Engaging low skilled employees in workplace learning : UK Commission for Employment and Skills Evidence Report no. 43

The Employee Demand study (UKCES, 2009) highlighted the significant barriers to learning that are faced by a number of UK employees. This report sets out the findings of a study into the motivators and barriers to participation in workplace learning by low skilled employees. Employees in low skilled jobs are a group which has been overlooked in previous research. The study was carried out by the Employment Research Institute (ERI) at Edinburgh Napier University on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills (the UK Commission). The report presents the results of a survey of both employee and employer views on participation in workplace learning in the care sector in north east England and the hotel sector in Yorkshire and Humberside. As well as a standard survey, the report also outlines the stated preference approach adopted. The stated preference approach allows employees to consider a hypothetical case of participation in workplace learning. Employees were given choices of combinations of job and learning related factors that might affect their preference for or against workplace learning. In conclusion, the report suggests many positive features which employers, individuals and policy makers could build on in developing the skills of people in low skilled jobs, which is important in securing our competitive advantage in the long term

Engaging low skilled employees in workplace learning

This report sets out the findings of a study into the motivators and barriers to participation in workplace learning by low skilled employees. Low skilled in the UK is usually considered to be below NVQ level 2 qualifications. The study was carried out by the Employment Research Institute at Edinburgh Napier University on behalf of the UK Commission for Employment and Skills. The report presents the results of a survey of both employee and employer views on participation in workplace learning in the care sector in north east England and the hotel sector in Yorkshire and the Humber region. The hotels and catering sector has the highest relative and absolute skill gaps in low skilled occupations, with some 63 per cent of staff suffering skills gaps. In contrast, the care sector has an apparent strong training culture, with care staff expected to progress to NVQ level 3 and only five per cent of low skilled staff suffered a skills gap

Wage Scarring – The problem of a bad start

As the economic downturn continues in Europe, unemployment has risen in many countries. Among these, the UK has an unemployment rate which now stands at 8% or 2.56 million people. Of these people the unemployment rate amongst 16 to 24 year olds is particularly high at 20.7% (just over 1 million people); this is especially problematic as research shows that if one gets off to a bad start when moving from school or university into work, future job prospects and general well-being may well be compromised. Researchers such as Bell and Blanchflower (2011), Dieckhoff (2011) and Gregg and Tominey (2005) found that periods of unemployment when young may blight the future of young people in terms of their future labour market outcomes, such as the likelihood of further unemployment, lower pay, lower job quality and reduced wellbeing -- this they termed the “scarring effect”

Socio-Demographic changes in Bangladesh: a study on impact

The paper aims at examining the socio-demographic changes over years and their impact on the future age-sex structure of population in Bangladesh. The mechanisms of change in the population are reviewed and it is shown that success in reducing fertility will alter the profile of the dependent population potentially to the benefit of Bangladesh. The study demonstrates that a large portion of population is still under age of 15 years and this youth bulge will contribute to the country's future reproduction and that to accommodate this progress in economic development is a necessity. Finally, the paper briefly lays out some policy implications

Paradoxical upgrading reaction in extra-pulmonary tuberculosis: association with vitamin D therapy

SETTING: Glasgow, Scotland, UK. BACKGROUND: Paradoxical reactions in tuberculosis (TB) are a notable example of our incomplete understanding of host-pathogen interactions during anti-tuberculosis treatment. OBJECTIVES: To determine risk factors for a TB paradoxical reaction, and specifically to assess for an independent association with vitamin D use. DESIGN: Consecutive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) negative adult patients treated for extra-pulmonary TB were identified from an Extended Surveillance of Mycobacterial Infections database. In our setting, vitamin D was variably prescribed for newly diagnosed TB patients. A previously published definition of paradoxical TB reaction was retrospectively applied to, and data on all previously described risk factors were extracted from, centralised electronic patient records. The association with vitamin D use was assessed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 249 patients included, most had TB adenopathy; 222/249 had microbiologically and/or histologically confirmed TB. Vitamin D was prescribed for 57/249 (23%) patients; 37/249 (15%) were classified as having paradoxical reactions. Younger age, acid-fast bacilli-positive invasive samples, multiple disease sites, lower lymphocyte count and vitamin D use were found to be independent risk factors. CONCLUSION: We speculate that vitamin D-mediated signalling of pro-inflammatory innate immune cells, along with high antigenic load, may mediate paradoxical reactions in anti-tuberculosis treatment

