Abstract
In order to address the requirements of future education in different fields of academic professional activity, a model called Academic Apprenticeship Education was initiated in Finland in 2009. The aim of this article is to analyse the development of expert networks in the context of a 1-year Academic Apprenticeship Education model in the field of energy efficiency, which is a new and rapidly developing knowledge-intensive field. We examined the creation of networking ties among all course participants, the process of networking in small groups, and individual participants’ networking activity. Data was collected by administering a social networking questionnaire in the beginning and at the end of the training to all course participants (n = 87) and analysed using social network analysis and repeated measures ANOVA. In addition, semi-structured interviews were conducted with organizers of the training to examine how the operational practices of the training supported networking. The results indicated that there was little change in the networking ties among all course participants. However, those small groups that were able to communicate appeared to create internal linkages. At the individual level, more new ties emerged for private sector actors than for public sector actors. In conclusion, we propose that a consolidated educational model should be created for the Academic Apprenticeship Education model in general. The quality of education might be better assured if the current ad hoc networks were not the only way to organise knowledge exchange among participants.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
The Finnish name of the education model is Oppisopimustyyppinen täydennyskoulutus (Gröhn 2011).
References
Adams, R., Evangelou, D., English, L., Dias De Figueiredo, A., Mousoulides, N., Pawley, A. L., et al. (2011). Multiple perspectives on engaging future engineers. Journal of Engineering Education, 100, 48–88.
Akkerman, S., Admiraal, W., Simons, R. J., & Niessen, T. (2006). Considering diversity: Multivoicedness in international academic collaboration. Culture & Psychology, 12, 461–485.
Akkerman, S. F., & Bakker, A. (2011). Crossing boundaries between school and work during apprenticeships. Vocations and Learning, 5, 153–173.
Billett, S., & Henderson, A. (2011). Developing learning professionals. London: Springer.
Borgatti, S. P., & Cross, R. (2003). A relational view of information seeking and learning in social networks. Management Science, 49, 432–445.
Borgatti, S. P., Everett, M. G., & Freeman, L. C. (2002). UCINET 6 for windows. Harvard, MA: Analytic Technologies.
Brass, D. J., Galaskiewicz, J., Greve, H. R., & Tsai, W. (2004). Taking stock of networks and organizations: A multilevel perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 47, 795–817.
Cross, R., Parker, A., Prusak, L., & Borgatti, S. P. (2003). Knowing what we know. Supporting knowledge creation and sharing in social networks. In R. Cross, A. Parker, & L. Sasson (Eds.), Networks in the knowledge economy (pp. 208–231). New York: Oxford University Press.
Curseu, P. L., Janssen, S. E. A., & Raab, J. (2012). Connecting the dots: Social network structure, conflict, and group cognitive complexity. Higher Education, 63, 621–629.
Dower, C., O’Neil, E., & Hough, H. J. (2001). Profiling the professions. A model for evaluating emerging health professions. Center for the Health Professions. San Francisco: University of California.
Edwards, A. (2010). Being an expert professional practitioner. London: Springer.
Fourcade, M. (2006). The construction of a global profession: The transnationalization of economics. American Journal of Sociology, 1, 145–194.
Fuller, A., & Unwin, L. (2010). ‘Knowledge workers’ as the new apprentices: The influence of organizational autonomy, goals and values on the nurturing of expertise. Vocations and Learning, 3, 203–222.
Fuller, A., & Unwin, L. (2011). Introduction. Apprenticeship as an evolving model of learning. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 63, 261–266.
Gröhn, I. (2011). Oppisopimustyyppisen täydennyskoulutuksen mallia etsimässä. Turun yliopiston koulutus-ja kehittämiskeskuksen julkaisuja B:3. Retrieved from http://futurex.utu.fi/julkaisut.php.
Gruber, H., Lehtinen, E., Palonen, T., & Degner, S. (2008). Persons in shadow: Assessing the social context of high abilities. Psychology Science Quarterly, 50(2), 237–258.
