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Enhancement of the National Guidance Research Forum and a systematic literature review

The Department for Education and Skills (DfES), Engaging Adults in Learning Division, commissioned the Centre for Guidance Studies, (CeGS), University of Derby, and the Institute for Employment Research, (IER), University of Warwick, to:

  • enhance the National Learning Resource for Guidance based at the University of Derby
  • develop technical elements of the NGRF website to support this enhancement
  • increase coverage of occupational areas by ten for the Future Trends section of the NGRF website
  • undertake a systematic literature review of research evidence on career development initiatives, both within and outside of the workplace

Click here for more information on the project which developed the National Guidance Research Forum (NGRF) website.

Systematic literature review of research evidence on career development initiatives

The aim of the systematic literature review was to identify research evidence in a systematic and transparent way in order to ascertain what career development interventions (CDIs) motivate employees to engage in learning for work. Other factors that influence the outcomes of workforce development are also explored. The primary focus being to concentrate on research findings that specifically relate to initiatives at level 2 or below.

The review was designed to:

  • ensure synergy with current work in the area of workforce development, such as the Economic and Social Research Council’s (ESRC) Teaching and Learning Research Project (TLRP), in order to generate a comprehensive and rigorous evidence base
  • contribute to the development of, and add value to, the National Guidance Research Forum (NGRF) and the National Library Resource for Guidance (NLRG)
  • capture and disseminate research findings in order to motivate practitioners, managers and policy-makers to engage in evidence-based practice
  • help inform the UK research agenda by identifying critical questions that need to be addressed in the future

The literature review process was adapted from a methodology developed by the EPPI-Centre, Institute of Education, University of London. Our research question focused
on:

What career development interventions, at level two or below, from within and outside the workplace, motivate employees to engage in learning for work? With the sub-question: What internal and/or external factors influence the outcomes of workforce development?

From over 77,000 articles that were initially identified, the research team distilled the available research data and completed an in-depth review of 27 research studies that the met set criteria. In order to ensure consistency between the research teams, regular face-to-face meetings and teleconferences were held, including extensive email consultation.

Output

Hughes, D., Bimrose, J., Barnes, S-A., Bowes, L. & Orton, M. (2005) A Systematic Literature Review of Research into Career Development Interventions for Workforce Development, Derby: Centre for Guidance Studies, University of Derby. ISBN: 0 901437 38 7

Project duration: 2003-2005

IER project team:

Jenny Bimrose

Sally-Anne Barnes

Michael Orton

Project partner:

Deirdre Hughes, Centre for Gudiance Studies, University of Derby

Funder:

Department for Education and Skills