Vocational Training Centres Research Articles

Is Vocational Education and Training Fostering Entrepreneurship ?

In the framework of economic development recent years, a significant importance as been given to the entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprise development from developed countries and those in transition. Entrepreneurship reduces poverty and unemployment. Entrepreneurs with their innovative ideas establish their enterprises, provide their products or services to the market and positively affect the country's economy and development by hiring employees and paying their tax revenues. Therefore, governments have been investing on entrepreneurship trying to create entrepreneurs. The dilemma that remains whether the government's investment in vocational education and training foster entrepreneurship? Can entrepreneurs be created by training and education or entrepreneurs are highly driven by commitment and they were born to be an entrepreneur? This paper aims to investigate the influence of Vocational Training in terms of employment, entrepreneurship, new venture establishment and job creation in Kosovo. For purpose of this study, a single case study approach was employed with intention to explore and investigate the influence of Vocational training Center in terms of entrepreneurship and employment in Mitrovica, the region with highest rate of poverty and unemployment. This center provide to the job seekers that are registered as unemployed training or retraining professionally and for free. The VTD is responsible for managing the most advanced government vocational training network in Kosovo, comprising eight Vocational Training Centres and six Mobile Training Centres Vocational training Center in Mitrovica currently provide training in woodwork, kitchen, textiles, construction, metal processing, computer basics and business administration.

Arkivyskupas Mečislovas Reinys tautų atmintyje : piligrimų kelias

Straipsnyje nagrinėjama Vladimiro (prie Kliazmos) Švč. Mergelės Marijos Rožinio Karalienės bažnyčios pa­rapijiečių grupelės, vadovaujamos klebono t. Sergejaus Zujevo, piligrimystė Lietuvoje arkivyskupo Mečislovo Reinio (1884 02 03 – 1907 06 10 – 1926 04 05 – 1953 11 08) vardo įamžinimo keliais. Pristatomi lietuvių atlikti darbai Vladimire, garsinant M. Reinio vardą, jie tapo svarbia paskata piligrimystei. Straipsnyje apžvelgiama informacijos apie piligrimystę sklaida (spaudoje, per radiją ir pranešimus konferencijose), pasakojama apie Skapiškyje pastatytą rūpintojėlį, aptariami kiti renginiai. Piligrimystė liudija trijų tautų – lietuvių, ukrainiečių ir rusų – atstovų dėmesį M. Reiniui. Viena svarbiausių jungiamųjų grandžių – Skapiškis. Atskleidžiamas ukrai­niečių (dvasininkų bei pasauliečių) domėjimasis Skapiškyje kaupiama su Ukraina susijusia medžiaga, aptaria­ma, kaip puoselėjamas Klementijaus Šeptyckio (1869 11 17 – 1915 08 28 – 1951 05 01) – ukrainiečio, Studitų ordino (graikų apeigų katalikų) archimandrito, 2001 m. paskelbto palamintuoju – atminimas.

Speed of psychomotor reactions of pupils of the vocational rehabilitation training centre

The aim of the research is to assess the change of psychomotor reactions of persons having intellectual disorders by applying individual programmes for development of physical abilities. 12 individuals with mild intellectual disorders and 13 individuals with moderate intellectual disorders who attend the vocational rehabilitation training centre participated in the research. The research was carried out on the ground of linear experiment methods. Assessment of the psychomotor reactions speed was carried out using hardware and software Ergos II Work Simulator. After the fi rst assessment, individual programmes for development of physical abilities have been designed and applied; the main aim of the programmes was to develop psychomotor reactions of people with intellectual disorders by applying physical exercises.

Former Child Soldiers’ Problems and Needs

With this article, we explore how staff working at transit centers and vocational training centers in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo experienced the problems and needs of former child soldiers. We argued that the staff's experience of the children's daily lives and their understanding of the sociocultural context of the conflict make their perspective a valuable source of information when trying to understand the phenomenon of child soldiering. Additionally, we reasoned that how the staff frame these children's problems influences how they attempt to aid the children. We conducted 11 semistructured interviews and analyzed these using a hermeneutical-phenomenological approach. We clustered our findings around six themes: unfavorable contextual factors, acting as if still in the army, addiction, symptoms of psychopathology, social rejection, and reintegration needs. The overarching message we observed was that the informants experienced that former child soldiers require help to be transformed into civilians who participate proactively in their society.

