global view of issues and trends that have developed through the evolution of apprenticeship training

A global view of the issues and trends that have developed through the evolution of apprenticeship training.
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Introduction
Apprenticeship is the backbone of almost all of the world’s innovation and developments we see today. It occurs in the simplest of forms like pronouncing words, cooking, among many others. In fact, all the education systems in the world today are an evolution of apprenticeship practices. On the other hand, the necessity of acquiring an education is an important factor in society be it in normal schools or any other form. As such, people have been known to embrace various forms of learning for the betterment of their futures and for them to be able to be exposed to better opportunities. Through this, they can fend for their families in a proper and responsible way, in a manner that won’t be condemned or face criticism from the society. To add on, the society plays a bring role in education, especially apprenticeship learning and therefore by higher education, it is a factor that should not be taken for granted (Drucker, 2014) & (Sparrow et al., 2016).
In a layman’s language, apprenticeship could be defined as the transfer of knowledge and skills from one person to another. In most cases, these knowledge and skills are taught by elders to the younger ones in the society.

These have been the backbone of human survival over the years and from one generation to another (Ainley & Rainbird, 2014).
From a scholar’s point of view, an apprenticeship can be described as the act of handing over the skills or knowledge of a particular trade or profession by one who already knows it to one whip does not either online or offline. By online, it merely means that the apprenticeship practice is taught practically while offline involves off-site teaching practices which majorly constitutes a classroom setting.
In the world at large, apprenticeship originated in the late medieval period. It became a great enterprise that all and sundry that came across it decided to jump on this fortune earning boat. At the top, it was centralized to the master craftsmen and town governments who were the engine of this practice. These two parties hired the young people to labor on their behalf. They paid them by offering food and shelter. On top of that, they paid them by teaching them the skills required in that profession free of charge.
During that time, it was palpable that men had developed a greater affinity for the act as compared to their counterparts. Nevertheless, the few women who engaged in apprenticeship were noted to favor professions like baking and tailoring among many others. On the other side, a registered apprentice was subjected to a contract not less than seven years before one could be allowed to go and pursue any activity related to that profession on his or her own.
In Canada, the practice of apprenticeship is encouraged across the country in all forms. This has been specialized more amongst women and youth who seem to be the less interested parties to the act. The practice has been devolved amongst the provinces of Canada. A special certificate is awarded to all the graduates upon completion of a given apprenticeship program. An interprovincial examination is administered to the graduates prior, and this is what determines whether one will be certified or not.
Therefore, in this paper, we will look at literature and after that review it to get a foothold and standing on the matter of apprenticeship on a global scale. Later on, we will discuss the findings and provide recommendations on the matter.
Literature review
This literature review highlights the areas that have been impacted by apprenticeship since the beginning of time till date.
First, apprenticeship has been noted to create and increase the opportunities for employment. This was not the case in the earlier days where people weren’t accustomed to the profession as there is today (Fuller & Unwin, 2014). Through apprenticeship training, the balance between employment and unemployment is closely leaning towards the employment side daily as more number of youths enroll to apprenticeship training to earn a little pocket money while they still attend school for learning.
Secondly, when the practice of apprenticeship came to be, it was more of a male thing. Women were reduced to doing house chores while their counterparts on the other side adopted the practice as a way of life. Nevertheless, they were forced to embrace the act as a way of life since it helped a lot in life and death situations. A case example is in the practice of midwifery which was a skill that was passed over the generations to help pregnant women whose time had come to deliver their babies safe and sound (DiFilippo, 2014). The modern times have changed since the outcry of feminists has been heard. Women are now allowed to enroll in occupations which have been for a long time proclaimed ”manly” like in real estate and construction (Gerber, 2014). Men are also in feminine occupations such as catering, nursing, house cleaning and many other. These balance in job equity amongst male and female has seen high populations of youths take part in apprenticeship training (Levasseur & Paterson, 2016).
