Dear FASSET Client
As you would know, business, government and labour have made some key commitments last month (July 2011) to address skills shortage with signing of the National Skills Accord. Part of this commitment is to expand the placement of artisans on apprenticeships, as well as learners on learnerships and internships. Addressing the challenge of skills development is one of the core aspects of the New Growth Path.
We believe SETAs have a strategic role to play in ensuring that these commitments are realised through collaboration with employers and other stakeholders involved. Consequently, we are embarking on a research project that seeks to support the goals of the National Skills Development Strategy III (2011-2016) in general, and more specifically, the commitments made in the National Skills Accord. This research project is jointly funded by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and UNISA.
The focus of the research project is on the South African Occupational Learning System, with specific reference to the management and evaluation of Occupational Learning Programmes, namely, Learnerships and Apprenticeships. The purpose of this research is to develop a valid and reliable measure for the effective management and evaluation of occupational learning programmes, and to contribute towards the development of a holistic and integrated model.
The justification for this research is based on the growing impetus to accelerate skills development for sustainable employment and economic growth in South Africa. Therefore, it is believed that skills development through learnerships and apprenticeships is a key trajectory for economic success and social upliftment in South Africa as emphasised in the National Skills Development Strategy III (NSDS 2011-2016).
You have been identified as one of the key participants in this research project based on your knowledge/experience/exposure in skills development issues in South Africa. We believe that your perspective of occupational learning in particular and an understanding of the South African skills development system would make a significant contribution to this research project. To date, there has not been any empirical study on record focusing on the key issues encapsulated in the purpose of this research.
The design of this research project places considerable emphasis on quantitative data, which would be supplemented by qualitative data. Therefore, we would be more grateful if you could spare some of your precious time to complete this questionnaire by “CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW”. This questionnaire consists of items related to the different dimensions of the effective management and evaluation of an occupational learning programme, and each of these items will be assessed using a six point rating scale ranging from ‘Strongly Agree’ to ‘Strongly Disagree’. In addition and as highlighted above, some qualitative items were included in the instrument to solicit data that complements these different dimensions of the effective management and evaluation of an occupational learning programme, and to provide answers to other specific questions pertaining to the empirical phase of this research.
It would take about 20 to 30 minutes of your time to complete this questionnaire which is comprised of three sections. To complete this online survey, please click on the link below:
Please be assured that the information you provide would be treated confidentially and anonymously. You would not be required to disclose your identity in any way for anonymity purposes. Furthermore, the information you provide would be used for the purposes of this research only and will not be made available to third parties. You are presumed to be participating freely in this research with the option to discontinue your participation at your own will. Your voluntary participation and time spent in completing this survey are highly appreciated in advance.
Please complete this questionnaire and submit it back to me as soon as operationally possible but before 16 September 2011. If there is any additional clarification you require about this research project, please do not hesitate to contact me or Professor Melinde Coetzee using the contact information below.
Thank you very much for your willingness, time and effort to contribute to this research.
Mr. MC Tshilongamulenzhe (Researcher)Department of Human Resource Management
P.O.Box 392, UNISA, 0003
Email:
Tel: 012 429 3724
Cell; 083 964 5555
Fax: 086 642 2062 / Prof. Melinde Coetzee (Research Supervisor)
Department of Industrial and Organisational Psychology
P.O.Box 392, UNISA, 0003
Email:
Tel: 012 429 8204
Fax: 012 429 8368