Paul Ryan has brought together the writings of the most prominent British research into vocational preparation in Britain in comparison to the other advanced economies, primarily within the EEC. The book, originally published in 1991, documents various aspects of inadequacy in British practice at the time, concentrating upon intermediate skills, which are of crucial importance for economic performance. The introduction outlines the strengths and weaknesses of comparative research. Part 1 discusses the use which has been made of it by policy makers in Britain and various aspects of comparative methods in practical comparisons, including an Anglo-Scottish one. Part 2 concerns vocational preparation in connection with productivity and produce markets, noting its importance for economic performance and its dependence upon companies’ product choices. Part 3 contains studies of the organization of skills and work and the finance of training within the EEC as a whole. Part 4 comprises studies of training in relation to labour market structures, each of which indicates similar alternatives for training policy in Britain – alternatives whose relevance and political prospects can only be enhanced by the demise of Thatcher government deregulatory policies.

This report on Switzerland examines what kind of training will be needed in the changing economy, how it can be funded, how it can be linked to academic programmes, and how employers and unions can be engaged.

This report examines vocational education and training programs in Germany including how they are changing, how they are funded, how they are linked to academic and university programmes and how employers and unions can be engaged.

This book brings together a broad range of approaches and methodologies relevant to international comparative vocational education and training (VET). Revealing how youth in transition is affected by economic crises, it provides essential insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the various systems and prospects of VET in contexts ranging from North America to Europe, (e.g. Spain, Germany or the UK) to Asia (such as China, Thailand and India). Though each country examined in this volume is affected by the economic crisis in a different way, the effects are especially apparent for the young generation. In many countries the youth unemployment rate is still very high and the job perspectives for young people are often limited at best. The contributions in this volume demonstrate that VET alone cannot solve these problems, but can be used to support a smooth transition from school to work. If the quality of VET is high and the status and job expectations are good, VET can help to fill the skills gap, especially at the intermediate skill level. Furthermore, VET can also offer a realistic alternative to the university track for young people in many countries.

This book examines vocational education and training programmes in the United States, including coverage of how they are changing, how they are funded, how they are linked to academic and university programmes and how employers and unions are involved.

An OECD study of vocational education and training designed to help countries make their systems more responsive to labour market needs. It expands the evidence base, identifies a set of policy options and develops tools to appraise VET policy initiatives.

International comparisons of vocational education and training.

This book examines vocational education and training in Korea, looking at what kinds of training is needed, how it should be funded, how they should be linked to university programmes and how employers and unions can be engaged.

This report synthesises the findings of the series of country reports done on skills beyond school.

This significant contribution to comparative education presents an authoritative discussion of the recent changes in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The implementation of a democratic educational policy in Scandinavia has been affected by the dominance of the Protestant Church, mass immigration from Third World nations, a growing belief in rugged individualism, newfound respect for privatization and the market economy, and the increasing unemployment of the technical revolution. Education has been unable to adapt rapidly enough to meet the changing needs of this transformed Scandinavia. In this comprehensive collection of articles, contributors present their findings, thoughts and concerns for the Scandinavia of both the 90s and the future.