Development, Regional Training Policy and Adult Education.

Interest in a regional and local approach to vocational training and adult education is increasing throughout the member nations of the Council of Europe. This is largely a result of the changing European economic order and the new internationalization of industrial strategies. Particularly needed is a targeted local and regional policy for the creation of activities and jobs that emphasizes training in rural, urban, and industrial areas and that integrates the training of priority groups (youth, women, migrants, the disabled, and the elderly) with local development. Among the necessary conditions for a training policy that is integrated with local and regional development are the following: a close connection between development policy, objectives, and training programs; demarcation of homogeneous geographical areas corresponding to demography and industrial barriers; a strategy for balanced growth conductive to genuine development; coordination between officials engaged in educational work; local and regional programming of training activities based on participation, integration, and coordination; a specific local and regional organization; and local development officers. (Appended to the report are three articles on the role of adult education in relation to regional development and a bibliography of documents relating to regional development.) (MN)