A forum was held at Worcester State College in Worcester, MA (February 10, 1983) to examine the need for more collaboration between educational institutions and business and industry to provide fundamental and brush-up skills training in the workplace. Participating in the forum were representatives from training and human resource management and…

The goal of this conference was to develop a national agenda for continuing professional education. Leaders from higher education, professional associations, business, industry, and government convened to discuss issues germane to the field and to establish a communication network to address those issues in the future. The conference was designed…

This paper offers leaders in business and education techniques and strategies for encouraging, initiating, and managing business-school partnerships for educational improvement. Such partnerships can help schools impart to their graduates the "skills, judgment, and initiative" needed to keep America's economy strong. Following the foreword and…

A study examined the attitudes of Oregon employers toward vocational education and employment and training programs in the state. During the study, researchers conducted interviews with representatives of the 10 largest companies in Oregon and mailed surveys to a random sample of approximately 1,500 employers as well as to 140 employers who were…

The shrinking labor market, tightening economy, falling enrollments, and declining national standards for education have had an impact on cooperative education programs. Those working in the field of cooperative education should become familiar with the report entitled "The Unfinished Agenda," which was vocational education's response to "A Nation…

This issue focuses on the National Alliance of Business's work with employers to sort out how certificates can most effectively indicate workplace skills and requirements and confirm that certified individuals possess them. "Skills Certificates Signal Competencies in a Demand-Driven Economy" discusses the needs to which certificates respond; how…

Despite the recent emphasis on teaching the basic skills at the high school level, educators must not forget that vocational education, and apprenticeship training in particular, remains as important as ever to the economic development of the Nation. To meet the mandate for linkages and collaboration that appears in the Carl D. Perkins Vocational…

Experience has shown that it is possible for vocational educators and industry representatives to work together to meet the education development needs of employees in new and expanding industries. In order to remain a factor in economic/industrial development, adult vocational education must assist industry in identifying their training needs,…

This handbook, which is intended for educators, managers, and union leaders responsible for workplace development, outlines a four-phase collaborative approach to assessing a work organization's overall education needs and specifying a range of activities to meet the identified needs. Discussed in the introduction are the purposes of the handbook,…

A survey of 456 further education (FE) colleges in England and Wales identified the FE sector's activities in providing effective training and development to smaller and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Of 120 colleges that responded, 87.5 percent provided direct training to SMEs; 79.2 percent were developing or acquiring teaching or training…

The Area Consortium on Training initiated the Training for Technology Project to fill industry needs for skilled personnel and job needs for economically disadvantaged persons. Major accomplishments included establishment of a training team for economic development and for development of training programs; contacting of more than 100 employers;…

This guide is designed to serve as a resource for vocational education administrators and educators involved in planning and evaluating vocational programs on the state or local level. The first chapter deals with the history and benefits of cooperation between vocational education and the private sector. Addressed in the remaining chapters of the…

In order to determine adequately how community and technical colleges can work with business and industry to meet the training needs of the existing work force, one must first understand the relationship between lagging productivity and the national economy. In the short run, lagging productivity increases inflation and unemployment, lessens our…

Research has confirmed that few U.S. employers see schools as effective partners in their search for skilled workers. The growing disconnection between the nation's schools and business sector is threatening to undermine the educational quality of the U.S. work force. Educators and businesses must, therefore, join forces to develop initiatives…

This guide presents step-by-step strategies for analyzing workplace literacy training needs through collaborative business, adult basic education (ABE), and worker partnerships. The first chapter provides an overview of literacy in the workplace and highlights challenges currently facing Minnesota and the nation as a whole in meeting needs for a…