TOP-Ausbildungsbetrieb (TOP Training Company) – Study on the needs of workplace trainers
Top Ausbildungsbetriebe (TAB) awarded this mandate to SFUVET for the purpose of collecting data about the situation and continuing training needs of workplace trainers in three linguistic regions of Switzerland. The data collected will be used to design a range of relevant and practical continuing training courses to deepen the knowledge and skills acquired by workplace trainers during their initial 40-hour training courses at TAB.
TOP-Ausbildungsbetrieb (TOP Training Company) awarded this mandate to SFUVET for the purpose of collecting data about the situation and continuing training needs of workplace trainers in three linguistic regions of Switzerland. The data collected will be used to design a range of relevant and practical continuing training courses to deepen the knowledge and skills acquired by workplace trainers during their initial 40-hour training courses at TAB.
Several teams have been assigned to conduct the project. The first phase (phase I) is being carried out by SFUVET's R&D Division and the second phase (phase II) by SFUVET's Continuing Training Division.
The study focuses on the situation of workplace trainers (how they were chosen for this position, their motivation, their working conditions), their views on the quality of training received and their future training needs. The study consists of both a qualitative and quantitative phase. The first phase entails a series of interviews with workplace trainers, company owners/managers and apprentices in the German-, French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland. The aim of the first phase is to gain a better understanding of the day-to-day life of workplace trainers and to assess their continuing training needs. The second phase of the study is larger in scope and focuses on identifying relevant course content, methodology and preferred training formats. This will enable us to determine exactly where interests lie so that a targeted range of continuing training courses can be designed.
Project steps in Phase I
- Step 1: Analysis of qualitative data from the German-speaking region of Switzerland, identification of workplace trainers in the French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland and preparation of an interview outline
- Step 2: Interviews with workplace trainers in the French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland, identification of key elements that are different from German-speaking region of Switzerland
- Step 3: Analysis of the interviews conducted in the French- and Italian-speaking regions of Switzerland
- Step 4: Drafting of report, providing information and data to the Continuing Training Division to prepare the first steps for Phase II of the project
- Step 5: Preparation and distribution of a questionnaire for the purpose of collecting quantitative dataStep 6: Data processing (including data cleaning), re-sending of questionnaire, if necessary
- Step 7: Data analysis and drafting of the final report, sharing of information for Phase II (suggestions on the design of TAB continuing training courses)
An exploratory sequential mixed methods design will be used to collect both qualitative and quantitative data.
The project will be divided into two phases, with the first qualitative phase intended to collect information about key topics and possible content of the future continuing training courses and the second focussing on collecting quantitative information to identify the specific modalities, content and format of these courses. This will enable the development of a range of customised courses.
- Qualitative phase: semi-structured interviews aimed at documenting the situation of workplace trainers and determining their perception of the quality of training received and identifying their needs in terms of initial and continuing training as well as any other support needs that they may have.
- Quantitative phase: self-administered questionnaires (electronic format) in order to verify and confirm identified needs (topics, range of courses) and to gain insight into the relevance and feasibility of the range of continuing training courses to be offered by TAB