I am about to start on my dissertation for my degree and would like any ideas, sources of information or general comments on vocational training.
How does the current provision for vocational learning and training equip the workforce with the necessary skills and abilities?
OR
A critical examination of the current provision for vocation learning and training within the UK and drawing a comparision with Europe?
Tammy Pike
What is the agenda of the current provision?
How does it match up with Europe?
Views of employers on current provision e.g. cloth cap versus professional OR do employers hinder the vocational routes due to wanting qualifications?
Should education be purely to manufacture employees and create a workforice OR should education have social ambitions - i.e to create a more educated public - education for education sake or pleasure of learning?
What about the governments influence and initiatives i.e. do they aid or hinder vocational training?
Are there too many bodies involved, to many routes - i.e. do people understand the current education system and routes?
What about professional versus cloth cap - how do they compare?
Any help would be gratefully recieved.
Tammy Pike
2 Responses
Where do you start!!
This is a huge subject area to tackle. First off, my advice would be to focus on two or three industry sectors as a basis for comparison.
As for organisations to approach, obviously the learning and skills council and the QCA. They both produce all sorts of reports. Also try the sector skills councils and NTO for a more sector specific viewpoint.
I would also strongly suggest that you request to use the DFES libraries at either Sheffield or Westminster. I used them for a similar project about 3 years ago and found them incredibly helpful. You’ll find all the reports you need in one place and in many cases the original documents. The staff were also very helpful. As a student you should not have any problem getting access.
Finally, as a University contact, try the Centre for Labour Market Studies at Leicester University. They have loads of research in this area and again are very helpful. I did my masters through them.
Feel free to drop me an email if I can be of any further help.
Cheers
David Tournay
CEDEFOP
For the European dimension, visit the CEDEFOP website, http://www.cedefop.eu.int and their sister site http://www.trainingvillage.gr/etv