This book examines the New Labour policy on lifelong learning in Great Britain. Special attention is paid to developments surrounding the University for Industry and the New Deal initiatives and the issue of upgrading the British vocational education and training (VET) system to match those of Britain's European competitors. The following are among the topics discussed in the book's eight chapters: (1) lifelong learning and postschool education and training (the McDonaldization of education and training); (2) the reconstruction of education and training (classical versus modern apprenticeships); (3) vocational skills, qualifications, and National Vocational Qualifications (key skills, core skills, and transferability); (4) employers and VET (employers and the needs of industry, human capital, investment and VET, problems of small and medium enterprises); (5) New Labour policy and the postcompulsory sector (the University for Industry, the New Deal initiatives); (6) the emerging national system of education and training (University for Industry developments, evolution of the New Deal); (7) values and vocational studies (ethical aspects of vocational studies, guidance and counseling, studentship and learning centers); and (8) lifelong learning and New Deal values in the learning age (third way politics and learning age values). (Twenty-six figures are included. The bibliography contains 612 references.) (MN)