<p> <b>Purpose:</b> The purpose of this mixed methods study is to examine the degree to which Washington State community and technical college workforce education administrators perceive their institutions to be labor market-responsive based on the Community College Labor Market Responsiveness assessment&rsquo;s seven dimensions of labor market responsiveness (leadership and governance, organizational structure and staffing, organizational culture, resources and funding, information and data, relationship-building, and partnerships) and to explore the factors impacting each of the seven dimensions. </p><p> <b>Methodology:</b> This mixed methods study described 39 Washington State community and technical college workforce administrators&rsquo; perceptions of community college labor market responsiveness. An explanatory design was employed to collect quantitative data to describe, followed by qualitative data to further explain. Data was collected using a web-based survey instrument with fixed-choice Likert-type and open-ended questions. </p><p> <b>Findings:</b> Overall, 62% of workforce educational administrators perceive the community colleges in Washington to be somewhat or almost always labor market responsive. The two most displayed dimensions were leadership and governance and organizational culture, however, the weakest dimension was organizational structure. The most impactful factors identified were: resources, leadership, workforce focus, organizational factors and external engagement. An unexpected finding was the absence of the practitioners&rsquo; reference to entrepreneurial characteristics, even though this is emphasized by scholars. </p><p> <b>Conclusions:</b> Washington State community and technical colleges are experts in workforce development although many factors impact their ability to effectively respond to labor market needs. This study concludes that Washington State community and technical colleges are perceived to be moderately labor market responsive, yet committed to external relationships and partnerships, and in need of more adequate financial, human and information resources to reach their full potential. Secondly, although there is strong leadership supporting labor market responsiveness efforts, unsupportive organizational structures limit their impact. In addition, entrepreneurial approaches are necessary to navigate resource-limited environments and this is not adequately supported by community colleges. </p><p> <b>Recommendations:</b> Further research is recommended to include other populations, correlate perceptions with other indicators, and compare perceptions between more than one sample. An exploration of entrepreneurial characteristics and vocational program review processes of community colleges should also be studied.</p>

Thesis (M.M. (Public Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013. / A new Vocational Educational Policy, Botswana Technical Education Programme policy (BTEP) has been launched by the Department of Vocational Education and Training to enable the learners to acquire the necessary learning experiences and attributes towards effective preparation for the world of work. The nature of the programme is such that facilitation approaches should be learner-centred. The Quality Assurance policies are aimed to support the implementation of the BTEP. However, they were factors which hindered the effective implementation of BTEP in the Technical Colleges. Consequently, the Colleges implemented the policy partially while there was non-implementation in certain programmes at some Colleges and as a result BTEP failed to increase access in the Technical Colleges as initially intended. This was the research problem of the study. The aim of the study was to explore factors that constrained the implementation of BTEP. The related literature was consulted to determine the changes that could be made to enhance policy implementation. Subsequently, document analysis and semi-structured interviews were used to determine the current BTEP delivery practices of lecturers at four Technical Colleges in Botswana, namely, Maun Technical College, Selebi Phikwe Technical College, Francistown College of Vocational Education and Training and Palapye Technical College. Thereafter, the requirements of the policy and the current practices of the lecturers were compared to determine the factors that had hindered the implementation of BTEP. Though the research identified a number of perceived policy successes, perceived policy failures were also identified as follows: Lack of capacity to implement the policy in the Technical Colleges, lack of support for policy implementation from DTVET, lack of commitment to the policy, diverse interpretation of the policy and lastly negative attitude towards the policy was also identified as a constraining factor. Regarding these perceived constraints it was firstly recommended that DTVET should ensure that there are officers who are held accountable for the progress of the implementation of BTEP at DTVET level. Secondly DTVET should develop strategies to guide and support lecturers to implement BTEP effectively. Furthermore DTVET should ensure that messages are communicated to all stakeholders and that feedback about BTEP is clear and consistent. DTVET should also encourage the Colleges to adopt the policy, mitigate resistance and manage the implementation of BTEP. Lastly DTVET should simplify strategies for implementing the BTEP policy and avoid complex initiatives. This study may provide a solution to the problem of BTEP implementation in the Technical Colleges in Botswana. I write this in particular to advice and encourage, the Department of Vocational Education and Training, Programme Design and Development Unit, Quality Assurance Unit, College Management teams and lecturers to make use of the issues raised in this study to help them improve BTEP implementation in the Technical Colleges.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to determine if participation in an experiential based instructional program for exploring vocations in emerging and new technologies would enable academically able high school juniors and seniors to attain increased maturity of attitudes and competency in career decision-making skills as measured by the Career Maturity Inventory. A total of 64 students participated in the study. Participants came from a pool of 132 junior and senior high school students identified as having a grade point average that placed them in the top thirty percent of their class. A pretest and posttest utilizing the Career Maturity Inventory was administered to both an experimental and control group consisting of 32 subjects each. Statistical tests of significance for all null hypotheses involved the use of analysis of covariance. The effects of participation in the program, "Academically Able-Exploring Vocations in Emerging and New Technologies (AA-EVENT)" were determined by comparing the posttest scores of the experimental group and control group on the Attitude Test and each of five subtests of the Competence Test of the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI). In each case, the appropriate pretest scores were used as a covariate of the posttest to control for any initial inequalities. All null hypotheses were tested using a .05 level of significance. There was a significant difference (p < .01) in the maturity of attitudes critical in making realistic career decisions between the experimental and control groups. Participants in AA-EVENT scored significantly higher than non-participants. There was a significant difference (p < .01) in self-appraisal in regard to career capabilities between the experimental and control groups. Participants in AA-EVENT scored significantly higher than non-participants. Participants in AA-EVENT scored higher than non-participants on the "Occupational Information," "Goal Selection," and "Problem Solving" subtests of the CMI. Even though gain was significant at the .10 level for each subtest, it was not significant for the purpose of this study. The least difference between the experimental and control groups was obtained on the "Planning" subtest of the CMI. Even though the experimental group had the higher mean, the difference yielded (p < .65) was not great enough to consider participation in AA-EVENT as having an effect. . . . (Author's abstract exceeds stipulated maximum length. Discontinued here with permission of author.) UMI

