Anke Hanft and Michaela Knust The present study examines and compares the structure and organisation of c- tinuing higher education in six countries: Austria, Finland, France, Germany, the UK and the USA. The focus is not just on current continuing education provisions at higher education institutions but also on the institutions themselves and their surrounding milieu. The study also attempts to move away from a purely national angle and to approach the topic from an international perspective. The conclusion is reached that when it comes to the development, establishment and professional implementation of continuing education provisions, German higher education ins- tutions lag behind the other countries in the comparison in almost all areas. The main ndings in terms of the three levels ‘system’, ‘institution’, and ‘programme’ are summarised below. 1 Continuing Education in the Higher Education System There are considerable divergences, both nationally and internationally, in the d- inition of the German term “wissenschaftliche Weiterbildung” (“academic c- tinuing education”). In the English-speaking world, a variety of terms such as “lifelong learning”, “adult education”, “continuing education”, “continuing higher education”, “university-level continuing education” or “continuing professional development” are often used as synonyms without any precise differentiation – and this is not perceived as a problem.

The studies contained in this volume present a sampling of policy and legislation relating to adult learning in various parts of the world. They were produced in the context of a more complete survey, under the auspices of the UNESCO Institute for Education (VIE) in cooperation with the University of Florence, which sought to identify tendencies in this field over the past few years. The international research project, under which these national studies were made, was developed under the direction of Paul Belanger, Director of UIE, and Paolo Federighi, Professor at the University of Florence. An international publication by the two project directors, due to appear at the beginning of 1997, will report on the findings of the project, which involves 26 countries. The contributions presented here reflect a broad geographical spectrum as well as a wide range of policy models. From an analysis of these studies, it is apparent that this is a field in which there has been much innovation and which encompasses markedly varying approaches in response to different national conditions.

The studies contained in this volume present a sampling of policy and legislation relating to adult learning in various parts of the world. They were produced in the context of a more complete survey, under the auspices of the UNESCO Institute for Education (UIE) in cooperation with the University of Florence, which sought to identify tendencies in this field over the past few years. The international research project, under which these of Paul national studies were made, was developed under the direction Belanger, Director of UIE, and Paolo Federighi, Professor at the University of Florence. An international publication by the two project directors, due to appear at the beginning of 1997, will report on the findings of the project, which involves 26 countries. The contributions presented here reflect a broad geographical spectrum as well as a wide range of policy models. From an analysis of these studies, it is apparent that this is a field in which there has been much innovation and which encompasses markedly varying approaches in response to different national conditions.

The basic aim of this special issue is to focus on the profound change of tendency in education that is taking place at both the national and interna tional level. At a time when education and lifelong learning are increasingly merging into one process, it is important to examine the ways in which edu cational policies and practices are evolving. Consequently, we invited a variety of contributors, both men and women, coming from different regions and encompassing both research and practice, to identify significant phenomena and trends that are indicative of the ways in which systems of education are responding to new social and cultural demands. We asked our contributors to show how educational reality in different countries is no longer confined within the temporal and spatial limits of institutional education, to indicate how models of educational practice are changing, to examine the extent to which the traditional cycles of human life are shifting their boundaries, and to describe how these changes are mani festing themselves in different national contexts in both South and North. We also asked our authors to pose questions raised by this educational revolution. We have included 17 contributions, some of the authors analysing par ticular national situations, others drawing questions and observations from their own experiences or taking a searching look at education from the perspective of a practical involvement in social iSl>ues or from a background of research into popular arts and traditions.

Vocational education and training (VET) have a key role to play in raising skill levels and improving a society’s productivity. In this important new book, a team of international experts argue that too often national VET policy has been formulated in ignorance of historical and political developments in other countries and without proper consideration of the social objectives that it might help achieve. Examining a wide range of contrasting international approaches and development strategies, this book demonstrates the central role of the state in implementing an effective system of VET and assesses the extent to which different VET policies can promote equality in the labour market and social justice. Key themes include: the broader educational and social aims of VET the nature of learning in vocational contexts the historical development of VET in the UK, US, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere. Including a full range of case-studies and practical examples, this book is essential reading for all students, researchers and practitioners with an interest in vocational education and training, industrial and labour relations or social policy.

Cet ouvrage présente une série d’orientations politiques, ainsi que leurs déclinaisons opérationnelles, permettant aux pays d’Afrique subsaharienne de relever le défi de l’amélioration de l’apprentissage tout en élargissant l’accès et en assurant l’achèvement d’une éducation de base pour tous. L’étude souligne l’importance de configurer le système éducatif de manière à ce qu’il soit constamment axé sur les résultats et à ce que tous les enfants aient accès à de bonnes écoles, du matériel d’apprentissage de qualité et d’excellents enseignants. L’approche de cet ouvrage est unique car elle caractérise les pays en fonction des défis auxquels ils ont été confrontés dans les années 1990 et selon les progrès accomplis en matière d’éducation au cours des 25 dernières années, ce qui permet ainsi aux pays de la région d’apprendre les uns des autres. Les auteurs présentent une revue de littérature et y ajoutent de nouvelles analyses tirées de multiples données provenant d’une trentaine pays de la région. Ils intègrent également des résultats de recherche sur ce qui influence l’apprentissage des enfants, leur accès à la scolarisation et les progrès accomplis grâce à l’éducation de base. Le livre tire des leçons sur la région pour la région à partir de ce qui fonctionne et de ce qui serait nécessaire d’améliorer. Le livre explore quatre pistes pour aider les pays à ajuster leurs systèmes éducatifs afin d’améliorer l’apprentissage : poursuivre les efforts inachevés visant à assurer une éducation de base universelle et de qualité, assurer une supervision et un soutien efficaces des enseignants, concentrer les priorités de dépenses et les procédures budgétaires sur l’amélioration de la qualité, et combler le déficit de capacités du système institutionnel. L’ouvrage se termine par une évaluation de la manière dont les prévisions de taux de fécondité et de croissance économique peuvent impacter les progrès futurs en matière d’éducation.