Research looks into educators' competencies

Research looks into educators' competencies
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN


Thursday, August 28, 2008


THE production of quality human capital needs quality education dispensed by skilled, qualified educators, but such local educators may not all be knowledgeable or passionate about the subjects they teach.

This issue was addressed by Liana Artini Hj Mohd Noor from the Department of Business and Management at Institut Teknologi Brunei (ITB), when she presented her research on "The Significance of Specialisation for Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) Educators" during the Human Resource Compendium on Best Practices in Brunei Darussalam.

Liana Artini stated that the competencies of teaching staff can contribute to a more effective, motivated and valuable workforce in VTE, adding that it is necessary for the teaching staff to acquire comprehensive knowledge and hands-on experience in their teaching subjects in order to fully complement the requirements of VTE services to the community, government and the private sector.

She also highlighted that the foundation to sustaining and enhancing the quality of service providers are skilful and competent educators. These educators play a significant role in producing the human capital that is adapted to the globally dynamic and competitive knowledge-based economy.

In her research, Liana Artini investigated local professional teaching staff from a variety of VTE institutions and examined whether their specialist background fit with their teaching area in order to conclude if there was any evidence of teaching subject mismatch.

She had a sample of 71 respondents who have answered interviews and questionnaires regarding the matter.

Of this sample, the feedback revealed that 68.1 per cent of the educators interviewed found that their teaching subjects were relevant to their area of expertise or qualifications.

Meanwhile, 25 per cent said that it was "somewhat relevant" and the rest declared that what they taught did not relate to their qualifications.

From the pool of educators interviewed, it was also discovered that 31 individuals expected to take on the teaching profession.

The other 40 individuals "resorted" to teaching as a result of other influencing factors, with the most common reason being that the individual was bonded to service with the government.

However, from her research, it was found that there was "very little" evidence to support teaching subject mismatch among teaching staff in the VTE institutions surveyed.

Liana Aritini suggested that the study be expanded to include more institutions and a broader sample.

She also expressed her hope that the study would raise awareness to the existence and concerns brought about teaching subject mismatch.

One of the audience members later suggested that students should be given courses that have been "tailored" to the demands of the organisations. "We must realise that the community is our stakeholder," said a representative from Universiti Brunei Darussalam.(ODM1)

The Brunei Times