This document contains 21 papers and an introduction on work force preparation in a global context. The following papers are included: "Introduction" (Johanna Lasonen); "Access of Girls and Women to Vocational Education: Implications for the Workplace in Swaziland" (Comfort B. S. Mndebele); "Intersectoral Approaches to Literacy and Vocational Education and Training: The Case of the Sudan" (Sidiga A. Rahim Washi); "Women's Education in the Sudan" (Sidiga A. Rahim Washi); "Research Development and Challenges of the 21st Century for Vocational Education and Training: Canadian Experience" (Marcelle Hardy); "The Business Incubation Concept: Global Possibilities for Vocational-Technical Education" (Victor M. Hernandez-Gantes); "Implementing Education and Training Policies in the United States: A Case Study" (Curtis R. Finch); "A Study on the Development of Further Extensions in Vocational Education and Training in Taiwan, ROC (Republic of China)" (Ming-chung Chiang, Dar-chin Rau); "Networking between Business and Educational Institutes in Taiwan, ROC" (Dar-chin Rau, T. T. Hwang); "Knowledge-Based Cooperation in Vocational Education, University and Industry in Australia" (Matt Ngui); "Strategies for Promoting Parity of Esteem between Vocational and Academic Education" (Johanna Lasonen); "Qualifications with a Dual Orientation towards Employment and Higher Education--Innovative Schemes in Seven European Countries" (Sabine Manning); "'Bildung' through Vocational Education" (Matti Vesa Volanen); "Shaping the Work Life--A Future Oriented Way of Lifelong Learning" (Gerald Heidegger); "Towards Understanding the Development of an Entrepreneurial Leadership-Identity among Finnish Female Entrepreneurs" (Leena Avotie, Eija Pehu); "Enterprises as Environments for Workplace Learning and Training" (Johanna Lasonen); "Review and Preview of Higher Vocational Education: Changes in Hong Kong and International Trends" (Bradford W. Imrie); "A Comparison of Occupational Programs in Comprehensive High Schools in the USA, Japan, and Taiwan" (Lung-Sheng Lee); "Challenges of the 21st Century for Technical-Vocational Education and Training from Global, Regional, and National Perspectives" (C. K. Basu); "Human Resource Development and Labour Market Policy Issues in the Asia Pacific: Opportunities for Collaborative Research with Europe" (Matt Ngui); "Vocational Education and Training Projects in Developing Countries: Issues of Quality and Sustainability" (Dennis R. Herschbach); and "New Roles for Vocational Education and Training" (Armoogum Parsuramen). Each paper contains references. (MN)