Producing “Silent Brewmasters”: Deaf Workers and Added Value in India's Coffee Cafés

AbstractThis article ethnographically explores how and why deaf workers are hired in new Indian coffee shop chains. Arguing that such workers produce added value for the corporations that hire them, hearing coworkers, and customers who frequent these outlets, this article also explores the ambivalence that deaf workers feel about such employment “opportunities.” As a result of the decline in public‐sector employment, the private sector has become a new site of disability employment, and nongovernmental organizations and vocational training centers have been created to train and place disabled workers in the private sector. In the process of such training and placement, these institutions create “workers with disabilities” as a category. Through participant observation, interviews, and literature review, this article explores how this category is produced and what its effects and affects are.

Constructing and Practicing Vocational Knowledge at Workplace

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is currently viewed as a tool for socio-economic development. This research paper examines how individuals construct vocational knowledge by engaging in practice in particular social settings, and how the influence of those circumstances is mediated by individuals’ prior knowledge premised on their personal histories. In order to achieve these objectives, the paper provides an overview of forms of knowledge which are goals of vocational Education and Training. This is followed by an account of sources of knowledge synthesized from the socio-cultural literature. This is a brief description of a study which examined how vocational knowledge is constructed by individuals participating in three different settings and the findings reported. It is concluded that vocational knowledge is constructed from history, community and ontogeny through micro genetic development. Finally, implications for vocational education and training are advanced. Key words : Vocational knowledge sources, social settings, personal histories, ontogeny, vocational training centres

Comparing the Smoking Status of Working Adolescents with Adolescents Enrolled in High School in Turkey.

Smoking is one of the most important public health problems. There is limited data about the smoking status of working adolescents. In this study we aimed to compare the smoking status of working adolescents with adolescents enrolled in high school in Turkey. Workers were recruited from a vocational training center, and control subjects were from a local high school. Questionnaires about socioeconomic status and smoking were applied. Eight hundred and two participants (436 workers) were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 16.8 years. Smoking frequencies were 40% and 21% for the workers' group and the control group, respectively (P<0.001). Adolescent workers were more frequently exposed to second-hand smoke at home. Working [odds ratio (OR): 2.49, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81-3.43], age over 17 (OR: 1.77, 95% CI: 1.28-2.44), and male sex (OR: 1.57, 95% CI: 1.00-2.44) were found to be significantly effective on smoking in the logistic regression analysis. Working adolescents had significantly higher smoking rates and exposed to second-hand smoke at home than high school students. Further studies are needed to explore the reasons of higher smoking rates in working adolescents than in high school students.

Efficacy of a smoking cessation program in a population of adolescent smokers in vocational schools: a public health evaluative controlled study

BackgroundTo evaluate the public health efficacy of a community-based smoking cessation program (TABADO) among vocational school trainees (15 to 20 years old).MethodsThis prospective, controlled, quasi-experimental study was conducted in eight vocational training centres (VTC) in France. The intervention group underwent the TABADO program, which included a general information session for all students and small-group sessions plus individual counselling and nicotine therapy, if needed, for volunteers in an enhanced program. The control group received no specific intervention other than the educational services usually available. The primary outcome was 30-day point prevalence abstinence at 12 months.ResultsThe mean age of the 1,814 students included was 16.9 years (SD = 1.0); 84.7% were males. At baseline, 52% were smokers and 5.7% ex-smokers. In the intervention group, 24.6% of smokers volunteered for the enhanced program and 18.1% could be included. By 12-month follow-up, with participants lost to follow-up considered non-abstinent, 10.6% of smokers in the intervention group had become abstinent versus 7.4% in the control group (adjusted p = 0.03; odds ratio [OR] = 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–3.0); considering lost to follow-up as missing data, 17% of intervention group participants were abstinent versus 11.9% in the control group (univariate p = 0.08; adjusted p = 0.008; OR = 2.1; 95% CI = 1.2–3.6).ConclusionThe TABADO program, targeting teenagers in vocational schools, was effective in producing a higher 12-month abstinence rate among all smokers in the intervention group.Trial registrationClinical trial identification number is NTC00973570.

