Continuing education around the world

Continuing education programs in socialist countries, developing countries, and under French Law 575, with respect to engineering, are discussed. The design of programs depends on cultural, economic, and political pressures. Post-secondary education in socialist countries was influenced by the need to meet demands for trained personnel, by the assumption that it is cheaper to educate the employed, and by continuing education´s ability to mix practice with theory. Continuing education in the socialist countries is available through full-time study, part-time study, and independent study with or without supervision. Under French Law 575 continuing education is funded through the State and the employer, with the employer contributing 1 percent of total wages, creating a 5700 million franc fund in 1975. Developing countries have a different emphasis, centering on rural technologies, technician rather than engineer education, and teacher education. The role of the individual, universities, governments, and firms in financing and sponsoring continuing education is placed in worldwide perspective. Lectures in their various formats, correspondence courses, satellite communications, and audiovisual media instructional utility are reviewed. The success or failure of continuing education programs in one country cannot be easily translated into what will happen in another country. All in all, continuing education is more highly regarded worldwide at this point in time than ever before.