Modern apprenticeships framework developed by Scotland and OECD


Skills Development Scotland (SDS), in collaboration with the OECD think tank, has developed a framework that will help identify the long-term outcomes from work-based learning and will provide a deeper insight as to the benefits modern apprenticeships (MAs) bring to individuals, employers and the economy.


The framework for evaluating MAs should include:


• input monitoring; 


• output monitoring;


• evaluation of process and participant satisfaction;


• evaluation of impact on individuals using administrative data;


• evaluation of impact on individuals using survey data; 


• evaluation of impact on employers; and


• benefit-cost analysis.


The framework says SDS should consider using experiments, implemented in collaboration with a small number of large MA employers, to test different designs of MAs, such as relative weight of on-the-job versus off-the-job training, with the aim of improving the design of MAs.


Evaluation of MAs in Scotland should represent an inherent part of the policy cycle, the OECD said. The recommended approach will enable robust evaluation of MAs and also create a powerful analytical tool for evaluation of other policy interventions from SDS, such as foundation and graduate-level apprenticeships.


Katie Hutton, director of national training programmes at SDS, said: “The knowledge which could be gained from using this framework will provide important insight into the impact of work-based learning.”

https://www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk/news-events/2017/january/evaluating-modern-apprenticeships-in-scotland