Industrial training as a workplace learning approach for hotel trainees of Kyambogo University

Abstract

Integration of workplace learning approaches in the training programmes of the higher education institutions have been key in bridging the gap between them and the industry. This has been facilitated by the increased realisation that learning from workplaces is vital in I inking the trainees and the world of work. This trend has also attracted hotel training at Kyambogo University to particularly meet the deficiencies in training at the university. The study was carried out in the Department of Human Nutrition and Home Economics (HN&HE) to examine Industrial Training as an approach to workplace learning for hotel trainees in order to establish the effect of its organisation on the expected benefits. It was guided by three objectives to; analyse the activities involved, examine the existing mechanisms and assess the constraints effecting Industrial Training. The descriptive case study design of the qualitative research approach based on a sample of 41 respondents comprised of the hotel trainees, university staff, an official of NCHE and staff in selected workplaces was used. The samples were selected using purposive, simple random and systematic sampling techniques. Data were collected using indepth interviews and document analysis. The main findings revealed that Industrial Training activities are organised in a cycle. In addition, there was no national legislation or policy to guide the implementation of Industrial Training supplemented by unspecific guidelines or policies and relationship between the university and workplaces resulting into haphazard implementation. The constraints were found to be as a result of the nature of the organisation and the systems used. The study concluded that the cyclic nature of Industrial Training makes it easy to implement. There were no formal relationships between the university and the workplaces making the learning based on majorly the input of the workplaces with less inclusion of the expectations of the university. The mismatch of the expectations of the university, workplaces and trainees were the notable causes of the constraints. The study recommends that strengthening the co-ordination of Industrial Training activities, enhancement of training in practical areas