Corporate Education and Training.

Overview & Synopsis

Characteristics of education and training provided by corporations, and the role of corporations as providers of education and as collaborators, competitors, and supporters of traditional institutions are examined. In addition, the history of corporate-based education and training is traced, and internal and external factors that determine what corporations do and might do in the future are addressed. Finally, information gaps that currently exist about this sector of postsecondary education are identified, and the way that public policy may influence education in industry is considered. Corporate-based education and training serves the needs of several populations: youth and entry-level workers, dislocated and retrained workers, and employees. Most of what goes on in corporate programs is training: job-specific and company-specific. A smaller but growing sector of corporate activity overlaps the domain of postsecondary institutions and traditional higher education and adult education. The total expenditure for corporate-based education and training has been estimated at $30 billion annually. (SW)