Academics worry grade inflation lowers standards; whereas, employers are concerned grades may not distinguish students’ abilities. These concerns are dismissed if higher grades reflect improved academic achievement and not inflation. Potential grade inflation is examined using data from 17,696 classes between 1985 and 2019 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Texas A&M University. Evidence of systemic grade increase is found after controlling for institution, instructor, and student characteristics. Grade increases are partially explained by recruiting better and more female students. Grade inflation, however, may be associated with increased hiring of graduate students and other instructors.

Abstract. Armenia has been well known for wine production for many centuries. During Soviet times the industry was particularly specialized in wine, brandy and sparkling wine making. Nearly 25% of brandy produced in the Soviet Union was made in Armenia. After the independence in early 1990s, the industry as a whole collapsed and production volumes declined sharply. Wine industry also shrunk dramatically. During late 90s and early 2000s the sector started to grow slowly. However, the main driver of the sector was brandy production. During recent years the volumes of wine production also started to slowly recover. However the wineries in Armenia still have a number of problems: technology and equipment in wineries need to be replaced; production and quality control systems do not correspond to the international requirements; there is a lack of specialists for key winemaking positions, such as wine technologist or laboratory specialist; there is a need for short-term and long-term training, since most of professionals that graduate from wine-related departments in higher or vocational education institutions do not possess necessary skills and practical experiences to contribute to the production process. The main goal of this research was to improve the perception of the experience, management systems and needs of winemaking companies in Armenia, as well as to identify training and technical assistance needs for winemakers. The focal point of this study was the winemakers' training needs assessment, as a result of which it is envisaged to develop and implement training programs in winemaking sector jointly with well known foreign universities. In the scope of the study Management Systems and Skill Assessment has been conducted and number of recommendations for improvement has been proposed.

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