The importance of the psychological contract for effective learning in apprenticeships
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Walker, Arlene , Kemmis, Ros Brennan
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: Assuring the acquisition of expertise: Apprenticeship in the modern economy Beijing Normal University 26th-27th May, 2011 p. 141-144
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- Description: This paper looks at apprenticeship learning and training from a new standpoint – the psychological contract. The notion of the psychological contract is commonly used in the human resource management field to understand the nature of employment relationships. It has not previously been applied to apprenticeships in any systematic manner. This paper reports on a research project that applied a preexisting instrument to apprentices and employers and also included qualitative case studies in nine companies.
The psychological contract in apprenticeships and traineeships: Comparing the perceptions of employees and employers
- Authors: Walker, Arlene , Smith, Erica , Kemmis, Ros Brennan
- Date: 2012
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Employment Relations Review Vol. 18, no. 1 (2012), p. 66-81
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- Description: This paper compares the perceptions of Australian apprentices/trainees and employers of apprentices/trainees in relation to the psychological contract: the unwritten mutual expectations employers and employees have of each other. A random sample of apprentices and trainees (N = 219) and employers of apprentices and trainees (N = 262) from Victoria and Queensland, Australia completed surveys. Information was collected about perceived employer, employee and training obligations and how well they had been met. Overall it was found that apprentices/trainees and employers rated similar individual employer, employee and training obligations as being the most and least important. Training obligations were perceived by both parties as being the most important obligations overall. Differences between the groups mainly related to perceptions of the extent to which obligations were met, particularly employer obligations. Despite significant differences, the overall mean ratings suggest that the psychological contract is being met well for both parties. Implications of the research for psychological contracts and for apprenticeships/traineeships are discussed.
- Description: C1
Understanding the psychological contract in apprenticeships and traineeships to improve retention
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Walker, Arlene , Kemmis, Ros Brennan
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Technical report
- Relation: National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation Program
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- Description: Attrition in apprenticeships and traineeships is an ongoing concern for employers and government alike, with completion standing at around 50% on average. One possible explanation for this high attrition rate that there is mismatch between the respective expectations of apprentices/trainees and employers. This research use the concept of psychological contract, that is, the perceived mutual obligations betweens employers and employees of themselves and each other, to test this explanation.
Enterprise registered training organisations : research project funded by Australian Research Council and ERTOA : final report : executive summary
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Smith, Andy , Walker, Arlene
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Technical report , Report
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- Description: This is an overview of a national research project which set out to evaluate the benefits, challenges and outcomes for all stakeholders of the delivery of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications by Enterprise RTOs (ERTOs). The project had three main research questions: • What are the benefits and challenges for companies associated with training through their own ERTO? • What are the benefits and challenges for workers associated with ERTOs? • What is the equivalence of workplace-delivered qualifications among companies and with qualifications delivered in educational institutions? The project aimed to be of benefit at several levels as described below: • For workers, the research set out to examine whether the availability of qualifications through ERTOs offers the chance of a high-quality qualification and improved career prospects and life chances. • For companies, the research hoped to provide firm evidence about the outcomes for their workers and quality features of their training compared with other companies and with institutional-based qualifications. • For industries and for Australia, the research set out to build an evidence base about the efficacy of this type of training, to assist in the shaping of government policy.
The psychological contract in apprenticeships and traineeships: Differing perceptions
- Authors: Smith, Erica , Walker, Arlene , Kemmis, Ros Brennan
- Date: 2011
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
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- Description: As with any contract of employment, the mutual expectations of the employer and the apprentice/trainee are very important. Apprenticeships and traineeships have greater expectations than other employment contracts of employment because of the training component of the contract. This paper reports on some of the findings of a major NCVER-funded national project examining mutual expectations in apprenticeships and traineeships through the concept of the psychological contract. The paper focuses on the differences between employers and apprentices/trainees, in the expectations each party has of the other and in the extent to which the expectations are perceived to have been met.