In 2001, 6,821 employers across Australia were surveyed regarding their views of vocational education and training (VET). The survey was the fourth such survey since 1995. In 2001, 80% of employers of VET graduates (compared with 83% in 1995) rated their satisfaction with VET as 6 or higher on a 10-point scale. The proportion of employees at the…

A study examined the feasibility of using case studies to convince enterprises to value training and learning. First, 10 Australian enterprises were studied in sufficient depth to construct a comprehensive picture of each enterprise, its culture, and the strategies it uses to develop the skills and knowledge of individual employees and the…

A survey of 205 people, 4 group interviews with approximately 30 people, and 6 design and analysis meetings involving approximately 40 people were conducted in a 1999 participatory study of contingent workers in Toronto. (Contingent work was defined to be lower-waged forms of non-permanent work arrangements that include contracting, employment…

Australia introduced User Choice nationally in January 1998 to develop a national training system that is more responsive to clients' needs. User Choice is based on nine principles, including the following: (1) clients can negotiate their publicly funded training needs; (2) User Choice operates in a national training market not limited by state or…

The definition of work has undergone a massive transition within the last decade, and this trend has major implications for vocational education. Earlier ideas of work included that it was full-time, permanent, and for life; in addition, work provided opportunities for career development, a clearly-defined employer-worker relationship, and clear…

This document contains the papers from plenary sessions, forums, and panels conducted at a conference on the new forms of vocational education needed for the world economy of the 21st century. After introductory remarks and opening addresses by the Minister of Education and Science of Finland and the Acting Director of the European Commission, the…

The Jobs Initiative, an eight-year demonstration, helps low-income residents find jobs that pay family-supporting wages in Denver, Milwaukee, New Orleans, Philadelphia, St. Louis, and Seattle. "Entrepreneurial intermediaries," ranging from a private foundation to a city agency, manage six sites that take a dramatically different,…

The capabilities expected of technological workers upon entry into employment were examined. Data were collected through a review of the pertinent literature and an in-person, instrument-guided interview survey of a representative sample of representatives of approximately 250 manufacturing enterprises in nine sectors. The literature review…

This document reports on barriers to the advancement of minority men and all women into decision-making positions in the private sector that were identified through a study of information from the following sources: 126 employers and employees testifying at public hearings in 5 U.S. cities; 18 commissioned research papers; survey of a sample of 25…

This document contains the National Council on Vocational Education's recommendations for improving the effectiveness of the vocational-technical educational system. They follow a list of council members, explanations of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational Education Act and the purpose of the council, a quiz on vocational-technical education for the…

This unit, one in a series of packets of teacher and student materials for cooperative occupational education (COE) designed for special needs students, presents students with a brief introduction to federal laws that protect workers' rights. Emphasis is placed on the Fair Labor Standards Act, the National Labor Relations Act, and the Civil Rights…

Policies and practices were identified that have led to the success of exemplary programs in adult vocational education in Ohio. Data were collected from adult vocational education personnel, students, and employers located in five exemplary planning districts. All districts had a full-time supervisor for adult programs, employed full- and…

The first year of a demonstration experience-based career education (EBCE) project implemented to provide realistic career information to J.L. Mann High School (South Carolina) students was evaluated. The project was intended to provide the EBCE students with community-based career experiences structured to reinforce academic instruction, and…

A project was conducted at State Fair Community College (SFCC) in Sedalia, Missouri, to develop an associate of science degree curriculum in renewable energy resources and their application in agriculture. A pilot study, designed to verify and rate the importance of 138 competencies in fuel alcohol production and to ascertain employment…

A study examined the question of whether there is a connection between program characteristics and desirable program outcomes (student satisfaction, placement, and job performance ratings). A program evaluation questionnaire, containing over 300 individual items on such program characteristics as teacher certification and experience, instructional…