Learning Disabilities in Guatemala and Spain: A Cross‐National Study of the Prevalence and Cognitive Processes Associated with Reading and Spelling Disabilities

The main purposes of this research were twofold. We examined the samenesses about learning disabilities (LD) in Guatemala and Spain, two countries with the same language but cultural, political, and educational differences, first analyzing data about the prevalence of reading and spelling disabilities in Guatemala City and the Spanish region of the Canary Islands. The focus of the second study was to determine whether there are cross‐national patterns of significant differences in cognitive processes associated with reading and spelling disabilities from a developmental approach in these two cultural contexts. We found some differences in the prevalence of specific LD in reading between both countries but we did not find significant differences between Guatemalan and Spanish reading‐disabled children in cognitive processes that are involved in reading and spelling acquisition in spite of the cultural and educational differences between the two countries.     

Industry and University: paths that must converge

There is a universal need for the strengthening of the bonds between the university and industrial sectors of our society. The recent upheaval in the world economy has thrown a greater responsibility on to the university sector to contribute more to the research and product development needs of industry. The evolution of industry in Ireland is a particular case and at present, there is a vital need for more R&D activity which can be greatly assisted by the universities. It is important that the restrictions within the universities for cooperation with industry are removed, in particular those relating to the participation by academic staff. The healthy future of our industry requires greater interaction between industry and university at all levels.