Ebekozien, A; Aigbavboa, C O; Samsurijan, M S; Thwala, W D and Ahmed, M A H (2024) The role of apprenticeship in skills development of construction artisans to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8: stakeholders' unexplored approach. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 31(13), pp. 411-429. ISSN 0969-9988
Abstract
Purpose: Studies show that apprenticeships can enhance skills development and economic growth. There is a paucity of academic literature concerning apprenticeship’s role in developing Nigerian construction artisans' skills, especially regarding achieving Sustainable Development Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth). Thus, this study aims to appraise the role of apprenticeship in developing construction artisans' skills and suggest measures to improve skills development for artisans' on-the-job training mechanisms to achieve Goal 8. Design/methodology/approach: Given the unexplored nature of the problem, the study utilised face-to-face data collection via a qualitative research approach. It covered two major cities in Nigeria and achieved saturation at the 29th chosen interviewee. Also, the study adopted a thematic method to analyse the data from selected construction artisans, construction firm management staffers and consultant experts in skills matters. Findings: Enhancing skills development, replacing the ageing workforce through practical broad-based skills training, bridging skills gaps, enhancing work-integrated learning and economic upliftment emerged as apprenticeship’s role in developing artisans' skills in the Nigerian built environment if well implemented. Apprenticeship to develop skills in the built environment is not without hindrances. The perceived 34 barriers were re-clustered into employee, employer and government-related. Findings show that achieving Goal 8 may be threatened if these hindrances are not mitigated. They suggest improving skills development for artisans' on-the-job training mechanisms to achieve Goal 8. Originality/value: This study demonstrates that apprenticeship’s role in developing construction artisans' skills should be all-inclusive. Also, the three stakeholders must do more concerning training programmes to improve artisans' skills development to achieve Goal 8.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | apprenticeship; construction artisan; Nigeria; skills development; sustainable development goal; interview |
| Index terms: | Nigeria, economic growth, built environment, sustainable development goal, construction firm, programme, skills development, face, interview, apprenticeship, methodology, qualitative research |
| Subjects: | professional education, project controls, infrastructure and transport systems, research methods, economic development, personnel development, Geography, sustainable design, psychology, organization, research design and methodology, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Business Strategy, Geographical Context, Research Practice, Sustainability, Urban Studies, Human Resources, Organizational Design, Time Control, Education |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTE |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here