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This report contains the keynote speeches and workshop papers presented at the 1999 Transatlantic Conference and Workshop on skill standards in the fields of: information technology; and environmental and processing technology. The key note speeches (from political and research representatives from the US and Germany) formed the background and framework for the workshops. The speeches from the political representatives addressed the challenges to education and training in a fast changing economy and the problems, requirements and options of an IT-based economy while research representatives focused on the quality, structure and development of skills standards (training regulations) and the political and economic impacts of standard setting. Discussions in the two workshop groups were structured around the following questions: How will the new career/occupational fields be structured and how will their qualification profiles be defined? What are the overlaps or interfaces with other fields and how are possible conflicts as well as complementarities being treated? How are 'white fields' or undefined areas treated - as problems to close up, or as opportunities to be left open? What counts as 'competence' in these fields and how does it connect academic and theoretical with applied technical skills, and these in turn with problem solving, evaluation, team work and work-shaping skills? What levels of independent judgement and authority are expected in the new qualifications and jobs? Does it make sense to try to set standardised numerical 'levels' of skills and qualifications in these new fields? Which skills are required and which are elective? Which should be part of national standards, which particular to the practices of a specific firm or sub-sector? Who sets the content standards, and how are recognised roles in standard setting legitimised? How are testing and certification organised, and how are portability and acceptance assured? What is shared by initial qualification and (vs.) re-training or re-qualification of older workers? Where are the differences?