IRISH INSTITUTE OF TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT (IITD)

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY IN RELATION TO APPRENTICESHIPS AND INTERNSHIPS IN LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT

MARCH 2015

Background Context

In February 2015, a short twelve question survey was launched by the Irish Institute of Training & Development (IITD) to seek members’ feedback on the area of apprenticeships and internships in learning and development. This survey was undertaken to gauge the level of interest and engagement from the membership of the IITD. This survey was initiated in the context of the review of the Irish Apprenticeship System and the call made for employers and education and training providers to submit proposals for the new apprenticeships following the establishment of the Apprenticeship Council.

The Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan and the Minister of State with Special Responsibility for Skills, Research and Innovation, Damien English TD launched the new Apprenticeship Council in November 2014. At the time of the launch, the Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan noted that that the Apprenticeship Council provides an excellent basis for renewing the apprenticeship system in Ireland and she stated her determination to ensure that apprenticeships become a powerful, significant and appropriate quality learning framework of learning in both the higher and further education and training sectors across a broad and varied set of trades and sectors. The Minister highlighted the considerable growth in this area noting that the numbers of new apprenticeships had increased very significantly with an increase of 47% year on year in the period 2013-2014. A fundamental requirement of the apprenticeship scheme highlighted at the launch of the Apprenticeship Council is the requirement for the scheme to “continue to be employer-led and a key feature of the revised system will be the strong alignment of education and training provision with the needs of the labour market” (1)

The CIPD as one of the main professional bodies for HR and people development professionals in both the UK and Ireland has this month reported on a recent survey entitled Learning to Work (2) carried out in the area of youth employment. 868 UK based employer organisations responded to the survey. 76% of employers report that they offer some type of programme aimed at young people. Half of organisations surveyed offer apprenticeships which is an increase of 16% since 2013. 35% of organisations surveyed also offer graduate schemes. The CIPD report notes that apprenticeships feature as the most highly considered option in terms of their effectiveness in developing relevant employability skills.

165 responses were received to the IITD membership survey undertaken in February 2015 and a summary of the replies received are outlined in this report.

Membership Support for Apprenticeships in the Field of Learning & Development

165 responses were received to the first survey question which asked whether respondents are aware of the establishment of the Irish Apprenticeship Council. Almost 44% of those members who answered the surveyare aware of this development with the remaining 56% being unaware of the Irish Apprenticeship Council which was established in November 2014 and which has been tasked with the remit of expanding apprenticeship into new sectors of the economy. The second question in the survey asked whether there is scope for an Apprenticeship in the field of Learning and Development. 100% of total respondents (165 individuals) addressed this question and avery significant 90% of that numberagree that there is scope for an Apprenticeship in the field of Learning and Development.

Membership Suggestions around the Role of the IITD in relation to a Potential Apprenticeship Programme

In the February 2015 survey carried out by the IITD, good engagement was forthcoming from respondents in response to the question as to what the role of the IITD would be in relation to a potential apprenticeship programme in the area of Learning and Development. Close to 58% of total respondents (95 individuals) addressed this question. A varied and broad range of suggestions were made which includethe following key areas:

  • development of the apprenticeship lifecycle, identification of competency frameworks, programme design andan accreditation framework;
  • syllabus development, evaluation and review in keeping with emerging business needs;
  • establishment of occupational standards for various sectors;
  • co-ordination of the apprenticeship application process including support to organisations around candidate screening and placement;
  • programme delivery in addition to working with employers to identify appropriate training providers;
  • establishment of criteria around programme assessment, evaluation and quality standards review;
  • provision of advice, support, mentoring and networking opportunities;
  • carrying out relevant research and disseminating this to key stakeholders.

Current Practice amongst IITD members surveyed in Internships/Graduate Programmes which incorporate the field of Learning & Development.

Survey respondents were asked whether their organisation runs an Internship or Graduate Programme which incorporates the field of Learning & Development. Two thirds of respondents (109 individuals) answered this question.

Of this number 77%(84 individuals) recorded that their organisation does notrun an Internship or Graduate programme which incorporates the field of Learning & Development.

Of the total number that addressed this question, only 23%(25 individuals) confirmed that their organisation does run an Internship or Graduate programme which incorporates the area of Learning & Development.

