This book examines the effectiveness and distributive ramifications of the institutions of German skill provision as they functioned at home in the 1990s and as they served as a template for reform in other industrialized countries. The volume relies on multiple sources of data, including in-firm case studies, larger-scale surveys of companies,…

This series of articles presents a variety of studies related to employment opportunities for the disabled, stimulating economy and employment, and new job creation. These studies are related to both developed and developing countries and are also concerned with the international division of labor. (SSH)

An engineering professor tells of his experience in acquiring a leave of absence to work in industry for one year. He describes the projects with which he was involved, the salient features of the arrangement, the working conditions, and the positive results of the program. (SA)

Discussion of training needs of business and industry highlights a study that was conducted to compare the effects of a detailed instruction guide versus an outline format on instructor preparation, presentation, and participant reactions. Instructional effectiveness and instructional design are discussed, cost factors are examined, and further…

Describes the Czechoslovakian system of vocational training at the secondary level. Looks at vocational education institutions, administration and planning, teacher training, and vocational guidance and counseling. Considers some of the problems vocationalism faces, and identifies trends for the 1990s. (Author/LS)

The Socratic method of teaching, which uses open-ended questions asked in a logical sequence, is discussed. Suggestions for structuring curriculum content around seven adult learning principles and Socratic process analysis systems for student motivation are included. (SLW)

Describes the Fund for Appalachian Industrial Retraining (FAIR) program, which has trained over 14,000 multiskilled workers in Appalachian manufacturing in the last four years. FAIR works with firms in 18 Appalachian Ohio counties, arranging onsite and offsite programs and providing matching funds for customized training. (SAS)

This article reviews recent policies and government initiatives that have aimed to improve the uptake of vocational qualifications amongst hard-to-reach groups in the working population. The Employer Training Pilots and the Sector Skills Pilots have been designed to trial new ways of engaging employers in training and encouraging the take-up of…

Virtual Reality has been defined in many different ways and now means different things in various contexts. VR can range from simple environments presented on a desktop computer to fully immersive multisensory environments experienced through complex headgear and bodysuits. In all of its manifestations, VR is basically a way of simulating or…

A study was conducted of participants in employer- and employee-initiated customized training (CT) provided by the Minnesota Technical Colleges to profile their employment backgrounds, education and training experiences, and reasons for participation. The study was based on a random sample of 2,309 customized training participants enrolled in 1 of…

The purpose of this book is to equip trainers to perform with excellence. Chapter 1 focuses on how adults learn and interact, examines the impact instructors have on learning, and introduces the instructor performance system. Chapter 2 details the requirements of the instructor's job. Chapter 3 outlines the system that enables training managers to…

A cooperative demonstration program between industry (General Electric) and education (John Patterson State Technical College, Alabama) designed and conducted a training program and competency assessment for individuals entering high technology positions related to industrial production in Alabama. The program was designed to develop employees as…

The Business Industry and Technical Assistance Center (BITAC) was established in 1986 at Hazard Community College, in Kentucky, to serve as an information and technical assistance center for small business. As the local area began to face layoffs in the coal mining industry, however, the center extended its services in four principal areas:…

This report gives an overview of the primary issues identified through case studies on exemplary training programs for integrated manufacturing. Following an introduction, Chapter 2 outlines the key elements of integrated manufacturing. Chapter 3 describes the context of integrated manufacturing with reference to Australian and worldwide trends: a…

While the need for improved literacy in the work force is generally accepted, questions still remain as to what levels of literacy are required for different jobs and who will provide the necessary adult literacy training. To answer these questions, researchers must develop a database of information about literacy needs and deficiences. Developing…