Learning a Living : Radical Innovation in Education for Good Work Paperback

Learning a Living is a timely, engaging and original contribution to the debate over the relationship between education, innovation, work and the workforce.

The acute concerns around rising unemployment, especially amongst the young (in the context of the global recession) will benefit from this authoritative contribution which highlights fresh thinking, inspiring practice, and ways of encouraging the spread of such practice.

The book explores the major trends shaping education for work, highlights success stories from around the world and features interviews and portraits of key figures, pioneering thinkers and learners, all illustrated with outstanding photography.

It identifies common themes of the successful programmes featured - vital to thinking about how to scale up.

Initiatives included 1. Big Picture Learning, USA is a highly successful network of schools, now international, which incorporates sustained internship and entrepreneurship learning into every student's experience 2.

Rising Sun Energy Centre operates across California, providing workforce development and employment that creates green pathways for young people and adults 3. La Bastilla Technical Agricultural School, Nicaragua, in partnership with NGO Teach A Man to Fish, is an example of a self-sustaining model of education, running seven businesses and providing students with practical, hands-on learning opportunities and business experience. 4. Lumiar Schools, Brazil are primary schools based in the state of Sao Paolo which follow a project-based curriculum shaped around the students' interests. The schools have 'tutors' - responsible for the pastoral support of the students - and 'masters', experts from the local community who work part time to design projects in collaboration with the students. 5. LOYAC, Kuwait works to enable young Kuwaitis to enter the workforce effectively and successfully through preparatory programmes of internship, community service, leadership development and creative arts. 6. INJAZ, Morocco is a social enterprise bridging the gap between education and work by engaging business to work as volunteers teaching entrepreneurialism to high school and university students 7. Jordan Career Education Foundation (JCEF), aims to reduce unemployment amongst Jordanians, and establish a new generation of confident professional leaders.

It focuses on the demand for skills, and intentionally seeks out excluded groups to train for employment opportunities 8.

Silver Human Resources Centre, Japan is a network of centres and community hubs which offer retirees aged 60 and above community-based work and intergenerational training in skills such as IT and translation on a flexible basis. 9. South University of Science and technology of China (SUSTC) is a newly-established independent university initiated by the Shenzhen authorities out of a desire to transform the local economy from one that is predominantly manufacturing-based to one that is at the cutting edge of technology and innovation 10.

Infosys, India is a successful multinational software company, whose global education centre exemplifies 'corporate universities' and trains 20,000 new graduates a year to become highly skilled professionals - and exemplars of their corporate values. 11. BRAC, Bangladesh: the worlds biggest NGO, founded in Bangladesh and now working internationally to catalyse human development.

Programmes span from primary schooling to microfinance, and from university education to ethical banking. 12. Widows' Alliance Network (WANE), Ghana is an organization empowering widows to understand their human rights, and learn skills to start small businesses.

Founded by Akumaa Mama Zimbi, a national television and radio star who is using her celebrity to spread the message across the country and the continent. 13. Smallholders' Rural Radio, Nigeria: an NGO broadcasting a radio show to farmers that helps them to learn modern farming methods, improve the quality of their crops and increase their yield. 14. 2ie, Burkina Faso: a pan-African University, specializing in engineering, water and the environment.

Students learn to be entrepreneurs and technical experts in order to tackle Africa's major challenges and help shape the future of the continent. 15. Omnia, Finland is a 10,000 strong multi-sector, multi-site vocational training provider serving 3 municipalities. It is working to reshape vocational training (including apprenticeship) to be more attractive, relevant, career-oriented, innovative, accessible and flexible.