Evaluation of a life and job skills training programme for tertiary students
Abstract
This study encompasses the findings of a needs analysis of life and job skills
needs in the 1995 first-year, full-time students (Total Group) and students
admitted to a partial course, plus Academic Support (Target Group). The study
reports on the effectivity of a life and job skills training programme implemented
at the Vaal Triangle Technikon, Vanderbijlpark.
The aims of this study were to conduct a literature review of available life and job
skills training programmes, so as to identify essential objectives, goals and key
elements to be considered when designing a life and job skills training
programme, to clarify the role that the trainer fulfills, to determine the life and job
skills needs of the target population, to develop a life and job skills training
programme, to address the identified needs of the target group as well as
industries' needs, to evaluate the effect of the training programme on the life and
job skills, study habits and attitudes and personality profiles of the Target Group,
and to make recommendations relating to the design and contents of a life and
job skills training programme, and to assess bases for ongoing research.
It was hypothesized that no life skills and competencies needs would be identified
in the first-year, full-time students (Total Group); that no life skills and
competencies needs would be identified in the first-year, full-time students on the
academic support programme (Target Group); that there would be no decrease
in the identified life and job skills needs in the Target Group as a result of
exposure to the training programme; that there would be no improvement in the
study habits and attitudes of the Target Group, as a result of exposure to the
training programme and that the training programme would have no effect on the
first-year, full-time students in the Target Group in respect of personality profiles
as measured by the Jung Personality Questionnaire.
In order to evaluate the hypotheses, a quasi experimental research design, with
both a pre-test and a post-test was used, to evaluate the effect of the life and job
skills training programme on the life and job skills needs and personality profiles
of the 1995, first-year, full-time students on the academic development
programme (Target Group). Students' life and job skills needs were identified
using the Life Skills and Competencies: General Questionnaire on Life
Competencies and Skills. The students who made up the Target Group, were
exposed to a life and job skills training programme which was designed to meet
their identified needs and they completed the Life Skills Competencies: General
Questionnaire on Life Competencies and Skills, the Survey of Study Habits and
Attitudes and the Jung Personality Questionnaire, as pre-and post-tests.
Findings indicate, that there was a significant increase in the Target Group's life
and job skills and an improvement in their study habits and attitudes, but that
there was no significant change in their personality profiles, as a result of
exposure to the life and job skills training programme.
In conclusion, recommendations were made regarding design considerations,
the trainer's role, the impact and duration of a life and job skills training
programme, the role of industry in South Africa, and the need for ongoing
research.