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ANNEX 1: LEARNING PROVIDER STUDY
Participants
Scoping study | No of organisations interviewed |
|---|
Scotland's Colleges | 3 |
|---|
Voluntary Organisation | 1 |
|---|
Local Authority Provider | 2 |
|---|
Higher Education Sector | 1 |
|---|
Private Sector | 2 |
|---|
Total | 9 |
|---|
Phase One |
|---|
Private | 14 |
|---|
Higher Education Institution | 3 |
|---|
Scotland's Colleges | 14 |
|---|
Community/Voluntary | 4 |
|---|
Local Authority | 3 |
|---|
Other | 1 |
|---|
Total | 39 |
|---|
Phase Two |
|---|
Private | 10 |
|---|
Higher Education Institution | 6 |
|---|
Scotland's Colleges (including HE in FE) | 9 |
|---|
Community/Voluntary | 3 |
|---|
Local Authority | 5 |
|---|
Other | 1 |
|---|
Total | 34 |
|---|
Sampling strategy
Based on information regarding registered learning providers from learndirect scotland, 10 learning providers were selected for the scoping study, based on size, location and type of organisation (sectors are outlined in the table above). The aim was to have an appropriate geographical spread to allow the exploration of urban and rural issues, and to include a range of large, medium and small learning providers. Respondents were selected through an initial request to the learning provider seeking the identification of potential participants.
The same sampling strategy was used to recruit participants in both Phase One and Phase Two interviews. In keeping with the intention to collect as much information as possible about the impact, if any, that the August 2006 changes had to the scheme, 14 of the learning providers contacted in Phase Two had already taken part in interviews in Phase One. This would allow consideration of how perceptions or experience of using the ILA Scotland scheme had changed over this time, if at all. The remaining 20 learning providers interviewed were carefully balanced across the key participant areas.
Operational issues
Participants' anonymity was assured both prior to and at the point of interview. With their permission, discussions were recorded, and the recording transcribed. Discussions lasted approximately one hour. The majority of the interviews were carried out by telephone.
Those agreeing to participate in an interview were provided with the questionnaire one week prior to interview. Participants were made aware of issues regarding confidentiality and their anonymity was assured prior to interview. Responses to section 1 of the interview schedule were noted by the interviewer while responses to section 2 were recorded using a digital recorder in circumstances in which consent was given. Data from Section One were inputted into SPSS.
Key areas discussed
Scoping study
- The impact of ILA Scotland on the marketing, design, and pricing of courses
- The effectiveness of the ILA scheme information and marketing tools
- The impact of ILAs on the uptake of learning in organisation or institutions
- The impact of ILAs on organisational or institutional planning, processes and structures
- The views of learning providers on course eligibility criteria for the ILA Scotland scheme
- The robustness and effectiveness of ILA Scotland booking and payment arrangements, including the learning token.
Phases One and Two
- Procedures and systems related to the ILA Scotland scheme
- General administrative procedures associated with being an ILA account holder
- Accessibility of ILA Scotland information for both learning providers and learners/potential learners
- Impact of ILA Scotland marketing and recruitment
- ILA Scotland eligibility criteria for learning providers and learners
- ILA Scotland course eligibility criteria
- Impact of ILA Scotland on organisational planning and processes
- Operation of ILA Scotland including consideration of the most successful and least successful aspects of the scheme
- Impact and awareness of recent changes (Phase Two only).
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