STRATEGIES FOR ALIGNING INSTITUTIONAL ENGINEERING TECHNICAL VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING PRACTICES WITH INDUSTRY SKILLS REQUIREMENTS IN KENYA

Abstract

This study examined strategies for aligning institutional engineering Technical Vocational Education and Training practices with industry skills requirements in Kenya. The work environment all over the world is experiencing rapid transformations which have brought about unprecedented and significant changes in labour dynamics all over the world. The human capital theory was used for its explanatory value in assessing the critical role of TVET in moving society to the level of a knowledge economy. Literature review marked a conceptual gap in the study requiring broader collaborative arrangements between the technical institutions and the industry. A descriptive survey using both qualitative and quantitative methods was used to provide an in-depth understanding of TVET training. The study utilized 489 participants comprising 339 trainers, 3 Directors of TVET, KAM and LIWA, 24 representatives of industries working with TVET, 64 TVET engineering trainees and 59 TVET engineering trainees who had graduated. The Study mainly utilized questionnaires, interview guide and Focus Group Discussions. For the purpose of triangulation, a document analysis and direct observation were used. The research instruments were piloted to increase and assess their appropriateness, isolate any logistical challenges and evaluate whether the research procedure was workable. All the completed research instruments were scored manually and the collected data organized systematically. The online google questionnaires were analysed and presented in statistical form. The findings of the study presented a summary of strategies for aligning the training practices in engineering courses in TVET institutions with industry skills requirements. The researcher then synthesized the salient findings of the study to tease out and prioritize policies recommendations for matching TVET training with the requirements of the world of work.