AN INVESTIGATION INTO PERCEIVED BENEFITS OF EARN AND LEARN PROGRAMMES AMONG STUDENTS OF THE HOSPITALITY DEPARTMENT (A CASE STUDY OF UNIVERSITY OF SHANNON)

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

Earn-and-Learn programs can play an important role in preparing students for successful careers. The optimal programs combine career-oriented academic curriculum, relevant work experience, and student financial assistance. The academic curriculum and relevant work experience reflect the “learn” component; student financial assistance, the “earn” component. The earn component is important because it allows students, who might not be able to study without financial assistance, to remain in school. Earn-and-Learn is important in today’s increasingly competitive and turbulent work environment, particularly for low-income or under-skilled workers who seek better jobs, a better standard of living, and a potential for career success(Adams, 2012). Additionally, employers want to recruit qualified candidates but are not finding candidates who are adequately prepared. Both these groups could benefit greatly from learn and earn. Learn-and-earn programs provide the flexibility students need to acquire knowledge and skills and earn a living at the same time. Moreover, the programs teach students the work ethic and communications skills needed to make the transition to the workforce. Learn-and-earn programs also give employers the edge they need to find qualified job candidates through effective screening, selection, and recruitment techniques. Given the opportunity to influence curriculum design and content, employers reduce recruitment and training costs (Abraham G.A, 2010). The nation is falling behind in its ability to produce qualified workers. Today’s workers often lack the knowledge and skills to compete successfully in the labour market. Earn-and-Learn programs can provide the greatly needed bridge that connects workers with employers. Earn-and-Learn programme is a work-study programme designed to give fresh graduates from universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) a head-start in careers related to their discipline of study. It provides them with more opportunities to build on the skills and knowledge they acquired in school after graduation, and to better support their transition into the workforce. Participating employers can also recruit local fresh talent and prepare them to take up suitable job roles within the organisation and participants can look forward to a structured career progression pathway.  The Earn-and-Learn Programme is designed in collaboration with industry to ensure relevance to employers. The programme is progressively implemented among students. Earn and learn programme aims to identify strategies and support solutions that help improve labour market infrastructure and develop the skilled workforce globally. The initiative brings together leading policymakers, academics, business leaders, educators, training providers and nonprofits with the goal of connecting labour market policy with practice, supply with demand and employers with the workforce – all to strengthen the global economy.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM

Young people remain at a disadvantage in the labour market, compared to adult population. Youth unemployment rate is a clear signal that young people struggle to make the move from education into work.This suggests that there might be longer-term problems for young people finding work. Earn and learn programmes have been hailed for integrating classroom education with practical experience in enabling graduates to develop their professional knowledge and professional skills (Beard, 2016). However, unlike in the conventional system and owing to a diversity of factors in earn and learn programmes, the concept has encountered challenges. The current study therefore, aims at assessing perceived benefits of earn and learn programmes among students of hospitality department in University Shannon. The study seeks to identify  how earn and learn experience helps students make transition into the work place, areas in which they faced challenges as well as actions to remedy the situation for future improvement. The study also focuses on impediments affecting the smooth flow of earn and learn programmes in the hospitality department of university of Shannon.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The major aim of the study is to examine perceived benefits of earn and learn programmes among students of the hospitality department in university of Shannon. Other specific objectives of the study include;

1. To examine the best ways earn and learn programmes can help students adapt to the changing needs in the work place.
2. To assess impact of earn and learn programmes on academic performance/achievement of students in hospitality department.
3. To examine the impact of earn and learn programmes on students of hospitality departments in developing their professional skills.
4. To examine the relationship between earn and learn programmes and academic performance of students of hospitality department.
5. To examine the benefits of earn and learn programmes to students of hospitality department.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

1. What are the best ways earn and learn programmes can help students adapt to the changing needs in the work place?
2. What are the impacts of earn and learn programmes on academic performance/achievement of students in hospitality department?
3. What are the impacts of earn and learn programmes on students of hospitality departments in developing their professional skills?
4. What is the relationship between earn and learn programmes and academic performance of students of hospitality department?
5. What are the benefits of earn and learn programmes to students of hospitality department?

RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

Hypothesis 1

H0: There is no significant impact of earn and learn programmes on students of hospitality departments in developing their professional skills.

H1: There is a significant impact of earn and learn programmes on students of hospitality departments in developing their professional skills.

Hypothesis 2

H0: There is no significant relationship between earn and learn programmes and academic performance of students of hospitality department.

H1: There is a significant relationship between earn and learn programmes and academic performance of students of hospitality department.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The study would be ofbenefit to facilitate investigation on the relative importance of earn and learn programmes to hospitality students of university of Shannon. This would capture a more holistic picture of employment while at university. The study would also be of immense benefit to students of hospitality department, researchers and scholars who are interested in developing further studies on the subject matter.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The study is restricted to an investigation into perceived benefits of earn and learn programmes among students of the hospitality department in university of Shannon.

1. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

Financial constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview)

Time constraint: The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

Earn and learn programme: The Earn and Learn Programme is a work-learn programme that gives fresh graduates from universities, polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) a head-start in careers related to their discipline of study. It provides them with more opportunities, after graduation, to build on the skills and knowledge they acquired in school, and better supports their transition into the workforce.