The view of the government in England is that good English and mathematics knowledge is key to employment and education prospects. Students who do not achieve a GCSE grade 4 or above in these subjects must continue to study English and mathematics alongside their chosen post-16 studies. This article outlines the background to this situation, then…

This paper describes the three phases in the evolution of the Mount Royal College (Canada) Learning Assistance Program, beginning with the clinical approach (1969), moving to a credited class structure (1970), and finally to the present non-credit workshop approach (1971). The Learning Assistance Program was established to help students needing…

This digest discusses two specific computer-aided instruction systems used in two-year colleges in the United States and Canada, and addresses critical points regarding system implementation in remedial education programs. As developed in the Nova Scotia Community College System in Canada, the INVEST computer system provides literacy-based…

The Commission d'evaluation de l'enseignement collegial in Quebec evaluated the implementation of general education in all of the institutions offering programs leading to a Diploma of College Studies (DEC). Seventy-five institutions were covered by the evaluation: 49 public colleges, 20 subsidized private colleges, and six institutions reporting…

This report on an internal evaluation, which was conducted for developmental purposes, describes services provided at the Learning Skills Centres (LSC) on three separate campuses of Grant MacEwan Community College, in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). The key questions of the evaluation addressed student and staff awareness of the existence of the LSC;…

Ontario's College Standards and Accreditation Council (CSAC) devised a plan to enhance three dimensions of college education: general education, generic skills; and vocational or professional education. The CSAC designates generic skills as practical life skills essential for both personal and career success, defining these practical, portable…

The Master Student course was introduced at Northern Alberta Institute of Technology to improve student retention; provide individuals with skills to become successful students; and to graduate students with technical, critical thinking, and effective communication skills. The course provides a point of entry into the institution in the areas of…

Data were collected between July and November 1992 to identify ways in which the Ontario Basic Skills (OBS) and Formation de base de l'Ontario (FBO) programs had helped learners progress toward further training or employment. It also identified the partnerships and collaborative efforts within Conestoga College and beyond that added to the…

A study was conducted to identify the literacy requirements of 10 college vocational training programs and their corresponding occupations. Following a review of 5 years of student records at an eastern Ontario community college, the 10 major vocational programs studied were categorized as follows: motor vehicle mechanic, engineering technician,…

This paper analyzes the United States community college as a model for adaptation in Latin America. The author argues that there is a growing frustration with the lack of responsiveness of universities to the development needs of societies in Latin America. Higher education continues to be accessible only to the privileged segments of society…

This book, which is intended for educators who are invited into workplaces to design, develop, and deliver workplace literacy and other training programs and for corporate and labor leaders involved in workplace education, examines the concepts of total quality and bedrock (foundation or basic) skills. Presented first are a glossary and…

This document examines three studies that explored additional support, retention, and guidance in England's urban colleges. The foreword and summary discuss the mission, focus, and results of each study. "Funding and Tracking Additional Support in Basic Skills and ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)" (Liz Lawson, Philida…

This document contains background information on the school-to-work (STW) movement and 20 essays written by employers and intermediaries involved in STW program planning and implementation. Four points are highlighted: (1) it takes time to assemble an STW system; (2) the number of students participating in structured work-based learning remains…