Abuse of working children and influencing factors, Turkey

ObjectiveThe study was planned as the research of the kind/kinds of abuse and the factors influencing the abuse that the children under 18 who are working full-time at a workplace and enrolled in a vocational training center subjected to. MethodQuestionnaires were administered to 595 apprentices who were attending a vocational training center. ResultsIt was determined that totally 62.5% of the apprentices are subjected to abuse at their workplaces −21.8% physical, 53.6% emotional and 25.2% sexual-, 100% of them are subjected to physical neglect, and 28.7% of them are subjected to emotional neglect. While being subjected to abuse in the family increases all kinds of abuse; divorced parents, being male, low wage of the apprentice increase the possibility of the physical abuse at a work place; the low family income and the extended working time of the apprentice increase the possibility of sexual abuse. Working conditions and workplace characteristics, evaluated within the context of physical neglect are bad in all apprentices. In all kinds of abuse, employer abuse is higher than other people at work. ConclusionIn spite of their being legally protected in theory, the children who are being employed with labor contracts can not benefit from this protection practically at their workplaces. It is seen that most apprentices are subjected to abuse and neglect. Employment of the children is an area which is open to exploitation. It is necessary to prevent the abuse of working children and workplaces should be constantly inspected. The relation between domestic abuse and workplace abuse demonstrates that families occupy the key point in the vicious circle of violence.

The vocational rehabilitation service system in Japan

Working-age Japanese with disabilities (ages 15–64) experience substantially lower employment rates compared to non-disabled Japanese, indicating a need for policy and programs that promote disability employment opportunities in competitive settings. Historically, the vocational rehabilitation (VR) service system in Japan has involved two government administrations – the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Health and Welfare – that, despite the merger in 2001, continue to focus on competitive and facility-based(sheltered) employment, respectively. In this paper, the authors provide an overview of the enabling legislation, key policies and measures, and personnel resources of the VR service system under labour. A cornerstone policy and practice issue is the engagement of a mandatory disability employment quota for public-sector and private-sector employers administered by public employment security offices (PESO), and public employment and rehabilitation services delivered through a network of PESO offices, local and regional vocational centers, vocational training centers and employment support centers for persons with disabilities. The authors conclude with a discussion of current issues and trends in rehabilitation in Japan and implications for future cross-national comparative research. The information presented in this paper is based on a literature review and key informant interviews conducted between May 2012 and June 2012.

Socio-Economic Factors Affecting Acquisition of Vocational Skills in Ogoja and Obudu Local Government Areas in Cross River State

This study on socio-economic factors affecting vocational skills acquisition was undertaken in two Obudu and Ogoja Local Areas in the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River Sate of Nigeria. One hundred and seventy three (173) respondents were examined, using gender, age, marital status, literacy status, poverty/income level and employment status as regressors against vocational skills acquired (VSA) as a response variable. Through the use of descriptive statistics, the study revealed the order of patronage to be computer operation, auto-electrical, carpentry, hairdressing, tailoring, welding, shoe-mending, auto-mechanic, printing and painting. Also, out of the 173 respondents that constituted the sample size of the study, 130 were men while 43 were women, 120 were within the age bracket of 20-30 while 53 were 31 years and above. One hundred and twenty three (123) were single while 50 were married. Also, it was discovered that out of the 173 respondents, 57 had first school leaving certificate, 82 had Senior Secondary School Certificate (SSC), 16 had Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE), 7 had B.Sc or B.A, while 11 never went to school. The study also showed that all the 173 respondents were self-employed while 167 of them indicated that they were living above poverty line, implying that their daily earnings were N150.00 and above per day. One way ANOVA was used to test the null hypotheses. The ratio of between to within variance (calculated F-ratio) was 1.01, while the tabulated F-ratio was 2.41 at 0.05 probability level at 172 degree of freedom. Since F-cal&lt; F-tab, it means there is a significant relationship between vocational skills acquired (VSA) and the specified socio-economic variables. It is therefore recommended that any designed skills acquisition programme must take into cognizance socio-economic determinants of the participating groups for the desired results to be achieved. Also, since the vocational training centres have shown the above level of success in manpower development and capacity building, adequate budgetary provisions should be made by the states and local governments to guarantee continuous poverty reduction and the capacity building process.