Besides that, apprenticeship has been observed to bring peaceful co-existence amongst societies and communities in Canada. For example in Ottawa, there is quiet co-existence between male and female workers brought about by gender equality since they both share a common practical workplace and can measure and appreciate one another’s skills and capabilities (Kröller, 2017). The high rate of employment amongst our youths has seen little or no gang-related felonies in the streets since they are kept busy and paid. Besides that, apprenticeship brings people from different backgrounds together with the aim of achieving a common goal thus promoting a peaceful correlation amongst them.
Furthermore, apprenticeship has become a remedy for the many students who have quit from the leading education program of Canada. The number of school dropouts registered over the years who have enrolled in apprenticeship training is high. Youths get low grades in school, and they take an apprenticeship as an alternative route to making money the wages are low. Its better half a loaf than none of them (Álvarez-Galván, Field, Kuczera, Musset & Windisch, 2016). Also, the students have opted for apprenticeship training over school programs since the knowledge and skills obtained there are closely related to the jobs and employment opportunities existing in Canada.
Discussion
It has also been noted that there has been an increased number of the middle class due to apprenticeship practices. The practice, even though it has made few billionaires, has been widely embraced since it provides something tangible that can enable one live the middle-class life fully.
The population of both lower middle class and upper-middle-class citizens is equitably increasing with apprenticeship training (Mills, 2016). Youths under the age of eighteen years enrolled in the program start earning when they are young and entering the lower middle-class status by the time they reach their early twenties depending on how they utilize their income. Majority of those who graduate and start their businesses tend to join the upper middle class since they are fully equipped with knowledge of how to make and handle money.
On the other hand, apprenticeship has fostered great Economic growth in Canada since its inception. Apprenticeship programs create more business opportunities in the region thus increases a revenue source for the government (Fuller & Unwin, 2014). This largely boosts the GDP of the country, therefore, making a stable economy. Besides, that apprentices can earn income which circulates through the economy when they trade goods and services or any other forms of trade.
On top of that, apprenticeship has promoted healthy business growth among Canadian investors. The business owners directly pass down their working principles on the type of output required to their students thus gives the businesses a solid foundation (Schulz, 2015). Through this, the employees can master some of the skills and know-how which they can implement in their businesses.
There’s a healthy competition amongst youthful and aspiring apprentices. When a young apprentice works hard to be able to afford a sleek car, his younger siblings, friends or working-age mates get challenged to achieve his or her goals (Steedman, 2015). When also talking about gender equality, men feel challenged by young women who become successful apprentices thus promoting a working spirit amongst both young males and females. Besides that, apprentices also strive to achieve their independent business entities since it’s much more profitable and flexible as compared to being an employee.
The increased population has seen the growth and development of technology as the day go by. This is affected in that, the majority of apprentices are youths in the society who adapt fast to the modern trends. Since they earn their own money through apprenticeship training, they can afford electronic gadgets like laptops and mobile phones which enhance the availability of knowledge and communication (Klatt, Clarke & Dulfer, 2017). Young apprentices equipped with expertise or two in computer science are developing mobile applications and website to improve the way of living. Examples of such use are like in the field of the money transfer; people can now send and receive money cheaply and easily through mobile applications, availability of online e-commerce platforms which support the local and international trade of goods and services has seen young apprentices like artisans have a ready market for their products and services.
The current mode of the banking system, especially in Canada has seen a remarkable and positive evolution. This is because banks are getting more customers due to the increase of paid apprentices, so they get challenged to up their games in offering reliable, efficient and time-saving services to accommodate the needs of their growing customer (Tufford, Lowndes, Struthers & Chivers, 2017). Nowadays, people can easily access loans from banks through their mobile apps so when an apprentice succeeds and becomes a journeyman, he/she can easily obtain a bank loan for capital to start and manage their businesses where they’ll also employ other young aspiring employees (Chan, 2017).
