Making Work-Based Learning Work - California Workforce Association
Transcription
Making Work-Based Learning Work - California Workforce Association
Making Work-Based Learning Work CWA 2015 Spring Workforce Development Conference Wednesday, May 13 – 10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. •Andrew Munoz, Executive Director, Orange County Workforce Investment Board •David Shinder, Director of Operations/General Manager, ResCare Workforce Services •Rocio Leon, Manager – Strategic Partnerships and Training, California Manufacturing Technology Consulting Work-Based Learning “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” Proverbs in English, Italian, French and Spanish, James Howell, 1659 Work-Based Learning It’s funny you should ask… “Why is work-based learning such a hot topic in workforce development?” Work-Based Learning The Workforce Innovation and Investment Act (WIOA) puts work-based learning front and center. Among the purposes of WIOA listed in the statute is to offer work-based learning opportunities with employers as training paths to employment. Work-Based Learning By the way, what is work-based learning? The European Training Foundation’s 2013 publication “Work-Based Learning: Benefits and Obstacles” offers the following for our consideration: •There is no single definition of what work-based learning entails beyond the notion that it implies two characteristics: – learning in a work context; and – learning through practice. Work-Based Learning In addition, a distinction is typically made between: learning for work (such as that embodied in a traditional didactic program): and learning at work (e.g. training delivered by the company to impart skills required by the company) Work-Based Learning Work-based training options under WIOA include: On-the-Job Training (OJT) Customized Training Transitional Jobs Strategies for Incumbent Worker Training Coordination with Registered Apprenticeship Programs Leveraging other non-WIA funds (e.g. California’s Employment Training Panel) Work-Based Learning Through its WIOA Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM), the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) is proposing to implement a number of improvements to the public workforce system and its delivery of services to all jobseekers, workers, and employers. Among the improvements that DOL highlights in the proposed rules is promoting work-based training by authorizing local areas to pursue the following approaches and strategies: Provide Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) WIOA promotes: Using up to 20 percent of their combined total of adult and dislocated worker allotments for incumbent worker training. States may use their statewide activities funds and Rapid Response funds for statewide incumbent worker training activities. A broader definition of incumbent workers and the purpose of IWT, such as increasing the competitiveness of the employee or employer (vs. solely raising skills levels for wage increases or lay-off aversion) Increase the Reimbursement to Employers for On-the-Job Training and Customized Training While these traditional work-based models remain largely unchanged from WIA, a Governor or Local Board may raise the reimbursement rate for OJT contracts up to 75 percent of the wage rate, documenting the following factors in approving this increase: o Characteristics of the participants, including whether the OJT contract is leading to employment for individuals with barriers to employment. o Size of the employer o Quality of employer-provided training and advancement opportunities o Other factors, such as the number of employees participating, wage and benefit levels of employees both before and after OJT completion, and relation of training to the competitiveness of the participant. Adds Transitional Jobs as an Approved Strategy Key features include: Transitional jobs are time-limited work experiences that are subsidized for individuals with barriers to employment who are chronically unemployed or have an inconsistent work history. The goal is to establish a work history for the individual, demonstrate work success, and develop skills that lead to entry into unsubsidized employment. The difference between a transitional job and an OJT contract is that in a transitional job there is no expectation that the individual will continue his or her employment with the business after the work experience is complete Improve Linkages and Coordination with Registered Apprenticeships WIOA supports better integrating registered apprenticeship into the workforce system. The NPRM indicates that: ITAs and contracts for services may be used to support registered apprenticeship Supportive service and needs-related payments may be provided to support the placement of a participant into a registered apprenticeship program. Registered apprenticeship programs are automatically qualified to be placed on the state ETPL, and may remain on the list so long as the program remains registered An OJT contract may be made with a registered apprentice program to support the OJT portion of the registered apprenticeship program Knock-knock! When opportunity “comes a callin’,” are we ready to respond to business and job