Work in Progress
Pre-apprenticeships in three key trades
Summary
- Item:
- 10356
- Title:
- Pre-apprenticeships in three key trades
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR5010
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 30 August 2005
- Contact:
- Tom Dumbrell
- phone: +61 2 9489 6305
- email: tom@dumbrell.com
Purpose
The purpose of the research will be to identify the number of pre-apprentices in electrical, construction and motor vehicle trades nationally, how the nature of courses differ, if at all, across the states/territories, what the objectives of these courses are in each jurisdiction, what are the occupational outcomes from these courses and what changes and improvements would stakeholders like to see. Through a survey of employers the study will also aim to determine the apparent value added through pre-apprenticeship. This aspect of the study will seek employer and apprentice views on whether undertaking a pre-apprenticeship assists the student in gaining an apprenticeship compared with those who have not done one; whether pre-apprenticeship graduates enjoy better retention rates through an apprenticeship related to their pre-apprenticeship study and whether their apprenticeship completion rates are better.
Approach
Data Analysis and Interviews
Research questions
The main research questions to be addressed will be:
1. What is the current level of pre-apprenticeship provision nationally (state by state and by sector)?
2. What are the demographic characteristics of pre-apprentices?
3. In general terms, does the completion of a pre-apprenticeship facilitate entry to apprenticeships and, in particular, in entry to apprenticeships related to the pre-apprenticeship undertaken?
4. What training and, ultimately, occupational pathways do pre-apprenticeships connect to now and to what extent do pre-apprenticeships constitute a pathway into apprenticeships in comparison to other course options, again focusing on the three identified occupational areas?
5. What proportion of pre-apprentices move into related apprenticeships?
6. How do training providers view the purpose of pre-apprenticeships? Are there some areas where pre-apprenticeships are inappropriate?
7. What is the role of work placement in pre-apprenticeships? What use is currently made of work placement to provide authentic on-the-job experience and to meet training package requirements?
8. What attrition rates apply in the pre-apprenticeship courses under examination and what factors contribute to early separation from pre-apprenticeship courses?
Methodology
The research methodology will combine quantitative and qualitative approaches.
A reference group will be established to include representatives from TDA, private training providers, group training companies, representatives of state/territory training agencies and DEST, and industry training councils.
Stage 1: The initial phase will be an investigation of the data on pre-apprenticeships, to update the work done by Dumbrell (2003). This will aim to identify the current state and useability of data collected, describe the distribution of pre-apprenticeships by course and by jurisdiction and show the relative importance of the focus areas in the wider context of pre-apprenticeships. A literature review will also be conducted.
Stage 2: A series of interviews will be conducted with selected state/territory training authorities including apprenticeship regulators, DEST, industry peak bodies, training providers (including TAFE and private providers), New Apprenticeship Centres, group training companies and other training brokers and selected employers and unions.
Stage 3: Survey of TAFE and private provider staff in 3 States to determine: distribution of pre-apprentice courses, duration/other course details, selection methods, relative popularity, information available on outcomes for students, arrangements for work placements, views of employers, stated and other aims of pre-apprenticeships, particular challenges, ideas for improvement/expansion, nomination of suitable courses and locations for next stage of project.
Stage 4: Survey of employers of apprentices, stratified by industry sector, size and whether employing pre-apprenticeship graduates. The survey would be undertaken through a combination of structured face-to-face interviews and mail out questionnaires. The survey of employers would also incorporate a survey of the apprentices employed within these enterprises, using both questionnaires and small focus group discussions. This approach will be facilitated by the inclusion of a number of group training organisations which deliver pre-apprenticeship programs and who are also the employer of the apprentice.
Stage 5: (a) Survey and case study work with groups of pre-apprentices enrolled in semester 1 2006. These would be in three industry areas, spread around three States. (b) Case study of students in 2 courses in different industry areas: qualitative data collection (interviews with teachers, two employers per case study, and students in two focus groups per course, up to 8 per group).
Organisations
Dumbrell Consulting Pty Ltd
Dumbrell Consulting Pty Ltd is a specialist consulting organisation in the area of vocational education, training and employment. Established in 1998 it has undertaken a range of research and policy consultancies in Australia and in the Asia-Pacific region. The principal, Tom Dumbrell has many years' experience in research project management and his background in VET and labour market policy at the Commonwealth and state levels provide a valuable background for policy-oriented research
RIVET
Vocational Education and Training research at Charles Sturt University began with major projects on enterprise training and on competency-based training, in 1994. Since then, under the banner of GREAT - the Group for Research in Employment and Training - many national projects as well as smaller consultancies have been undertaken by VET staff. In 2002 the VET Research Group was formed, following the incorporation of GREAT into another CSU research centre. In 2003, the group changed its name to RIVET (Research in VET) and is recognised by CSU as a Community of Scholars under a new research funding initiative. The five core members are: Associate Professor Erica Smith, Dr Peter Rushbrook, Mr Richard Pickersgill, Ms Ros Brennan Kemmis and Ms Annette Green.