Evaluation of work capacity of vocational school students of decorator’s speciality with Ergos II

The aim of the research – to evaluate the change in work capacity in students of the speciality of decorator applying vocational rehabilitation programmes. The students of the vocational training study programme of the decorator in the vocational training centre (N=10) participated in the research. In performing the present research the method of linear experiment has been chosen. The respondents were evaluated with ERGOSII Work Simulator. Individual rehabilitation programme for training work capacity was created for every respondent and performed for three month time period. After three months the re-evaluation was performed.

Formación continua en centros de FP y actividades de innovación en las Pymes industriales

The current economic crisis is affecting Spain with special force. Within that context, the relationships between the education system and the economic system become a key issue. The aim of this paper is to make a contribution to the understanding of the relationships between vocational training (VT) centres and small and medium-sized firms (SMEs). Our study is based on a survey of industrial SMEs from two Northern Spanish autonomous communities (Basque Country and Navarre). The different types of SME-VT centre relationship are analyzed, and special attention if devoted to new forms of relationships among those agents (mainly continuous training), and to the possible effects of SME-VT centre collaboration upon the firms’ innovation processes. We show that, right now, continuous training activities are a key form of relationship between VT centres and SMEs. That type of relationship acquires an strategic importance from the point of view of the coordination between the training system and the innovation system.

Challenges faced by visually disabled people in use of medicines, self-adopted coping strategies and medicine-related mishaps.

Difficulties faced by visually disabled people when using medicines, self-adopted coping strategies, and medicine-related mishaps have been under-explored locally and internationally. The objective of this study was to gain insight regarding this long-neglected issue. A descriptive cross-sectional study, using an interviewer administered questionnaire on 63 visually disabled adults was carried out at a vocational training centre and a school for visually disabled students in Sri Lanka. Among 63 participants, 71% wanted to be independent in medicine use and 79% in spite of difficulties had self-administered medicines. They had difficulty in locating medicines (25.39%), identifying medicines and medicine containers (17.46%), and administering liquid medications (25.39%). These difficulties led to inaccurate dosing (14.28%), missed doses (39.68%), and discontinuation of treatment prematurely (28.57%). Self-adopted coping strategies to overcome these difficulties included using different sized and shaped containers, tying medicines to the attire, and dipping their finger into a measuring cup while measuring liquid medicines. Mishaps related to medicines such as taking vinegar instead of gripe mixture and, putting ear drops into eyes were disclosed. There were many challenges for visually disabled people in taking medicines and some self-adopted coping strategies were inadequate to overcome these.

Health and safety of students in vocational training in Quebec: a gender issue?

Health and safety issues in a vocational training center were explored in this study. Several sources and methods were used: group interviews with students in traditionally female [F] and male [M] trades, i.e. hairdressing (7 F) and automated systems electromechanics (8 M, 1 F); self-administered questionnaires on injuries sustained at the school; observations of activities in these programs; and analysis of ministerial documents. Findings indicate that the partially divergent ways that OHS is addressed in these programs cannot be explained only by the specific characteristics of the two trades. Some aspects put female students in hairdressing at a disadvantage: status accorded to OHS in the study programs, learning activities, and conditions for learning and managing prevention and injuries. The discussion focuses on a gender-differentiated analysis, the importance of improving the way OHS is addressed in the programs, in particular, those primarily involving female students, and the need to pursue research. In addition, the results from individual interviews with women (5 F) training for non-traditional trades lead to discussion on the interrelated effects of sex-based gender and professional gender.

