Article 2015

Technicians under the microscope: the training and skills of university laboratory and engineering workshop technicians

LP
Lewis, Paul A.
 GH
Gospel, Howard F.
Journal of Vocational Education and Training
Journal · Vol. 67 · Issue 4 · pp. 421-441
Abstract

The UK government aims to increase both the number, and also the status, of workers with intermediate-level skills, with a view to creating a ‘modern class of technicians’ who can help to bolster economic growth and prosperity. This article considers the prospects for such a policy by focusing on one particular, but neglected, group of technicians, namely those who work in university laboratories and workshops. Data from English universities are used to shed light on the recruitment, training, skills, qualifications and career prospects of technicians. Factors shaping employer decisions about recruitment and training are examined, in the context of broader human resource management arrangements and the development of a new technician registration scheme. © 2015 The Vocational Aspect of Education Ltd.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Apprenticeship Training human capital Technicians

Index Keywords

Author Affiliations
Department of Political Economy, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
Department of Management, King's College London, London, United Kingdom, LUISS University, Rome, Italy, University of Oxford, Saïd Business School, Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
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