Despite the accuracy of the critiques of the international «competence education and testing movement», which promote narrow approaches to education based on delivering and testing prepackaged knowledge in simplistic and practically ineffective models of competence, Competence in the Learning Society shows that the development of a better framework for thinking about the nature, development, release, and assessment of competence is vital. It explores the kinds of competence that are needed if our society is to survive the impending environmental and social collapse. Competence in the Learning Society makes a case for a renewed understanding of competence which is not only about doing a job effectively, but ensuring the job is making an effective contribution by going beyond its boundaries and influencing the system in which it operates. This book also describes the kind of educational and societal systems that are needed to develop and nurture high-level competence.
Currently there is no book available that draws together thinking on «competence» in a way that is both relevant to higher-level education and illustrates recent research and practice. This book goes beyond critique of current practice to putting forward an argument for systemwide changes that are challenging and thought provoking.

Autorentext

The Contributors: John Raven, Lynne Cunningham, Tony Becher, Irene Ilott, Darlene Russ-Eft, Karen Brennan, Carolyn Desjardins, Sheila Huff, George O. Klemp, Jr., Diana Tribe, Donald Schön, Ian Cunningham, Richard E. Boyatzis, Reg W. Revans, David Botham, John Stephenson, Dave O'Reilly, W. Bryan Dockrell, Alison Wolf, Stan Lester, David C. McClelland.
The Editors: John Raven is an independent researcher and consultant on the nature, development, assessment, and release of competence. He is particularly interested in the personal, organizational, and social consequences of alternative patterns of motivation in different social contexts. He is based in Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
John Stephenson is head of the International Centre for Learner Managed Learning in Middlesex University, and was previously Director of Higher Education for Capability and Head of the School for Independent Study at the University of East London. He is advisor on computer-based, work-based learning for the UK Government's University for Industry project.