ABSTRACT
The US origin of the field of HRD has had a powerful effect upon its emerging evidence base and has been very influential in shaping the research agenda. However, the recent emergence of European scholarship in this field would suggest that diversity in HRD practice involves more than differences of degree along the dimensions originating in the US debate. This chapter reviews the nature of research and practice in HRD across Europe, and provides some reflection upon the extent of divergence and convergence in HRD practice both within Europe as well as between Europe and the USA. It does so by reference to a number of scholarly papers presented at a conference on HRD in Europe held at Kingston University in January 2000, and by scrutiny of earlier debate on comparative European HRM and employee relations.
