Abstract:

The significance of learning on-the-job at vocational education has increased in the last few years, especially in adult education. Although the learning on-the-job is a very common method in Finland, it is still not very well- known and the forms may vary a lot between institutions and even individuals. This research focuses on guiding the learning on-the-job process at the vocational education centre for adults.

The purpose of the research was to find out how successful the guiding of the learning on-the-job period has been and how it could be developed further. The study also debates on the value of the lifelong learning. Since the education in the case is funded by the Employment and Economic Development Office of Finland it was also a very important factor to find out ways to increase the employment of students during and after the learning on-the-job process. The students were studying the basic degree on sales. The length of the course was six months and almost half of it was spent at learning on-the-job.

A questionnaire was used to gather the data from the tutors at the companies where the learning on- the-job took place. It consisted of both open-ended and closed-ended questions, the research being both qualitative and quantitative. The response rate being as high as 71, the results were reliable and useful. Some generalization of the results was also possible, since the results of earlier research on the field supported the results of this research.


The results showed that the guiding of the learning on-the-job period had been quite successful. On the scale 1 to 5 (1 being the lowest and 5 the highest) two out of third closed-ended answers rated a mean of higher than 4. Since the research also focused on the development of the process, the data from open-ended questions was essential. The development points were at defining the goals and at the information flow between the school and the placement. The tutors should be more informed of the education at the school, including the contents of the syllabus and the requirements of the degree. For the students to get employed by the company, they should be more motivated and have the right attitude. However, the current recession has also influenced the employment, as the research shows.

Keywords:

Learning on-the-job, adult education, vocational education, lifelong learning.