Guile, D. (2011). Apprenticeship as a model of vocational ‘formation’ and ‘reformation’: The use of Foundation Degrees in the aircraft engineering industry. Journal of Vocational Education and Training, 63, 451–464.
Hakkarainen, K., Palonen, T., Paavola, S., & Lehtinen, E. (2004). Communities of networked expertise. Professional and educational perspectives. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
Howells, J. (1998). Management and the hybridization of expertise in network design. In R. Williams, W. Faulkner, & J. Fleck (Eds.), Exploring expertise: Issues and perspectives (pp. 265–284). London: Macmillian.
Hytönen, K., Hakkarainen, K., & Palonen, T. (2011). Young diplomats’ socialization to the networked professional cultures of their workplace communities. Vocations and Learning, 4, 253–273.
Hytönen, T., & Tynjälä, P. (2005). A learning network promoting knowledge management. Paper presented at the Researching Work and Learning Conference RWL05, Sydney, Australia.
Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1991). Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Lin, N. (2001). Social capital. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Muijs, D., West, M., & Ainscow, M. (2010). Why network? Theoretical perspectives on networking. School Effectiveness and School Improvement, 21, 5–26.
Nooteboom, B. (2004). Inter-firm collaboration, learning and networks. New York, NY: Routledge.
Palonen, T., Hakkarainen, K., Talvitie, J., & Lehtinen, E. (2004). Network ties, cognitive centrality, and team interaction within a telecommunication company. In H. P. A. Boshuizen, R. Bromme & H. Gruber (Eds.), Professional learning: Gaps and transitions on the way from novice to expert. (pp. 273–294). Dordrecht: Kluwers.
Presentation memorandum. (15.4.2011). Ministry of Education and Culture/Education sector.
Rienties, B., Héliot, Y., & Jindal-Snape, D. (2013). Understanding social learning relations of international students in a large classroom using social network analysis. Higher Education. doi:10.1007/s10734-013-9617-9.
Rienties, B., Hernandez Nanclares, N., Hommes, J., & Veermans, K. (2013). Understanding emerging knowledge spillovers in small-group learning settings: A networked learning perspective. In V. Hodgson, D. McConnell & M. De Laat (Eds.), Exploring the theory, pedagogy and practice of networked learning (pp. in press). The Netherlands: Springer.
Roxå, T., Mårtensson, K., & Alveteg, M. (2011). Understanding and influencing teaching and learning cultures at university: A network approach. Higher Education, 62, 99–111.
Scott, J. (1991). Social network analysis: A handbook. London: Sage.
Talwar, R., & Hancock, T. (2010). The shape of jobs to come. Possible new careers emerging from advances in science and technology (2010–2030). Final Report. January 2010. Fast Future Research.
Vesalainen, J., & Strömmer, R. (1999). From individual learning to network learning. In T. Alasoini & P. Halme (Eds.), Learning organizations, learning society (pp. 117–139). Helsinki: Ministry of Labour.
Vest, C. M. (2008). Context and challenge for twenty-first century engineering education. Journal of Engineering Education, 97, 235–236.
Zitter, I., De Bruijn, E., Simons, P. R. J., & Ten Cate, T. J. (2011). Adding a design perspective to study learning environments in higher professional education. Higher Education, 61, 371–386.
Acknowledgments
Research has been funded by FUTUREX project that is part of European Social Fund programme. We would like to thank MA Hal White who assisted in improving the English language of present investigation as well as Otto and Antti Seitamaa for translating transcribed interviews from Finnish to English. We would also like to thank Katja Kontu for visualizing Fig. 2a, b.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hytönen, K., Palonen, T., Lehtinen, E. et al. Does academic apprenticeship increase networking ties among participants? A case study of an energy efficiency training program. High Educ 68, 959–976 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9754-9
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10734-014-9754-9