Project 22: Further Education for Graduates Including Refresher Courses. Role of the University in Refresher Courses.

A questionnaire was sent to member states of the Council for Cultural Co-operation to gather data on provision by universities of further education (updating of knowledge once acquired) and of continued education (opportunities to enlarge and broaden a professional qualification). A poor response showed that West European States have not yet realized this as a major problem. In contrast, intense efforts are being made in the Soviet Bloc; there further education is referred to as "higher qualification" and implies the improvement of practical work and labor, serving exclusively the technical efficiency of production. In France, a system of part-time schooling for high level technical competence is being developed and is being integrated intro regular higher education. In the Federal Republic of Germany, with one exception, universities and equivalent institutions are not obliged by law to take part in further and continued education but experts aspire to an institutionalization of adult education with the universities. Industry and commerce have a real interest in it, as do professional organizations. Wherever inadequate further education could lead to a risk for members of society, universities will have to expect the creation of commissions to study and make recommendations to universities and government authorities. (EB)