On the other side, most of the income that the apprentices receive is stored in banks. This avails enough money for the banks to loan out or invest thus boosting the country’s economy. Nevertheless, the gap between high class and middle-class citizens in the nation widens because the rich who run the businesses get cheap labor from their students who in turn receive low wages regardless of the profits made in business (Lehmann, Taylor & Hamm, 2015). Thus the rich become richer and the poor struggle with taxes and debts.
With improved infrastructure and communication, apprentices from various states meet up in the workplaces and share common ideas, how they dress and the gadgets they use. This, in turn, leads to a standard way in which they spend their income (Wen, 2015). The wannabe nature of the urban population develops in apprentices who came from rural backgrounds thus increase in urbanization.
Based on the working contracts that apprentices in training sign with their employers, there’s a code of conduct they must abide by as stated in their contracts (Scales, 2014). This improves moral ethics among the high population of youths who are apprentices. Canada is well known for law-abiding citizen, and apprenticeship training majorly influences this.
Apprenticeship training creates a way of making income for many household children. This has encouraged a majority to be self-dependent since they relieve their working-class parents of some providing duties like buying their clothes, food, and electronics, paying for their medical fees. Therefore, this money can be invested in other areas.
In the past, only those blessed with age had the wisdom to make more than a billion dollars. Apprenticeship training has seen the wise old transfer their wisdom to the inspired youth who in turn take advantage of the improved infrastructure and communications to work hard for that billion dollar mark (Taylor, Raykov & Hamm, 2014). “In recent years we have witnessed an outburst in the number of youthful apprenticeship talents who are going beyond the billion-dollar mark by the law.”
“With the increase in the number of students applying for apprenticeship either through their high schools, or government aided, there has been an increase in the number of TVET schools” (Haolader, Foysol, & Clement, 2017). Technical vocational education training schools have been established in the society to equip students who have low college entry grades with necessary skills which they can utilize in their career paths. Some TVET schools have grown to become universities which are offering higher learning to technical subjects
Recommendations.
By understanding the trends and issues that have evolved in the apprenticeship training of people and more so in the higher levels of education, then it will be possible to derive recommendations that will make the practice even much better in the future. This section contains some suggestions whose application will result in efficient and effective apprenticeship training.
First and foremost is linking up with the potential employers of the graduates of apprenticeship training so as tensor their modes of working into the curriculum. The job industry is the next destination graduates go. Here is where they get to exercise their hard-earned skills and get to practice all that they were taught. Thus, employers are vital stakeholders who should be incorporated in the formation of the curriculum and syllabus of the respective trade or profession. This, for instance, entails updating the methods and procedure of production of the various goods and services of the core companies that hire most students from institutions offering apprenticeship training.
On the other hand, it’s high time that the relevant stakeholders involved in the establishment of the curriculum incorporate more practical activities in their teaching. It’s crystal clear that our brain tends to absorb practical activities more and much easy as compared theoretical ones.
Also, the Canadian government should introduce online classes for the programs provided under the apprenticeship training. With the increase in the use of technology, it is by now a fact that all the industries in the world are evolving towards that direction. Besides that, most apprenticeship programs are considered to be part-time. Thus there’s need to develop those programs in a much flexible way. Online learning is the best way in which these technical skills and knowledge can be taught to students. “This involves the development of the respective syllabuses and curriculum on websites and mobile applications where students can learn from regardless of their location or time frame. This will even increase the number of students enrolling to do such courses.”
Besides that, the government should re-evaluate its mode of accreditation to qualified students. It’s high time they realize that examinations tend not to favor all and sundry. The examinations should, therefore, be accredited through more practical activities concerning the various courses.
Also, the government should introduce measures that will avail capital and other resources necessary to start and run these businesses. Not every graduate who gets accredited after every apprenticeship training gets to secure a job. Thus the government should offer capital to these people in the form of loans. Also, the government can put interest rate caps on all the loans secured by these graduates from banks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Apprenticeship training is a practice which has been there since the beginning of time and is anticipated to last until the end of time. Therefore, we should accept is part of our way of life and seek to develop it until it’s most efficient and most effective. The end goal is making sure that it serves all and sundry who decide to embrace it.