Neonatal pain assessment: the development of a pain assessment scale for neonatal transport

The aim of this study is to develop a pain assessment scale for use during neonatal transport. Underpinned by the rights of the child to have appropriate assessment and management of pain and the important deleterious effects pain can have on the physiological stability of the neonate, this study utilises a qualitative consensus paradigm of enquiry to inform the content and structure a pain assessment scale specific to the transport setting.The study was conducted in three Phases, the first Phase consisted of a nominal group meeting with transport clinicians to ascertain their views on items to include in a pain assessment scale for transport. Phase Two utilised the Delphi technique to gain consensus from a large cohort of clinicians experienced in the field of neonatal transport on the content, structure and design of a transport pain assessment scale.Results of the first two Phases of the study were then applied to the adaptation of an existing pain assessment scale. Face validity of the newly developed Neonatal Transport Pain Assessment Scale (NTPAS) was then tested in Phase Three by semi-structured interviews with transport clinicians. Results of initial face validity testing suggested positive results in relation to feasibility and clinical utility of the scale, however further testing is strongly recommended.Currently there are no pain assessment scales developed for use in the transport setting, and little evidence on the effects of transport on pain and pain assessment. This study offers a unique approach in adding to the body of knowledge on neonatal pain assessment and facilitated the development of a scale adapted to transport. Further research is suggested to undertake psychometric testing of the scale and establish validity and reliability in the clinical setting

Supporting authentic science in the classroom using collaborative Web-based software

This thesis presents aWeb-based Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called the Education through Virtual Experience (EVE) Portal which supports e-Science learning for schoolchildren. The VLE guides students and teachers in the production of collaborative research papers to summarize their inquiry-based activities. This thesis details the formative evaluations carried out on the VLE and provides empirical evidence to support the hypothesis that the initial version of the VLE successfully supported inquiry-based science investigations. The VLE evaluations also provided an opportunity to assess the eectiveness of each of the VLE components toward our educational objectives. This thesis describes the shortfalls identied in the original version of the VLE, which has lead to the encapsulation of team management, collaborative writing and image-based data collection into the VLE. This thesis also details the initial trials of the collaborative components of the VLE and provides evidence to support the contention that collaboration has been successfully introduced into the VLE. Finally, this thesis provides a technical description of the underlying architecture of the EVE Portal and describes the implementation details of the EVE imaging component. This thesis makes contributions to e-Learning by providing empirical evidence that an amalgamation of software tools can support an inquiry-based scientic process with schoolchildren and teachers. The encapsulation of team allocation and team-based writing presents an innovative method for supporting inquiry-based learning within schools. The requirements elicitation and customized development of the EVE imaging component highlights many of the difficulties associated with the creation of Web-based software to support constructivist learning at pre-tertiary level. Finally, the EVE Portal provides an innovative way for teachers to capitalize on time spent carrying out inquiry activities through the codication of structure into a software supported process

Lost wisdom: An exploration of the experiences of women who chose to birth at home

Childbirth literature was explored firstly to gain a historical understanding of childbirth practices over the last century and secondly to explore the influences that determine a woman\u27s birth choice. A shift from midwife-based care to medical-based care has resulted in the majority of births occurring in hospital. This shift has promoted the perspective that childbirth is a risky pathological event to be feared. However, professional perspectives of childbirth vary from birth being seen as a natural and challenging process to birth as a risky event that requires medical intervention. Women\u27s perspectives are shaped by both professional perspectives and a natural perspective, and may fall somewhere along a continuum between the two. However, with an emphasis placed on medicalisation, women\u27s birthing choices are limited. Homebirth is perceived as a woman centred practice of care that encompasses choice, continuity and control for women and is associated with improved psychological outcomes for women. In order to provide a more comprehensive understanding of women\u27s psychological needs and values it is important to provide information gained from women who have had no voice in the psychological literature. The present qualitative study involved eight mothers who had chosen to birth in their home. A feminist perspective was utilised to gain insight into the mothers\u27 perspectives. Semi-structured interviews revealed psychological and psychosocial benefits for participants including; increased self-efficacy, perceived control, strengthened familial and spousal relationships. Future directions are discussed including the need for research to compare the psychological and psychosocial outcomes for women who birth in hospitals, birthing centres, and in their homes to examine care issues that are implicated in the psychological well being of birthing women