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This paper discusses routes by which HIV/AIDS money is dispersed and received. It notes that capturing accurate data on actual spending patterns of large donors can be difficult, as there is no uniform tracking or reporting system and much HIV/AIDS money is spent under the broader category of sexual and reproductive health. Most of the information contained in the first two sections is based on main reports that assess the general manner in which HIV/AIDS money as a whole is being distributed. Moving on from who is providing funds for HIV/AIDS initiatives at global level, it tracks sources and flows from governments, through bilateral and multilateral channels. It does not include estimates of household spending on care and treatment, which cannot be realistically quantified. Information follows on top US and European donors, the international business community and pharmaceutical companies. Later sections look into ways HIV/AIDS funding is being spent, with the proviso, as before, that detailed breakdowns of actual spending are rare. The broadest categories are prevention, care and treatment, orphan support and research. Within the field of ECD vis-a-vis HIV/AIDS, funds are being directed through two main areas of concern--prevention of mother-to-child transmission and the care of orphans and vulnerable children. This paper describes major players in these arenas, showing that efforts are being made by a few agencies through the amount of funding directed along these channels is minimal in contrast to other target areas. Fundamental questions are raised about current donor priorities and there follows some discussion touching areas where new or reallocated HIV/AIDS funding could be directed. Obvious gaps in the provision of money for ECD and HIV/AIDS support are then identified along with opportunities to carry out work fill such gaps. The final section examines what it would take to direct more money to support young children living in the shadow of HIV/AIDS. Including very young children in HIV/AIDS response strategies will ultimately depend on individual communities devising their own solutions. A further section highlights the critical importance of sharing knowledge through networks that communicate and disseminate evidence-based research findings and project evaluations. In conclusion, this paper calls for advocacy to urge that more funding should go to ECD-HIV/AIDS needs and that current funding approaches to dealing with the crisis need, in addition, to be tracked and evaluated, with a view to promoting more and better ways of meeting the unfulfilled needs of very young children affected by HIV/AIDS. (Contains 2 figures.)

This paper reviews recent measurement work on User-Created Content (UCC) undertaken in OECD countries. It shows that UCC is emerging as a significant area of economic and social activity worthy of consideration for official measurement and discusses the implications for the OECD Model Survey on ICT Access and Use by Households and Individuals. (Study summary and questionnaires are annexed. Contains 10 footnotes, 6 figures and 1 table.)

This conference, jointly organised by OECD's Department for Science, Technology and Industry and the Italian Ministry for Innovation and Technology, was attended by approximately 350 representatives from industry, academia and government. Rapporteurs presented summaries in terms of issues and areas where there was agreement and/or convergence among presentations and participant interventions and areas where there was disagreement and/or divergence. Points of agreement include: (1) Today's participatory culture is of users rather than consumers with increased generational differences in usage; (2) Goal of business-model neutrality; and (3) There is a high speed of change in the sector, led by the availability of broad-band enabling digital content provision with a significant decline of (access) prices. Points of divergence include: (1) Balance of intellectual property rights (IPR); (2) Role of governments versus markets; (3) Digital Rights Management (DRM); and (4) Policy challenges and need for international harmonisation. (Contains 2 footnotes, 8 figures, 1 box and 1 table.)