Partnering with industry ensures quality in apprenticeship programs. PSI’s benefit from overlap through various trades and capitalize on developed curriculum when offering new programs. “Unions provide technical training in many parts of the country, and potentially treat the institutions involved in teaching this, so to stay competitive PSI’s solutions may include altering time and locations of training or consolidation of trades training. Further investigation will help direct the leadership of this industry and HE institutions.”
Finally, one thing of much importance to note should be how much positivity apprenticeship training is bringing to the society. With this key factor being considered, the global view of the topic will receive the accreditation and support that it deserves. And through this, apprenticeship training will be able to grow and develop and reach greater heights. Some people have benefited from this training, and a greater number through the right protocols can also receive the same opportunities or even better ones that can have an impact on their lives.
References
Ainley, P., & Rainbird, H. (Eds.). (2014). Apprenticeship: Towards a new paradigm of learning. Routledge.
Álvarez-Galván, J. L., Field, S., Kuczera, M., Musset, P., & Windisch, H. C. (2016). Skills beyond school commentary on Canada.
Chan, S. (2017). Assisting with Qualification Completion by Applying the Concept of Occupational Identity as Conferred before Self-Inference: a Longitudinal Case Study of Bakery Apprentices. Vocations and Learning, 10(2), 121-140.
DiFilippo, S. H. (2014). Trust and Transformation: Women’s Experiences Choosing Midwifery and Home Birth in Ontario, Canada (Doctoral dissertation).
Drucker, P. (2014). Innovation and entrepreneurship. Routledge.
Fuller, A., & Unwin, L. (Eds.). (2014). Contemporary apprenticeship: International perspectives on an evolving model of learning. Routledge.
Gerber, L. M. (2014). Education, employment, and income polarization among Aboriginal men and women in Canada. Canadian Ethnic Studies, 46(1), 121-144.
Haolader, F. A., Foysol, K. M., & Clement, C. K. (2017). Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Bangladesh–Systems, Curricula, and Transition Pathways. In Vocational Education and Training in Times of Economic Crisis (pp. 201-227). Springer International Publishing.
Klatt, M., Clarke, K., & Dulfer, N. (2017). Working their way to school completion: a snapshot of School-based Apprenticeships and Traineeships for young Australians. Journal of Vocational Education & Training, 1-22.
Kröller, E. M. (Ed.). (2017). The Cambridge companion to Canadian literature. Cambridge University Press.
Lehmann, W., Taylor, A., & Hamm, Z. (2015). ‘Go west young man!’Youth Apprenticeship and opportunity structures in two Canadian provinces. Journal of Education and Work, 28(1), 44-65.
Levasseur, K. & Paterson, S. (2016) Jack (and Jill?) of All Trades: A Canadian Case Study of Equity in Apprenticeship Supports.
Mills, E. N. (2016). The Impact of ‘Age-Class’ on Becoming a Young Farmer in an Industrialised Agricultural Sector: Insights from Nova Scotia, Canada. In Generation Development (pp. 77-101). Palgrave Macmillan UK.
Scales, S. (2014). Moral and Artistic Apprentices. Teaching Ethics, 14(2), 135-147.
Schulz, K. M. (2015). The Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation recently convened the Youth Apprenticeship Advisory Committee, a group of business, labor, and other stakeholders, to explore the expansion of youth apprenticeships in Maryland under Chapter 646 of the Acts of 2014. The enclosed report will serve as a blueprint for Maryland’s youth apprenticeship system, to engage a new generation of workers and employers in Maryland. The Committee’s charge is to evaluate the effectiveness of…
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Taylor, A. R., Raykov, M., & Hamm, Z. (2014). Exploring outcomes of youth apprenticeship in Canada. Understanding employer engagement in education: Theories and evidence, 221-235.
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