Survey questions for employers and workplace students

Up until now a lot of my feedback has come from training providers and the WKO but while they have all given me their perception of the employers and students viewpoint I haven’t had many opportunities to confirm this.

So, I’ve created a very simple survey tool that i will circulate to employers and their workplace students to see if I can gather some direct observations. To protect their privacy I will not record who said what in this document. It will simply summarise the viewpoints. 

I will only make edits to ensure readability.

Survey

Survey questions for employers and workplace students

·         These questions relate to students completing mandatory work placements while they are enrolled in a formal course of study with a VET college or University. 

·         The questions are designed to be answered by students or their workplace supervisors/trainers/mentors 

·         This survey data will be used to assist me in my study tour to understand the workplace requirements of students in the Austrian education system.

All results will be maintained as anonymous and privacy protected. 

How frequently do workplace supervisors/managers/mentors communicate with teachers? 

·         Some very often, some less. This depends of the interest of the workplace-mentor.

·         However, those communications are very seldom curriculum related.

·         The curriculum is given by the government.

·         Most of the times the mentors communicate about the performance of the student.

·         It is in the interest of both (school-teacher and workplace mentor) to be updated about the behaviour and the performance of the student. Therefore many stay in touch.

·         Managers and School-Principals meet on a very different basis. This is then more to discuss needs of the schools ... compare to Industry needs .. and if necessary take those needs to the local government to find cooperative financing of equipment.

How do workplace supervisors/managers/mentors communicate with teachers? meetings, reports, informal conversations.... 

·         All of the above.

·         Mentors and teachers very often with mail or phone. ( best way to inform about behaviour or performance ) sometimes personal contact ( meetings ) in school.

·         Managers and principals in formal meetings.

·         In our state we also have a "Student evaluates the teacher" feedback system. This is on a yearly basis presented as a report to both .. workplace and school.

·         This report shows how a teacher in school or a mentor at work is graded by the students ( fairness, competence etc... )

·         This takes great trust and very good cooperation between school and workplace... and not all feel the same way.

·         However, it is also a tool to bring school and workplace together. The common goal of both institutes is the positive development of the student.

·         In many cases this goal is taken very seriously and the cooperation between both, workplace and school is .. .let's say .. well respected.

·         We both understand that it strongly depends on the people involved .... some cooperate better than others.

·         However, efforts to work together are always very visible.

What workplace supervision arrangements are provided for students? 

 

Do students have a mentor? 

·         Depends on your definition of "mentor".  Students have a designated trainer at the workplace. Call it mentor, call it trainer ...  in all ways .. it is a "psychological parent" figure ... if that is what you mean ?

Are there formal workplace trainers that support the student in conjunction with the teachers at the schools 

·         in many companies .. .yes.  I can not speak for all .. but most companies offer something like an "extra tuition" .. or private lessons. Now .. this can be your designated trainer, this can be a hired person ... that depends on the company the student works for.

·         We must however understand... we have a very clear split of training and teaching contents. –

o   Workplace ..... practical work ,

o   school .... well ... math, writing, accounting ..... in most cases not skills "directly" related to the task on the job ... more the general knowledge and background understanding if you will.

·          Therefore it is not always easy for a good workplace mentor to support a student in "school stuff" for many trainers most of the school topics lie waaay back ... and if not really needed on the job, some of these skills go a bit in the background.

·         I am sure you understand what I mean when you relate to your kids when you support them with their homework. I know that I learned all the names of the different rivers in my state, the names of all mountains and valleys ... however ... I would have a hard time to name them all today ... or point out where they are.

·         Even though I think it is important to learn such things at one point about your country ... most of that space in our brain will then be taken over by other knowledge .. .stuff that you do on a regular basis.

·         What remains is a general understanding.

·         This may be the reason that such school related-coaching is sometimes conducted by the workplace trainer himself ( if he still feels confident about the topic ) .. or it may be "outsorced" ... if you know what I mean.

Are there any formal workplace assessments to be completed? 

Heavily depends on the Company where the apprentice is hired.

it is not a "legal" requirement, hoever, some companies implement such "practical tests" practical means .... building something, not a written assessment. they have enough written assessments in school ;o)

Are there formal assessment documents that need to be completed by the employer to record the students knowledge and skills? 

Yes, there is a governmental record we have to keep.  but this is veeery simply kept.

How much time does the student spend in the workplace? Weeks/ year or weeks/ whole course.
we have basically two systems.

 a) 4 days / week at work + 1 day in School

 b) 10 weeks school in one block ... the rest of the year at the workplace.

What percentage of the total course does the workplace time cover? 

 see above, so it is an approx. Ratio of 4 to 1

What support services are available to students while they are working? 

What learning resources are provided to students during their course eg textbooks, study notes etc 

 All that is needed, this is in the hands of the schools ;o)

Do students have access to online resources to help you with their course? 

·         I get the impression .. that you have the impression... that we have a "school-System"

·         Please understand that when an apprentice is hired, the company takes the responsibility of teaching all technical aspects of the skill ... and the school takes the responsibility of the academic issues.

·         Even though Schoolteachers and Workplace mentors cooperate, there are two different responsibilities.

·         The Majority of the time ( 4 days ) is spent at work ... and 1 day of the week is academic in school.

·         Sometimes the Workplace mentor needs to help or push the student a bit in academic issues.

·         But Please understand the two different responsibilities. That may be like a Math teacher and an English Teacher. Both teach the student but in different aspects.

·         It seems that the basic understanding of apprenticeship in our cultures are totally different. We select an apprentice, register the apprentice with the Dept. of Labor and the School. The government tells us the minimum requirements we have to teach at the workplace.

·         There is a Mid-Term exam ... ( practical an Oral .... build a Workpiece and have an oral exam about practical issues of the job)

·         At the end there is again the final exam, in the same way but at a higher level.

·         The school is "seperately" ... if a student fails the academic.... he/she has to repeat the school exam

·         Compare it to the driving licence.

·         One Part is responsible for teaching and also test the Theoretical knowledge. Another part is responsible for teaching and practicing the driving in different situations ( dark, rain, Autobahn, moutains etc... ) and the also tests the student at the exam.

·         in the end .. the student needs BOTH exam to get the drivers licence. ;o)

·         I also think that the following questions are all "school" related ...

Are students able to submit assessments online to their teachers for marking? 

What types of assessments do students need to complete in their course? Essays, reports, research projects, practical projects, theory tests... 

What do you think are the strengths of the courses you are involved with? 

What do you think are the weaknesses or opportunities for improvement in the courses you are involved with? 

Are students able to do an International exchange as a part of their course? 

If yes, what are the most popular destinations? Why? 

Can you recommend any other employers or students that you think I should talk to?