Competence development, competence measurement and quality of company-based training
Influence of quality of company-based training on professional competence in selected occupations
The various learning venues involved within the dual training system mean that a complex pattern emerges in terms of the conditions determining the development of occupational competences of trainees. The main focus of the present research project is on which conditions at the company learning venue exert an influence on the professional competence of the trainees. A longitudinal study will be undertaken with the aim of relating quality characteristics of company-based training to the results of tests of professional competence for the two training occupations of vehicle mechatronics technician and information technology specialist. For this purpose, both survey instruments for input and process qualities of company-based training and test procedures in accordance with the Item Response Theory for the professional competence of vehicle mechatronics technicians and information technology specialists will be developed in order to investigate the influence of training quality on the development of professional competence at three points in time during the course of training. This will enable the project to contribute to the quality debate in vocational education and training. It will also generate findings on the modelling and diagnostics of occupational competences for the two training occupations.
The project is being conducted in conjunction with the Department of Occupational, Economic and Technical Pedagogy at the Institute of Educational Science and Psychology, University of Stuttgart, the chair of Professor Nickolaus.
Within the project, the measurement of professional competence will take place with the assistance of written specialist knowledge tests and PC-based simulation procedures. The quality of company-based training will be determined via a written survey of trainees. The figure illustrates the points in time during the course of training at which data for measurement of the competences of trainees and for training quality will be collected.
At least 720 trainees for each occupation will be included in the investigation. Surveys will take place at vocational schools in Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia, Hessen and Saxony.