21 respondents (13%) of the total number of survey respondents addressed the question which invited members to describe the internship or graduate programme run within their organisation which incorporates the field of Learning and Development. These programmes as described vary considerably in duration and nature. The majority of these programmes provide placements to students/graduates of third level institutions, generally for a number of months. A very small number of respondents described formal and structured programmes. Generally programmes as illustrated by respondentsappear to be at a very early stage of development and include a small number of interns. Just a little over 2% of total survey respondents(4 individuals) described a structured programme which includes the achievement of a national standard and programme evaluation/audit.

Preferences amongst members of the IITD between an Apprenticeship andan Internship/Graduate Programme

The survey asked if given the choice between an Apprenticeship or Internship/Graduate programme in the area of Learning and Development which would respondents choose. The response rate to this question was just over 53% of total respondents. 60% of those who answered this question (53 individuals) highlighted their preference as being an Internship/Graduate programme while the remaining 40% (35 individuals) noted an apprenticeship programme as their preferred option.

Respondents were invited then to give their reasons for their preference for an apprenticeship or internship/graduate programme. The reasons for their preferred option included the following:

  • views around suitability and fit of the programme with the particular organisation concerned;
  • judgements on the investment in time and resources involved;
  • views on the quality and value of the programme outcome for participants
  • preference for a more organised and structured programme;
  • concerns whether the apprenticeship format lends itself to an L&D role;
  • perceptions that internships promote the idea of “cheap labour”
  • opinions as to what underlying educational qualifications might be expected for candidates joining a particular programme;
  • views in relationto participant expectations of a job role in the organisation following the programme which may be higher for some programmes;
  • understandings around the employment opportunities available within the sector following completion of an Apprenticeship or Internship/Graduate programme.

A review of theresponses received to this question suggest that the terms used - Apprenticeship and Internship/Graduate programmes illicit particular responses arising from respondents’experience, understanding and knowledge of the particular programmes. From the survey it would appear that expert knowledge, experience or knowledge in the area of apprenticeships and Internships/Graduate programmes amongst the membership group that responded to the survey may well be limited. A small number of respondents indicated that they would have no particular preference for either programme and would be keen to progress both an Apprenticeship programme and an Internship/Graduate programme within their organisations.

Possible Support Role that could be played by the IITD in an Internship/Graduate Programme

There was good overall engagement (53% of responses) in answer to the question raised as towhat the support role (if any) would they see the IITD having in an Internship/Graduate programme, the following suggestions were offered:

  • providing a key engagement link between government, higher education institutions and business/industry in the area of internships/graduate programmes;
  • creation of an occupational framework for the sector;
  • programme design, curriculum development and programme accreditation;
  • identification of opportunities within the sector and matching potential candidates with organisations;
  • development and provision of formal learning programmes;
  • development of professional standards relating to best practice and monitoring of these;
  • sponsorship of a national Internship/Graduate programme;
  • support including mentoring, discussion and learning forums, networking opportunities, web resources;
  • research and development role as the sector expert;
  • development and education of tutors and educators.

Scope for Development of IITD Supported Apprenticeship or Internship/Graduate Programmes

The survey asked respondents what the probability is of their organisation taking on an apprentice in the Apprenticeship programme supported by IITD. Of the 84 responses received which represents 51% of the total number of respondents, almost 62% recorded that their organisation would probably take on an apprentice at some point in the future. 9.5% advised that their organisation would probably take on an apprentice in a programme supported by the IITD in the next year. 3.5% of respondents recorded that their organisation would probably be in a position to immediately take on an apprentice while 25% recorded that their organisations would never be in a position to take on an apprentice as proposed.

The survey also enquired aswhat is the probability of respondents’ organisations taking on an Intern or Graduate as part of an Internship or Graduate programme supported by IITD. Of the 84 responses received, almost 56 % recorded that at some point in the future their organisation would probably take on an Intern or Graduate. 20% advised that their organisation would probably take on an Intern or Graduate in a programme supported by the IITD within the next year. 6% of respondents recorded that their organisation would probably be in a position totake on an Intern or Graduate immediately while 18% recorded that their organisations would never be in a position to take on an Intern or Graduate as proposed.

The survey ended by asking whether respondents would wish to be kept informed for further development in the IITD in the area of apprenticeships and internships/graduate programmes. Slightly over 50% of the total number of survey respondents answered this question and of this number a significant 92% of respondents to this question confirmed that they would wish to be kept informed of developments in this area.

End

Bibliography

(1)SOLAS (2014) Press Briefing, 18 November 2014 on the occasion of the announcement of the launch of the new Apprenticeship Council

(2)CIPD (2015) Learning to Work Survey Report

1 | Page