This study was prepared primarily to show the students of the industrial arts field and later teachers of industrial arts that the curriculum is providing them with both academic and technical opportunities. It will also give the layman an idea that time and effort has to be put forth in planning the curriculum.

This integrating essay presents and discusses the findings of the research studies that Veronica Volkoff completed within the context of the shifts in the Australian vocational education and training landscape and resultant trends in vocational education and training policy, in particular equity policy, during the period of researching and writing the nominated works, 1995 to 2004. The research included analysis of vocational education and training in relation to: equity policy; provider inclusiveness strategies; and access, participation, completion and outcomes in relation to learners, in particular members of designated and emerging equity target groups. A range of methodologies was implemented in these studies, usually utilising a mix of both quantitative and qualitative methods. The first study, the Longitudinal study of student experiences in vocational education and training, explored the experiences of access, participation and outcomes of students in vocational education and training from a range of equity target groups. It was undertaken in six Australian locations across three states and territories. It revealed that intentions, experiences and outcomes varied across students and equity target groups and that membership of multiple equity target groups compounded disadvantage and had an adverse effect upon outcomes. The second study, a Review of equity literature, was commissioned to inform national policy and broad strategy development and analysed the situation for five designated equity target groups in vocational education and training, nationally. Two other studies focussed on Vocational education and training for people from non-English speaking backgrounds, undertaken five years apart, reviewed the literature and analysed participation and outcomes for people from non-English speaking backgrounds. A further study analysed the Delivery of vocational education and training programs by adult and community education providers, particularly its provision for people belonging to disadvantaged groups.

Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS: 88) are used to examine differential student placement and to assess the independent effects of race on academic tracking within the vocational program. The study examines how the structure of tracking within the vocational program shapes both academic achievement outcomes and career opportunities among high school students. Student's placement in the vocational program is argued to function as a unique track program that disadvantage students academically, particularly students of color. Racial-ethnic minority students are disproportionately placed into lower level academic courses and programs including vocational education. Once so placed, their subsequent enrollment patterns in specific vocational courses may have varying effects on academic and career outcomes. Few studies have attempted to disaggregate how students are further tracked once they are placed into broad high school curriculum tracks. This study analyzes the specific variations in patterns of race-ethnic student placement within vocational programs and examines the consequences of such placement for academic achievement and career attainment outcomes. Findings reveal that several racial-ethnic variations are associated with the tracking processes within the vocational program and subsequent student academic and career outcomes. Race-ethnicity most often was negatively associated with performance on standardized achievement tests and enrollment into low vocational tracks, primarily among males. There were noteworthy gender differences in the assignment within vocational tracks, academic success, and eventual employment status and occupational placement.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Open University. BLDSC no. DX77998.

Thesis (M.A.)--University of Chicago, 1921.

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves.