Inter-firm co-operation in training

• Summary
• Purpose
• Approach
• Research questions
• Methodology
• Organisations

Summary

Purpose

This research will investigate inter-firm cooperation in the provision of training in Australia. The research will involve a literature review and a survey asking about the extent to which they co-operate with other firms in the provision of training.

Approach

Literature review & survey

Research questions

1. What is the extent of inter-firm cooperation in training in Australia?

* How many and what proportion of firms cooperate with other firms in the provision of training?

* What proportion of the training effort of firms is covered by cooperative arrangements with other firms?

2. What are the differences between regions and industry regarding inter-firm cooperation in training in Australia?

* Which industries cooperate more than others in the provision of training and why?

* Which regions cooperate more than others in the provision of training and why?

3. What types of training elicit the greatest cooperation between firms?

* Is cooperation greater for management or technical training?

* Is cooperation greatest for firm, industry or generic skills?

* Is cooperation greater for nationally accredited training or other forms of training?

4. What kinds of inter-firm arrangements facilitate cooperation in training?

* What role do supply arrangements play in inter-firm cooperation?

* To what extent are arrangements formalised?

5. What are the perceived benefits of inter-firm cooperation in training?

* Improved quality of training (including standardisation)?

* Greater amount of training?

* Reduced cost of training?

* Ability to provide training that would not otherwise be available?

6. What role does the formal VET sector play in arrangements between firms to cooperate in the provision of training?

* Has VET policy facilitated or hindered cooperation between firms in the provision of training?

* Are inter-firm arrangements substitutes or complements for formal VET provision?

* Do RTOs have any role in facilitating cooperation between firms?

* Do nationally accredited training packages help firms to cooperate when providing training?

* Do New Apprenticeships play any role in the cooperative training arrangements among firms?

7. What difficulties are encountered when establishing cooperative training arrangements?

* How can VET policy address these difficulties?

* How can RTOs and Skill Councils address these difficulties?

Methodology

Stage 1: Planning and Preparation

* Design of the questionnaire

* Piloting of the questionnaire

* Conversion of the questionnaire to a web-based form

* Design of the sample

* Ethics approval

* ABS Statistical Clearing House approval

* Contact with industry associations and skill councils to promote awareness of the survey.

Stage 2: Data Gathering and Analysis

* The central activity is the conduct of the web-based survey and ensuring high response rates.

* Analysis of data set. Much of the analysis will be simple cross tabulations that address the principal research questions.

Stage 3: Report Writing and Feedback

Organisations

The Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET) is a joint venture of Monash University-the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Business and Economics-and the Australian Council for Educational Research, (ACER). The Centre undertakes research, research training, consultancies and dissemination on the economics and finance of education and training. CEET publishes working papers, research reports, monographs, collections of papers and a newsletter. Staff participate in workshops and seminars, particularly for the education and training community and other research organisations. Further details are available on the Centre's web site www.education.monash.edu.au/centres/ceet.

The Centre for Educational Multimedia (CEMM) is a research centre within the Faculty of Education at Monash University. CEMM provides research and development services and support to the education and training sectors. Centre researchers are particularly interested in evaluation methodologies, evaluating new technologies, and providing support for groups and individuals with an interest in improving the ways in which technologies can be used for knowledge construction and community building. CEET and CEMM have cooperated previously in the conduct of several web-based surveys.