Understanding work and study demands of degree apprentices using conservation of resources theory.
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| Title: | Understanding work and study demands of degree apprentices using conservation of resources theory. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Smith, Sally1 (AUTHOR) s.smith@napier.ac.uk, Taylor-Smith, Ella1 (AUTHOR), Bratton, Andrew2 (AUTHOR), Dutton, Matthew2 (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Empirical Research in Vocational Education & Training. 7/4/2025, Vol. 17 Issue 1, p1-16. 16p. |
| Subject Terms: | Employee well-being, Stress management, Tourism management, Workplace management, Business tourism, Job stress |
| Abstract: | Degree apprenticeships are a recent innovation in the UK. The overarching goal of the apprenticeship is to achieve a degree, while working and advancing careers. This involves apprentices and employing organisations investing in resources including workplace support for education and new skills. This study interviewed apprentices (n = 28) approaching the completion of their apprenticeship (and degree) to explore this investment through the lens of Conservation of Resources Theory; specifically, whether apprentices had achieved their goals and how they had managed the challenges of balancing work, life, and study. This unique approach considered how apprentices gained and conserved resources conducive to reducing workplace stress, to gain insights into apprentices' experiences, resulting in a new resource model for apprenticeships. Goals achieved included the degree award, promotions, pay rises and increased status. We found that skills acquisition, alignment of work/ study, and high levels of support increased the apprentices' resources. Workplace mentors had a crucial role to play, but their approach varied widely, indicating that improving key features of apprenticeship implementation could conserve apprentices' resources, enhancing apprentice wellbeing. The significance of the findings is a new resource model for understanding the intersection of work and study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Empirical Research in Vocational Education & Training is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 186467008 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1186/s40461-025-00189-1 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 16 StartPage: 1 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Employee well-being Type: general – SubjectFull: Stress management Type: general – SubjectFull: Tourism management Type: general – SubjectFull: Workplace management Type: general – SubjectFull: Business tourism Type: general – SubjectFull: Job stress Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Understanding work and study demands of degree apprentices using conservation of resources theory. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Smith, Sally – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Taylor-Smith, Ella – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Bratton, Andrew – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Dutton, Matthew IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 04 M: 07 Text: 7/4/2025 Type: published Y: 2025 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 18776337 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 17 – Type: issue Value: 1 Titles: – TitleFull: Empirical Research in Vocational Education & Training Type: main |
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