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Learning at work: strategies for widening adult participation in learning below Level 2 via the workplace: a scoping study

This document reports on a scoping study into approaches aimed at widening adult participation in learning in the workplace below Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) for England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It presents: the statistical evidence on participation in learning; a typology of the constraints to workplace learning; a typology of the factors supporting workplace learning, and its relationship to the constraints identified; and areas and issues in which there is a need for further research. Statistical evidence demonstrates that general participation in learning and work-related education and training activities is very much determined by an individual's demographic, educational, socio-economic and employment characteristics. A range of constraints that discourage learning in the workplace were identified within four broad groups: (1) employer restrictors, particularly a lack of employer need for higher level skills, leading to a lack of interest in education and training; (2) employee restrictors, including a lack of employee incentive to learn; (3) employer and/or employment barriers, e.g. lack of support from line managers and difficulties in organising staff release; and (4) employee barriers, e.g. negative school experiences. Factors influencing workplace learning arise from the interaction between the two dimensions of supply-demand and facilitator-driver. Employer brokerage is also identified as a 'market facilitator', matching employer training needs with appropriate supply-side provision. Relating these factors to constraints, it emerges that drivers focus on overcoming workplace learning restrictors, while facilitators tackle workplace learning barriers. Further research is needed to understand learning drivers, methods of supporting informal learning, and the needs of providers and to gather evaluative evidence about the effectiveness of various approaches to widening participation.

This document reports on a scoping study into approaches aimed at widening adult participation in learning in the workplace ...  Show Full Abstract  

Authors: Bates, Peter; Hunt, Will; Hillage, Jim
Corporate authors: Great Britain. Learning and Skills Development Agency (LSDA)
Date: 2005
Geographic subjects: Europe; Great Britain
Resource type: Report
Series name: LSDA research report
Subjects: Research; Participation; Statistics;

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