Conference paper 2023

WHEN ENOUGH IS NOT ENOUGH! EVALUATING THE MINIMUM ENTRY REQUIREMENTS FOR APPRENTICESHIPS IN IRELAND

Proceedings of the 39th Annual ARCOM Conference: Constructing for the Future, ARCOM 2023
Conference · pp. 488-497
Abstract

In Ireland, enrolment in built environment apprenticeships requires the satisfaction of minimum entry criteria of at least five pass grades in the Junior Certificate examinations or equivalent. This study looks at the correlation between the academic performance in these examinations and successful completion of the apprenticeship process. It concerns 60 randomly selected carpentry and joinery, electrical and plumbing apprentices, registered between 2010 and 2016 with an expected completion date between 2014 and 2020. This paper presents a dataset for evaluating apprenticeship entry requirements and assessing the influence of STEM subjects on apprenticeship completion. The study found on average, 55% of candidates presenting with Junior Certificate completed their apprenticeship, growing to 100% as the candidates’ prior academic achievement increased. Additionally, the impact of mathematics entry level was significant, with completion rates increasing to 100% when higher level mathematics was undertaken. Because of the lack of readily available data, limited research exists evaluating entry requirements and as such the key contribution of this research will be to provide a base for further investigations and increase eventual apprenticeship completion rates. © ARCOM 2023.All rights reserved.

Keywords

Author Keywords

Apprenticeship Vocational education Learning Analytics barriers

Index Keywords

apprenticeship Apprentices academic performance Built environment Academic achievements Barrier Ireland Learning analytic Vocational
Author Affiliations
School of Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Munster, Ireland
Funding & Acknowledgements
No funding information
References 10 References
1 Apprenticeship Act, (1931)
2 Apprenticeship Act, (1959)
3 Construction in Ireland 2022 Building A Workforce for the Future, (2022)
4 Bessey, Donata, Staying within or leaving the apprenticeship system? Revisions of educational choices in apprenticeship training, Jahrbucher fur Nationalokonomie und Statistik, 235, 6, pp. 539-552, (2015)
5 An Analysis into the Impact that an Educational Background has on Apprentices Performances in their Craft, (2008)
6 Points Calculator, (2023)
7 Clavel, Jose G., Single-sex schooling, gender and educational performance: Evidence using PISA data, British Educational Research Journal, 49, 2, pp. 248-265, (2023)
8 Daniel, Emmanuel Itodo, Apprenticeship for craftspeople in the construction industry: a state-of-the-art review, Education and Training, 62, 2, pp. 159-183, (2020)
9 Review of Apprenticeship Training in Ireland, (2013)
10 Data Paper on Stem Attainment, (2019)
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Document Identifiers
  • EID 2-s2.0-85204765165
  • Language English