Public bodies hold a range of information and content ranging from demographic, economic and meteorological data to art works, historical documents and books. Given the availability of information and communication technologies (ICTs) public sector information can play an important role in producing innovative value-added services and goods. Furthermore, these technologies also provide a wider population better access to educational and cultural knowledge. Both commercial opportunities and the wider spread of information have positive economic and social benefits. Knowledge is a source of competitive advantage in the "information economy", for this reason it is economically important that there is wide diffusion of public information. Governments also have a basic commitment that citizens have to access national cultural heritage such as paintings, monuments and books; and this is also important for social inclusion. To contribute to better conditions for learning, the digitisation of cultural and educational resources is fundamental. New communication tools, such as interactive Web sites and games, often also reach groups of people with no previous interest, notably if they allow personal participation. OECD countries have recently initiated many programmes which use these tools for cultural and educational content. The main emphasis of policies has shifted to improving access to available resources, and preservation of content created digitally ("digitally-born") receives increasing attention. Public Sector information (PSI) constitutes the "raw material" for a variety of products and services in applications across a wide range of industries, and analysis has concluded that it is an important economic asset. This study gives an overview of the main areas of PSI and their commercial applications. Currently geographic and meteorological information have the greatest economic potential; and so far their use has had positive impacts on employment and growth. Specifically combining various types of PSI has led to the development of innovative products such as location-based services. Technological innovation including the development of mobile networks open up further markets for PSI-based services, and better data quality and e.g. increased interoperability open up cross-border services. Industry structure has also been affected by ICTs; often higher value added producers have taken the place of previous intermediary distributors in the production value chain. Further, the roles of public and private firms are changing and the growth of mobile services markets stimulates the development of PSI business re-use further. To develop competitive PSI markets, most OECD countries have attempted to ensure private service providers face the same conditions as public institutions, enabled private sector access to public data and clarified conditions under which these data can be used. For example portals have been developed that provide an overview of available PSI and conditions for use. Important questions are: which access regimes and re-use arrangements maximise the positive economic and other benefits of PSI, and which may for example develop commercial activities based on government-created content/data. In some OECD countries access regimes allow commercial re-users have cheap and readily available access to PSI. They then add value to the public data and re-sell it to firms and consumers. Some studies argue that such open access regimes improve competitive market conditions for PSI re-use, stimulate economic growth and create jobs. However there are also arguments that commercial re-users may have low-cost access to data which was costly to create for the government, and that taxpayers may pay twice for the PSI content (once for creation of government content, and the second time when purchasing the content from a commercial re-user, although provided re-use is non-exclusive, users can also go to the original source for the original information, presumably at lower cost, but without value-added services). On the other hand, in other OECD countries, there are access regimes where the public sector holds public sector information for its own use or employs cost-recovery strategies that allow only limited and potentially expensive access. In this scenario there are arguments that potential consumers of this data may have only restricted access to it, and that this approach is more costly to the consumer and for the taxpayer. Moreover, the potential economic gains from development of new commercial activities based on PSI reuse may be foregone. The economic and equity arguments surrounding commercial re-use of public sector information and content are complex and deserve considerably more analysis and policy attention. If public sector content is to be more widely available through ICTs, it is crucial that cultural institutions have adequate in-house capacities and sustainable financial resources for digitisation. In many countries the cultural sector has faced cuts in public funding, and efficient digitisation has been a challenge for small and regional institutions. While public resources will remain important, private-public partnerships and the development of e-learning markets provide alternatives to finance content digitisation. Public sector information can also be sold and monetized to develop self-sustaining revenue streams helping data creation and digitisation efforts. Networks and interactive communities are also important because they allow cost reductions along the lines of open software development. With respect to copyright many challenges for content preservation and diffusion arise. This study addresses challenges and related policy issues with respect to both PSI and public sector content. It is a first review of the area of public sector information and content and it is proposed that follow-up work be carried out in this area, particularly on the economic and distributional aspects of different access, cost, pricing and distribution models for public sector information and content. (A bibliography is included. Selected examples of digital education institutions/projects, recommendations for online cultural content, and related abbreviations are annexed. Contains 7 figures, 17 boxes and 6 tables.)

The current lag in U. S. productivity has many implications for vocational education. Before discussing the role of vocational education in easing the productivity crisis, it is necessary to understand the causes of the crisis. Included among these are rising energy prices; the segmentation of the American work force, by both geography and skills; high turnover due to lack of work readiness or to critical skill shortages in certain occupations; and the displacement of workers by automation. The solution to these problems lies in improved education and training. In response to the need for innovative and effective training techniques, the Control Data Corporation has developed a number of products and programs, including the following: (1) a competency-based computerized education system called PLATO; (2) a program to help chronically unemployed youth find and keep jobs (entitled Fair Break); (3) a campaign to train and place disadvantaged people in skilled career positions; (4) a program called HOMEWORK that allows the disabled and/or homebound to work at home through a network of computer terminals; and (5) twenty-four Control Data Institutes that provide essential job training in the fields of computer programming and maintenance. (MN)

In May 2000, the United States Department of Labor awarded sizable Youth Opportunity (YO) Grants to 36 high-poverty urban, rural, and Native American communities. These communities were among the most economically distressed communities in the nation, all characterized by high drop out rates, high youth unemployment rates, greater incidence of juvenile crime, violence, and gang activity. The Youth Opportunity Grants--ranging from $3.1 to $43.8 million over five years--provided the resources to put in place comprehensive approaches at considerable scale. The Department's expressed intent in awarding these grants was to demonstrate that the educational outcomes and economic prospects for young people in high-poverty communities could be dramatically improved by infusing these communities with resources; building capacity and infrastructure; connecting systems; and developing comprehensive, age-appropriate opportunities for youth. The observations in this paper are based on the responses of 22 of the YO sites to a "Learning from Youth Opportunity" survey administered by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), wherein respondents were asked to identify areas of strength and challenges on 120 items in four categories: (1) Mobilizing and Engaging Leadership; (2) Connecting Systems; (3) Implementing Comprehensive Program Strategies; and (4) Engaging the Business Sector. Focus group discussions were conducted with several of the YO sites shortly after the start of the final grant year and then again as the year ended. This paper presents an assessment of the capacity building efforts in YO communities, the strengths and challenges of the program, lessons learned, and recommendations for policy and approach. The following are appended: (1) YO Community Collaborations with Other Systems; (2) Communities Indicating Success Worth Sharing in Various Areas; and (3) Contact Information for Respondents to the "Youth Opportunity: Lessons Learned Survey."

