First published in 1989. Mas'udi was born in Baghdad about 896 AD, during the Caliphate of Mu'tadid and died in Egypt sometime around the year 956, eleven years after the Buwaihids, a Shi'a dynasty of Iranian origin, had occupied Baghdad and taken control of the Caliphate. His full name was Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn al-Husain ibn Ali ibn Abd Allah al-Mas'udi and he was notable as a Muslim historian. His two major works were Meadows of Gold (Muruj al-Dhahab) and the Book of Notification (Kitab al-Tanbih).

Reprint of the original, first published in 1841.

This work comprises a selection of papers from the first symposium devoted to competency based learning held in Worthing in March 1989. The book provides an historical backdrop for anyone coming new to the study of Competency-Based Education and Training (CBET). Although CBET is a relatively new focus for research and development in the UK it has a long history and literature in the USA.