seekers needs using workbased learning strategies? Work-Based Learning Readiness to meet business and job seeker needs using work-based learning requires, at a minimum, the workforce system and its agents: 1. Understand and communicate its benefits to customers 2. Be prepared to implement training 3. Be capable of ensuring a high quality learning experience Benefits to Businesses Companies providing work-based learning often express the following as principal benefits they experience: Better fit between employees trained in-house and the company’s work practices Higher productivity Opportunity to address skills gaps Increased staff retention and work satisfaction Image/recruitment impact Benefits to Trainees Job seekers in work-based learning benefit by having the opportunity to: Gain an understanding of employer expectations Develop strong employability skills and good work habits Acquire skills connected to specific job functions; and Identify career pathways opportunities – both with the company and beyond Preparedness in Implementing Work-Based Training • Methods are in place to inform customers about workbased training • Staff understand how to transform descriptions of tasks and responsibilities in learning objectives that become training plans • Processes and resources are in place to establish structured work-based training programs (e.g. contracts/agreements, training plan, methods of reimbursement) • Oversight and evaluation systems exist to substantiate skill acquisitions and completion of training objectives Deliver Quality Training Quality in work-based learning programs can be measured in terms of: •Clear program goals •Clear roles and responsibilities for trainers, worksite supervisors and support personnel •Assessments to identify existing skills •Training plans that specify learning goals tailored to the individual learner •Reasonable training length reflecting both the complexity of the job and skills of the trainee •Specified methods of instruction •Established evaluation processes •Clear expectations and feedback to assess progress toward achieving learning/skills acquisition goals Did you ever hear the one about…? Opportunities and challenges using WIA-WIOA on-thejob training to meet customers’ needs in recovering labor market. OJT Programs “Studies over the past 3 decades have found that in the United States formal OJT programs have positive employment and earnings outcomes” U.S. DOL WIOA Notice of NPRM, April 16, 2015 OJT Programs Implementing effective OJT programs is not rocket science. But is does require: •Knowledge •A strategy •A clear philosophy underlying your approach. Following are some recommendations for making work-based learning work as part of your system. Recommendation 1 – Train Business Services and Career Center Staff OJT is not the Boogie Man. Some training will get your staff over that hurdle. Provide training that covers: •The purpose and structure of OJT •Marketing OJT and inform customer of its features and benefits •Develop training plans •Prepare and execute agreements •Providing monitoring, oversight and follow-up Recommendation 2 Develop a Strategy Informing Business and Job Seekers about OJT Where OJT is used infrequently, it is generally a “Plan B” approach; an afterthought used in cases where direct job search efforts fail and traditional training is not a viable option. •Information on OJT should permeate all early and on-going communications with both businesses and job seekers. •Job seekers should be oriented to the option at their first visit. •When we talk to businesses about services, OJT should be central to this discussion. Recommendation 3 – Know How to Sell It Sell the benefits - not the process • Overcome objections to “paperwork” and “government programs” by concentrating the message on all we do to develop and implement the OJT • Businesses need only concern themselves with: – Identifying the skills required – Training – Evaluating – Invoicing Recommendation 4 – Link to Sector Focus. Hey! Here’s a concept – make OJT and work-based learning part of your Sector Strategy. As the workforce system becomes increasingly focused on specific sectors offering the greatest likelihood to create economic opportunity and jobs, OJT, customized training, apprenticeship programs, and incumbent worker training should become part of the strategy, where they make sense. Recommendation 5 – Know How to Develop a Training Plan • The “training plan” is the centerpiece of the OJT agreement. • Participant assessment is critical to identifying skill levels. • The development of the Training Plan begins with a task analysis. Based on the identification of tasks and the skills required to perform them, learning objectives are established. These are the principal building blocks of the Training Plan. • Each OJT is customized to prepare job seekers to meet the specific job skills requirements of the businesses that hire them. • Training length reflects the skills to be imparted. It is neither random nor arbitrary. • OJT content is determined by the following equation: Skills required for the job – Skills of the participant = Training content. Recommendation 6 – Effectively Package the OJT • A good contract/agreement template