Book Description

A series of seven case studies examined vocational training, human resources development, and regional development in rural Mid-Wales. The case studies focused on the following: a business mentor program that uses the Welsh language and culture as a development resource, adult training in the county of Powys, integrated development at the community level, sectoral initiatives regarding tourism, efforts to confront the crisis posed by closure of the Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Plant, public agency support of industrial investment in regional economic development initiatives, and regional enterprise support mechanisms. Each case study included an examination of socioeconomic context, agencies involved, existing training framework, regional development issues, and possible evaluation methods. No agreement regarding what constitutes a region in Mid-Wales or what constitutes regional development could be found. All of the development initiatives studies were found to involve two or more development agents pursuing slightly different development agendas, albeit with overlapping interests. Because of the diverse ways the participants in the various initiatives defined regional development, the contribution of training to development was not always clear. The importance of conducting assessment, implementation, and development evaluations despite their complexity and the many problems they entail was emphasized. (MN)