A postgraduate management program used group work, presentations, and self- and peer assessments. Student respondents (n=36) indicated they developed transferable interpersonal skills. They appreciated the value of self-/peer assessment, but had difficulties implementing it. (SK)

Ways in which colleges are responding to employer needs are as follows: providing training, providing contacts with prospective employees, and participating in college and community planning/advisory activities. College responsiveness will continue to be influenced by financial and commercial decisions. (SK)

Factors affecting achievement of National Vocational Qualifications in management include (1) candidate's self-motivation, ability to act on feedback, and report-writing skills; (2) employers support for evidence collection and mentoring; and (3) institutions use of suitable teaching methods and understanding of portfolio construction and…

Seven undergraduates participated in teamwork based on Belbin's team role theory, which enabled identification of strengths/weaknesses and appropriate task assignment. Peer assessment of roles filled by team members differed from the roles suggested by results of Belbin's psychometric test. (SK)

Examines political, economic, and educational reasons for higher education's shift from collegial academy to corporate enterprise. Relates the belief in the market model of education to the decline of the liberal education tradition. (SK)

This issue contains bibliographic citations and abstracts of articles from over 360 journals (primarily from the United Kingdom and United States) on the following topics: further education, higher education, management education, and training. (SK)

British student teachers in science visited industry partners and developed, implemented, and evaluated related projects in participating schools. They reported greater understanding of schools and their relationship with the community, and they gained experience in developing curriculum linked to real-world situations. (SK)

Employment experiences were compared for British adults with good/average literacy and numeracy skills and those with good/average literacy and very low numeracy. Even with good literacy skills, poor numeracy reduced employment and training opportunities and promotion prospects. (SK)

The learning processes of an employee in a new role were analyzed using the Dreyfus model of skill development (novice, advanced beginner, competent, proficient, and expert). Influences of the trainer, informal workplace interactions, and formal courses on the transition to the new role were identified. (SK)

British college students (n=414) were paired with mentors in their work placements. In many cases, learner and mentor had little contact, but learners obtained support for workplace learning from other sources. Managers were not ideal mentors. Relevant expert knowledge, formal mentoring relationships, and training of mentors were considered…

Analysis of Modern Apprenticeships (n=2,222) in Devon and Cornwall was conducted in four industries: engineering manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and agriculture. Apprenticeship appeared to be a feasible vocational alternative to full-time education, attracting high-quality students. Trainers and career counselors played a crucial role in…

Vocational educators in Swaziland identified professional competencies in focus group workshops. These competencies and additional ones identified in a literature review were refined into 11 competence areas needed by teachers of practical studies (agriculture, commercial, home economics, and technical). (SK)

A European online electronic learning network, Cyberspace Learning for Kids, was evaluated through surveys of 596 teachers, 661 parents, and participating children. Teachers identified lack of training and funds to purchase equipment. All groups felt the project taught useful skills in an enjoyable way. A decline in parent-child and teacher-parent…

Educational uses of personal computers have progressed from basic early applications to professional commercial software to multimedia. The telematics industry as yet serves no educational objective and is not part of a long-term vision, and teachers lack skills in information technology. Telematics could learn from 15 years of educational…

A European Community project is using telematics to serve the educational needs of children whose families are occupational travelers. Portable multimedia materials and a telecommunications system are intended to enable tutors to manage students' learning at a distance. Tutors are concerned about frustration, isolation, and lack of support. (SK)