Zihin Engelliler Sınıf Öğretmenlerinin Eğitim Uygulama Okulu Programına ve Öğretimde Kullandıkları Yöntemlere İlişkin Görüşleri

This study aims at identifying the opinions of class teachers of mentally disabled on the school program of the education application schools and vocational training centers and the methods they use in teaching. Semi-structured interview, which one of qualitative research methods, have been used in the study. 11 class teachers of mentally disabled, serving at education application school and vocational school, have participated in the study. Data was collected with the interview form, prepared by the authors, which contained interview questions for which expert opinions have been obtained. Data obtained with the interview method was analyzed with the inductive analysis technique. The study results have shown that the teachers believed that the contents of the lessons included into the program and the textbooks were inadequate; that more emphasis should be placed on communal and social skills, early education, language and speech, physical education, music and drawing lessons; that religion lessons should not be given by branch teachers; and it has been observed that some the teachers were not fully cognizant on methods used in special education.

Training yourself while training students: The constant challenge of vocational training teachers

This study characterized teachers' work at a vocational training (VT) center and the conditions under which the activity is learned. We interviewed administrators and 12 teachers (4 males, 8 females) representing three study programs, selected as representative (age, seniority, and employment status). What emerged was a portrait of an evolving profession within an organization that was highly structured in terms of the assignment of tasks and schedules, but unstructured in terms of support for job adaptation and job retention. The major challenges for the teachers were to integrate their trade-specific knowledge with the new skills required to teach the trade, and to find time for class preparation. The lack of resources and support caused dissatisfaction, stress, problematic work-study-family balance, and health problems, particularly among new teachers. A passion for teaching seems to compensate partly for these difficulties but it is uncertain for how long. Further research is necessary in order to understand the coping strategies employed by vocational training teachers. The findings of this study offer guidance for the development of resources that can assist with learning and performing the work of a VT teacher, and for a better recognition of the work of VT teachers.

Healthcare in the Roman Province of Moesia Inferior

The present article, which outlines a part of daily life in the Roman province of Moesia Inferior, focuses on aspects that have scarcely been treated so far by historians, namely on healthcare and on practitioners of medicine both in civil communities and in the army. This author examines the dissemination of medical practices in the cities of the province and in the castra. For civil medicine, the archaeological evidence, from the Greek cities especially, is consistent with the information from epigraphic monuments. Tombs of physicians display an image of that profession in the era of glory that Hippocratic arts enjoyed in the Lower Danube area. They show, to a great extent, the level of complexity achieved by the treatment of certain diseases, which spread also to vocational training centers. Last but not least, as pointed out by this author, the Roman troops that were quartered in castra and castella of the province Moesia Inferior also benefited from specialized medical care.

Relationships between vocational training centres and industrial SMEs in the Basque Country: a regional innovation system approach

Purpose: The aim of this document is to analyse the reach of the relation between vocational training (VT) centres and industrial SMEs in the Basque Country (Spain), and its influence on innovation processes developed by companies.

Skill acquisition, capacity building and women economic empowerment: a case study of Women Education Center, Birnin Kebbi

Lack of vocational training has been considered as the bane of the economy of many African countries particularly Nigeria. The indispensable role of women in any development process calls for eradication of gender related barriers and women empowerment at all levels. This study examined the impact of skill acquisition and capacity building on women economic empowerment with reference to the activities of Women Education Center Birnin Kebbi. A sample of 225 respondents was selected from a population of 452 graduates due to time and cost constraints. A descriptive survey was conducted using a structured interview. Two null hypotheses stated were tested using spearman rank correlation coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that there is a low positive correlation between skill acquisition and women economic empowerment and a high positive correlation between capacity building and women economic empowerment. However, while the relationship between skill acquisition and women economic empowerment was not significant, the relationship between capacity building and women economic empowerment was significant. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that government should invest more on human capital development particularly on women, increase expenditure on instructional materials and infrastructural facilities at vocational training centers, improve by assisting trainees with capital to start business. Finally, women should be allowed by their guardians to learn functional skills to improve their economic status and avail themselves the opportunity offered by government to get functional skills. This will go a long way in attaining the MDGs.