Crafting a 21st-Century Workforce:

Vocational Education and Training for the Changing Landscape of Offsite Construction in the Digital Age

IAn illustration of a construction worker wearing a yellow hard hat and safety vest, interacting with a large smartphone screen. The screen displays a construction site layout with a rolled-out blueprint, a truck carrying building materials, and a partially constructed house. Two smaller workers are depicted building the house on the screen. A red pencil and a yellow ruler are also shown on the smartphone, symbolizing digital planning and offsite construction coordination.

Research Goals and Study Impact

Research Goals:

My research aims to address the evolving skills and training challenges within offsite construction as technology transforms methods and processes. The primary objectives are:

To identify the specific technical and adaptable skills that should be prioritized in vocational education and training (VET) programs to equip workers for careers in offsite construction.
To understand how organizational and contextual factors influence workplace learning and to use these insights to refine VET curricula.
To compare learning dynamics and knowledge acquisition across different offsite construction companies to inform flexible VET curriculum development.

Goals & Outcomes

Goals

Identify the specific technical and adaptable skills needed in VET for offsite construction.
Understand how organizational and contextual factors influence workplace learning.
Compare learning dynamics across different offsite construction companies to inform flexible VET curriculum development.

Projected Outcomes

Curriculum Design: Inform VET curricula to prioritize relevant technical and adaptable skills.

Organizational Insights: Advance understanding of organizational and contextual factors shaping workplace learning.

Learning Environments: Enhance knowledge on cultivating expansive learning environments.

System-Level Factors: Equip the construction industry with insights on macro, meso, and micro-level factors influencing learning.

Comparative Insights: Provide considerations for flexible VET curriculum development.

Adapting to Technology: Guide VET institutions to adapt curricula to evolving workplace practices and technology’s role in learning.

A minimalist line drawing of two construction workers wearing yellow hard hats and high-visibility vests. One worker is holding and pointing at a large blueprint, while the other holds a tablet, suggesting collaboration and the integration of traditional plans with digital tools. The illustration highlights teamwork and modern construction practices.

Significance of the Study:

This research seeks to provide valuable insights for VET providers and employer-based training programs to refine their curricula and ensure aspiring trades people acquire the necessary contemporary construction skills. The key assumed outcomes include:

Curriculum Design: Informing VET curricula to prioritize relevant technical and adaptable skills for offsite construction.

Organizational Insights: Advancing understanding of how organizational and contextual factors shape workplace learning, guiding VET programs to develop responsive, adaptable approaches aligned with employer needs.

Learning Environments: Enhancing knowledge on cultivating expansive learning environments that foster broad expertise development.

System-Level Factors: Equipping the construction industry with an understanding of macro, meso, and micro-level factors influencing learning to adjust training and work organization.

Comparative Insights: Providing considerations for flexible VET curriculum development suited for varied offsite construction settings through comparative case analysis.

Adapting to Technology: Guiding VET institutions to adapt curricula to evolving workplace practices and explore technology’s role in enhancing learning.

Research Summary

By examining the dynamics of workplace learning and the factors influencing training practices in offsite construction, this study aims to provide actionable insights for VET programs. The research will inform the development of curricula that prioritize the necessary technical and adaptable skills, ensuring trades people are well-equipped for careers in an industry increasingly shaped by technology. Through a comparative analysis of different offsite construction companies, the study will offer guidance on creating flexible and responsive training programs that meet the evolving needs of the construction sector. The findings will contribute to the advancement of industry practices and the preparation of a skilled workforce for the future of offsite construction.

Ethics Statement

UCL regards it as fundamental that research should be conducted according to ethical guidelines. My PhD study has been approved by the ethics board and will strictly adhere to the principles of academic ethics and confidentiality. This ensures that all information will be handled with the utmost care and integrity.

A minimalist line drawing of two construction workers wearing hard hats and high-visibility vests, shaking hands. One worker has long hair and gestures with their free hand, while the other stands with a relaxed posture. The illustration symbolizes teamwork, collaboration, and agreement within the construction industry.