomly selected study group members, 519 responded to a mail questionnaire, which is appended. As many as 37 percent would not or could not give an opinion regarding the college's…

All further education colleges in Scotland have arrangements that enable students to contribute to the improvement of the quality of their educational experience. These range from the informal contacts between staff and students to student membership of each college's board of management, which was provided for in legislation. Over the years…

As part of an effort to identify the unmet educational needs of the business community surrounding Metropolitan Community College (Minneapolis) and in hopes of better serving that community and increasing college enrollment, students from the University of Minnesota's master's in business administration program designed a study focused on…

A survey was conducted to determine the conditions surrounding adult learning in the area served by Hill Junior College (Texas). Of a sample of 750 local residents, 351 persons (47.8%) responded. Selected sample characteristics were compared with 1970 census data to determine that findings were generalizable to the total population. Respondents…

A project was undertaken by Coahoma Junior College (CJC) during 1980 to strengthen its institutional research and planning efforts in the areas of adult and continuing education. During the course of the year-long project, a consultation team led by two nationally prominent, retired educators carried out a series of planning activities, which…

Approximately 700 questionnaires were mailed, and 365 usable responses obtained, in a study of persons who had inquired about the State University of Nebraska (SUN) spring 1975 telecourse offerings but who did not enroll. This working paper and executive summary compare the questionnaire respondents to SUN's fall 1975 learner population in terms…

In order to ascertain the educational needs and interests of Central Pennsylvania residents, samples of three populations were surveyed: high school students, adults, and employers. This volume, the second of two volumes reporting this research, contains detailed breakdowns of the statistical data for the student and adult surveys, which are…

In order to ascertain the educational needs of Central Pennsylvania residents, samples of three populations were surveyed: high school students, the adult population, and employers. A stratified random sample of approximately 530 public high school students in each of grades 10, 11, and 12, the entire enrollment of two Area Vocational Technical…