goes a long way. • While there are program, financial and legal requirements to be met, a shorter agreement goes a long way in increasing employer satisfaction. • It is critical to ensure that a review of the entire contract and training package occurs with every business participating in OJT. Recommendation 7 – Apply Logic to Project/Employer Selection • • • • Focus on the local area’s priority sectors The job lends itself to WBL Business seems capable of providing training Business has not been excluded. Recommendation 8 – Do the heavy lifting • To maintain satisfaction among businesses participating in OJT, it is essential that we prepare all documents (including training plans) and remain at the ready to assist with training evaluations, invoices and all other questions and concerns. OJT Programs It doesn’t happen overnight… Three short years ago, the Orange County OneStop system produced a limited number of OJTs annually. Last year over 100 OJT agreements were executed, with an even greater number anticipated by the end of the current program year. Central to this achievement, has been training and staff familiarity in selling, developing, executing, monitoring and overseeing OJT training. Work-Based Learning And if you thought that was fun(ny)… Using State ETP funds Build a Better Workforce … and Get Help Paying For It Employment Training Panel ETP has historically been California’s LARGEST source for funding incumbent workforce training ETP’s Mission • ETP provides financial assistance to California businesses to support customized worker training to: • Attract and retain businesses that contribute to a healthy California economy; • Provide workers with secure jobs that pay good wages and have opportunities for advancement; • Assist employers to successfully compete in the global economy; and • Promote the benefits and ongoing investment of training among employers. ETP History Since its inception in 1982 ETP has: •Provided Over $1.3 Billion in Training Funds •Trained Over 800,000 California Workers •Served Over 80,000 California businesses Open for Business! • • • • $64.7M Projected FY 2015-16 Budget $90M available for new contracts New Hire Training Incumbent Worker Training Who Can Contract With ETP • A Single Employer – a private, for-profit employer • A Group of Employers – including Trade/Professional Associations, Joint Apprenticeship Training Committees • Chambers of Commerce and Economic Development Corporations • A Training Agency – including Community Colleges, Universities, University foundations, Regional Occupational Programs, Private Schools and Agencies • A Workforce Investment Board (WIB) or Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Grant Recipient or Administrative Entity ETP Parameters • Every ETP Program must: – identify the training priorities/topics – specify the target trainees – specify the target training hours • 8-260 hours for new hires • 8-200 for incumbent workers – identify the training provider(s) – 90-day employment retention * ETP Funding Priorities • • • • • Incumbent worker training for Priority Industries Job Creation Small Business Apprenticeship Alternative & Renewable Fuels & Vehicle Technology • Drought Relief • Healthcare • Veterans Special Employment Training (SET) • Designed to improve skills and employment security of frontline workers in projects that do not meet standard eligibility requirements, but are a priority for workforce training. • Entrepreneurial skills training: for small business owners employing at least one, but not more than nine full-time employees; • High Unemployment Areas (HUA): regions where the unemployment rate is significantly higher than the State average; • Barriers to full-time stable employment • Seasonal industries Special Employment Training (SET) ETP Eligible Training Manufacturing Skills Blue Print Reading & Shop Math Geometric, Dimensioning & Tolerances Soldering/Welding CNC Programming & Shop Floor Skills Surface Mount Technology Commercial Skills Construction Equipment Operations Field Operations Computer Skills Office Automation Enterprise Resource Planning Management and Team Skills Management/Supervisory Skills Team Building & Communication Project Management Change Management Continuous Improvement Production & Inventory Control Lean Manufacturing Quality Systems Growth Strategies Export management New product/new market development Special Employment Training (SET) CMTC has been partnering with ETP for 18 years. We can assist your team in: •Setting a vision and goals •Ensuring Integration with existing projects •Assisting with planning and setting benchmarks •Leveraging the maximum benefit from state funding Special Employment Training (SET) CMTC has been partnering with ETP for 18 years. We can assist your team in: •Setting a vision and goals •Ensuring Integration with existing projects •Assisting with planning and setting benchmarks •Leveraging the maximum benefit from state funding Questions Questions Don’t call us… Email us! For copies of this presentation, follow-up questions or comic relief, send us a message at: Contact Information Andrew Munoz Email: Andrew.Munoz@occr.ocgov.com David Shinder Email: David.Shinder@rescare.com Rocio Leon Email: leon@cmtc.com