A competency evaluation study for the Master's of Science in Training and Development Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout

Abstract

The purpose of this Master’s program in Training and Development is to provide students with the required skills and competencies in order to be effective in the workplace. This skills assessment will determine how the University of Wisconsin Stout can be more effective in meeting the needs of students in the Training and Human Resource Development Master’s Program. The researcher will perform a skills assessment to evaluate the skill level of graduates on the basic competencies of the Master’s of Science in Training and Human Resource Development Program at the University of Wisconsin-Stout. The following encompass the objectives, which will be achieved as a result of this study at the University of Wisconsin Stout. The researcher will determine to what degree the program is successful in conveying trainer competencies to students of the Training and Development Program. At the same time, the study will discover skill level deficits concerning these competencies, if they exist. Finally, the study will evaluate whether the goal competencies of the Training and Development program are indeed important for professionals in businesses and industries. The significance of the study can be expressed in that the information gathered will help the University of Wisconsin Stout evaluate whether revisions of this program are needed to meet workforce demands. The researcher will base the study on the results of a survey. This model will be administered to all graduates of the Master’s of Science in Training and Development Program since its beginning in 1995. Additionally, all students that have completed their coursework, but have not finished their field problem will be surveyed. The survey will be administered via United States Mail. The researcher has planned to share all results for this study with the University of Wisconsin Stout. The participants will answer survey questions that will assess competency skills currently emphasized in business and industry, as viewed by the American Society for Training and Development. Additionally, they will evaluate the importance of these competencies in business and industry today.