The purpose of education has been debated in recent years, especially surrounding its curriculum and structure. In order to fully understand this discussion, the relationship between education and the labor market must be explored. Global Perspectives on Work-Based Learning Initiatives is a pivotal reference source that provides vital research on recent progress in selected countries across the globe in educational programs designed to better prepare students for the workforce through the use of work-related learning. While highlighting topics such as degree apprenticeships, integrated learning strategy, and economic development, this book is ideally designed for education administrators, professors, business and education professionals, academicians, researchers, and graduate-level students seeking current research on the relationship between the education and labor market.

Global Perspectives on Education Research echoes the breadth and scope of education research worldwide. It features the work of established and emerging scholars from a range of universities and research institutions in Africa, Europe, and North America. The book's ten chapters are organized around four themes: Education Policy, Teaching and Learning, School Context and Student Outcomes, and Assessment and Measurement. Each chapter offers cross-cultural, transnational, or comparative insights on some of the most pressing challenges and promising opportunities for improving education around the world. Across thematic areas, these perspectives shape new ways of understanding context as an influence on, and a framework for, conceptual insights into education policy and practice at the international, national, and local levels. With chapters on topics including the cultural complexities of literacy, the effect of socioeconomic inequality on student learning, and the tension between education for global competitiveness and education for global citizenship as national policy strategies, Global Perspectives on Education Research addresses issues and questions that will interest education researchers, educators, policy makers, and societal leaders worldwide. This volume is a publication of the World Education Research Association (WERA). WERA is an association of major national, regional, and international specialty research associations dedicated to advancing education research as a scientific and scholarly field. WERA undertakes initiatives that are global in nature and thus transcend what any one association can accomplish in its own country, region, or area of specialization.

The challenge of managing education effectively is formidable. Written by two education managers, this text explores the issues associated with good leadership in educational and training institutions. It is based on their own work and on a series of detailed interviews with eminent leaders.

Education policy and practice has historically been developed within the national/regional context. However, globalization has prompted educationalists to review their practice in the light of international influences. World issues such as global warming, conflict and the depletion of earth resources have also contributed to an increased awareness of the role that education can play in resolving these problems. The contributors focus on how education can bring about social change while connecting with theory at the level of cultural impact and policy implications. They investigate the potential for creating a transnational value system in education, focusing on some key human rights issues both at home and overseas. Truly international in scope, this text lays the groundwork for future research by exposing the commonalities and differences in approaches to knowledge production and its dissemination, drawing together contributions from a variety of cross cultural contexts.

Oil and gas companies are continually upgrading drilling and production facilities in response to safety, regulatory, and technology advances, causing the amount of data that an operator must interpret in order to optimize a facility’s production to increase exponentially. Trained employees are at premium demand in the field, and companies are willing to pay for skills. However, there are too many skill-specific positions available and too many untrained applicants, and companies within this industry lack the recruiting, training, and experience necessary to train them. Workforce Education at Oil and Gas Companies in the Permian Basin: Emerging Research and Opportunities is an essential scholarly resource that examines changing technical, data analysis, and decision-making skills required of operations or maintenance personnel, as well as expectations for future changes. The book contrasts these needs against a typical oilfield worker’s education level and skillset in order to target potential solutions for the challenges that face today’s workforce. Highlighting topics such as economic development, oilfield technology, and employee training, this book is geared toward oil and gas workers, training facilitators, education practitioners, industry professionals, academicians, and researchers.

In the highly competitive business environment of today, organizations are continually making attempts to stay one step ahead of their competitors by implementing various stratagems to improve their employees’ competencies and capabilities, as human resources are one of their most important assets. By investing in employees’ career development through training, coaching, mentoring, and counseling, the employee will undoubtedly become much more effective. Workforce Coaching, Mentoring, and Counseling: Emerging Research and Opportunities elucidates, examines, and explores theories, practices, and research-based human resource development (HRD) strategies that have proven to be effective in enhancing various aspects relating to the performance of individual employees and the organization as a whole. Featuring research on topics such as adult learning, management science, and work-life balance, this book is ideally designed for practitioners, educators, managers, and researchers.

This book deals with the relevance of recognition and validation of non-formal and informal learning education and training, the workplace and society. In an increasing number of countries, it is at the top of the policy and research agenda ranking among the possible ways to redress the glaring lack of relevant academic and vocational qualifications and to promote the development of competences and certification procedures which recognise different types of learning, including formal, non-formal and informal learning. The aim of the book is therefore to present and share experience, expertise and lessons in such a way that enables its effective and immediate use across the full spectrum of country contexts, whether in the developing or developed world. It examines the importance of meeting institutional and political requirements that give genuine value to the recognition of non-formal and informal learning; it shows why recognition is important and clarifies its usefulness and the role it serves in education, working life and voluntary work; it emphasises the importance of the coordination, interests, motivations, trust and acceptance by all stakeholders. The volume is also premised on an understanding of a learning society, in which all social and cultural groups, irrespective of gender, race, social class, ethnicity, mental health difficulties are entitled to quality learning throughout their lives. Overall the thrust is to see the importance of recognising non-formal and informal learning as part of the larger movement for re-directing education and training for change. This change is one that builds on an equitable society and economy and on sustainable development principles and values such as respect for others, respect for difference and diversity, exploration and dialogue.