Ohio Vocational Education-University Linkages.

Overview & Synopsis

A study was conducted to develop a model to strengthen the linkages between appropriate Ohio universities and the Ohio Department of Education, State Division of Vocational and Career Education (SDVE). Alternative delivery patterns were reviewed, and appropriate vocational education-university linkage factors were identified. Next, three workable models for improving such linkages were developed, and a composite model was formulated from the three recommended for implementation. Included in the composite model were strategies for delivering the following basic services: preservice education of nonvocational teacher education-degreed persons; supervision of new vocational personnel; pedagogical, technological, and informational update; skills testing; curriculum development and dissemination; and research and development. It was recommended that the Ohio SDVE do the following: establish a transition period of at least 1 year before requiring implementation of the model, give teacher educators an important role in the implementation activities, consider some incentives to ensure the commitment of universities in the State to the proposed activities, contact other States that have reorganized their vocational education-university linkage relationships, and designate at least 50 percent of one SDVE staff person's time to maintain the linkage relationship with universities. (Appendixes to this report contain a list of advisory panel members, model rating criteria, and descriptions of the original three models.) (MN)