Author Description

The nine papers in this volume represent a majority of the presentations at a conference that examined in detail employee development (ED) initiatives from Europe and North America. An introduction provides a contextual background to the vocational training and education debates characterizing policy development in the European and North American contexts. "Perspectives on a Learning Workforce" (J. F. Smith) outlines current official policies in the United Kingdom to learning in the workplace that are based on market forces and voluntaristic principles. "The UAW-Ford Life/Education Planning Program" (Robert S. Toronto) focuses on an educational advising program jointly sponsored by the United Auto Workers and the Ford Motor Company. "Workplace Learning and Redesign Initiatives in Switzerland" (Margrit Hugentobler, Ruedi Keller) addresses the relationship between technological-organizational redesign and changes in work organization and employee competence development. "Quality Circles as Learning Contexts" (Urpo Sarala) raises questions about the potential and limitations of quality circles and employee learning. "The Employee Development and Assistance Programme" describes the Ford Motor Company's joint program. "Employee Development in Baxi Heating" illustrates the importance of developing basic education and communication skills as one way of involving semi- and unskilled workers in learning opportunities. "Warm Hearts or Cool Business? Employers' Attitude to Workplace Basic Skills Programs" (Fiona Frank, Mary Hamilton) presents a model for looking at the actors or stakeholders involved in workplace basic education schemes and discusses employers' views on the benefits of and blocks to setting up basic education schemes at the workplace. "An Overview of Workplace Education in Scotland, with Particular Reference to the Work of the Scottish Community Education Council and 'Positive Performance'" (S. Wilkinson) provides an overview of pedagogical issues involved in