This paper describes how electronic presentations are currently used by business people. Business people in the United States and Sweden were surveyed to determine how they are using the medium. A questionnaire was mailed to 506 business people in the United States (201 returned) and to 80 business people in Sweden (76 returned). Results are discussed in terms of gender use of the medium; frequency of use; age of electronic presenters; size of companies using the medium; reasons for using electronic presentations; length of presentation; and media preference. More men than women were found to give business presentations and one to five presentations per month was the average response. The major users of electronic presentations in the United States were found to be in the 36-45 age group, while Swedish users were in the 25-35 age group. Electronic presentations were found in both countries to be most heavily used in medium-sized companies. The most popular electronic presentation is shown to an audience of less than 25 people, with a liquid crystal display and an overhead projector, using Microsoft PowerPoint software. The complete questionnaire results are appended. (AEF)

After a period of slow growth, companies that provide business news to the manager's desktop PC are now among the most rapidly growing companies in the United States information industry. Well established companies such as Desktop Data and Individual, Inc. are now being joined by a number of new services and by enhanced versions of existing services, as well as services based entirely on World Wide Web technology. The provision of profiled business news services is one of the high growth sectors in the United States online market. Some of the leading US-owned vendors are profiled in this paper, as well as emerging service operators in Europe. Some of the issues influencing the rate of adoption of these services in Europe are discussed, including database content; profiling procedures; delivery platform; pricing and billing; and marketing. (Author/AEF)

This paper discusses French and American cultural differences and their effect on the conduct of business in both countries, as well as the results of the Banque Indosuez survey of French and American attitudes towards each other. The French tend to be less committed to schedules, appointments, and deadlines than Americans, and are more circumspect in business communication and meetings. They still have some aversion to discussing money, and are less willing to take economic risks than Americans. The French education system is highly centralized and emphasizes logic, mathematics, and language skills, whereas the American system is decentralized and more pragmatic. The majority of French business executives and government officials are graduates of the Grandes Ecoles, forming a powerful elite that, in reality, run the country. French executives are seen as more cultured and better educated than their American counterparts, but with less practical experience. Although French society is highly centralized and regulated, many rules are routinely ignored. French attitudes toward sexual harassment in the workplace are more lax than in the United States, with 45 percent of French women believing that being asked to spend the weekend with a superior to discuss a possible promotion did not constitute sexual harassment. (MDM)

To compensate for declining public school budgets, an increasing number of local public education organizations are soliciting and accepting financial support from U.S. corporations. There is considerable debate as to whether corporate involvement ultimately aids or hampers students' academic achievement, and there are many conflicting opinions as to the sorts of problems that corporate involvement creates. This study is aimed at determining what types of cooperative efforts between corporations and educational institutions are currently functioning across the spectrum of school-business partnerships, and what type of oversight is needed to make them work better. A qualitative method was applied as the primary basis for organizing this research. The project utilized case studies and research literature to examine the positive and negative aspects of these relationships. The sampling group included an expert in the field of education and a corporate executive involved in school-business partnerships. This paper analyzes the business community's current involvement in the public schools, various case studies and suggestions as to how these two entities might collaborate. A quality public education is a right, not a choice for our children. "According to the most recent Funding Gap report by the non-profit group The Education Trust, many states still provide the least amount of funding to school districts serving students with the greatest needs" (Woodruff, 2008, para. 5). It is imperative that we find alternative approaches that address this imbalance. Our nation's future demands this, because success will depend on the academic achievements of our young people. The results of this study demonstrate that schools and businesses support these relationships, but the fear of change is holding us back. To a significant extent, this resistance is stunting our nation's development. Guidelines for Effective Partnerships are appended.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyse the conceptual approaches to competence and practice in competence management in France. Design/methodology/approach: Extensive literature review, discussion with academic experts in the French competence network of AGRH and interviews concerning developments following the 2003 national agreement with officials of the major trade unions and employers' associations. Findings: The conceptual approach to competence is formally comprehensive and incorporates key dimensions of the other dominant competence models. Extensive academic debate on competence does not appear to be mirrored in practice within establishments. Nevertheless, competence management has been given a major stimulus by recent legislation designed to promote lifelong learning and competence is at the centre of the reform of the training and qualifications systems. Research limitations/implications: It is still too early to assess the extent of adoption of competence management overall in the economy but there is increasing evidence that the techniques are becoming diffused throughout the economy from leading edge cases, often larger enterprises, to smaller firms and establishments. Practical implications: This paper provides valuable information for practitioners engaging with organisations in France. Originality/value: This paper gives a summary of the state of the art of competence management in France. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

In this document, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) reports on the state of technical education in Europe, the United States, and Canada. It states that technical colleges are emerging as key institutions in technology-based education to fill industry requirement for more highly skilled and technically proficient workers. In France, the number of students entering programs to train higher technicians increased 150% between 1980 and 1992. Enrollments in higher technical education in the Netherlands increased by 40% between 1980 and 1990. The structure of educational systems varies dramatically across OECD member nations, and the missions and objectives of the institutions are not always the same. Nonetheless, they are all educating students to a level of technical education that succeeds compulsory education and precedes the baccalaureate degree. Nearly every technical college system was formulated or has been reformulated to serve both the student bodies and regional economies. In a 1995 survey of 100 United States colleges, 90% of respondents referenced economic development or modernization services in their mission statement. Colleges in OECD member nations are forming alliances with industry, economic development agencies, and with other colleges as well. The author concludes that the trend seems to be toward a more expansive role for colleges. (NB)