Focus of the research

The basic overall research question to be examined is: How are adult education and training policies implemented in Canada and what are their effects on women?

When exploring this question, three areas must be addressed: women's access to education and training, the impact of privatization, and the outcomes of education and training. A number of sub-questions relating to these areas have been identified. These are:

Access

Who is receiving education and training in Canada, particularly from an ethnicity and socio-economic background perspective?

What are the barriers to women? What is the influence of women's learning styles?

What are the entrance criteria of education and training programs?

What is the funding situation? e.g. training allowances and student loans.

Privatization

What are the implications of privatization on women's education and training?

What is happening to the quality and content of courses?

What is the impact of restrictions on the length of programs on the quality of programs?

Who and what groups are receiving funds to train women and for what?

Outcomes

What are the outcomes for women participating in education and training courses?

What measures are being used to evaluate the outcomes of women's education and training?

How are the benefits distributed between the women receiving the education and training, and trainers and employers in the profit and not-for-profit sectors?

We also expect the researcher to identify, in the final report, areas requiring further research, exploration or monitoring.

Method and approach

The preferred approach to this study is the development of a socio-economic framework of analysis, placing the research questions within a broad economic context and applying this analysis to women's education and training in Canada.

In the proposal, the researcher is required to state the current policy directions which provide the basis for education and training in Canada. As education and training in Canada fall under federal and provincial/territorial jurisdictions and funding arrangements, the researcher must outline how the data gathering will be done. She should also outline whether a case-study approach is appropriate, and if so, how it will be undertaken and what criteria would be employed to select these case-studies.

The audience

The research study is being prepared for CCLOW's members, the majority of whom are practitioners, trainers or service providers. We also recognize that this study will be of interest to other organizations concerned with feminist issues and social justice issues, and to policy- or decision- makers in institutions and government at the local, provincial/territorial and federal levels.

The results of the study will be used to provide information and critical comment, and as a resource tool for CCLOW's advocacy work. The entire study, or parts thereof, will be published as part of CCLOW's publication series.