Qualitative Interview Questions

VTC Students

Skill Accumulation / Student’s background:

1. What is your name, age and where are you from?2. How long have you been studying at the Academy? / In which school-year are

you?3. What were you doing before you joined the Academy?4. How did you get to know about the Academy and why did you decide to join?5. What does it mean to you to be part of this program?6. Could you give us some highlights of your studies so far? What was the most

interesting part of the training for you? (workshops, apprenticeships, new experiences).

7. What are you learning this semester? (Demonstration on equipment)8. What is it like to learn a new language – do you think it is important that the

Academy offers you such a possibility?9. What´s the biggest challenge for you at the Academy?10. How would you describe the atmosphere at the Academy? What is the

relationship like between the students, trainers etc. How are you getting along?11. Do you think you have changed since you started the study? How?12. What qualities do you think are important to become a good technician /

mechanic?13. How do you think the programme will help you to get a job in the future? Do you

feel more confident in your ability to apply for a job? How would go about applying for a job after graduation?

14. What is your impression of the project at this moment? What do you think could be improved at the Academy?

15. What are your plans for the future? What would you like to do after graduation?

Personal Questions / family background:

1. What’s it like to “grow up” in your country? How would you describe your childhood?

2. Do you live at home with your family? Please can you describe your home situation?

3. What are your parents’ job and educational backgrounds?4. How do they feel about you studying at the Academy?5. Tell us about your favourite hobby? How does it influence your educational

plan?6. What are your fears and hopes for the future? 7. How do you imagine your country in the next 10 years? Where do you see

yourself in 10 years time?

VTC Students - additional follow up questions:

Female Student:1. Last year you did an apprenticeship at the Volvo garage - how does it compare to

the apprenticeship you did recently?2. How does the training this year build on what you learned since you joined? 3. Can you see a difference in your technical ability and skills since we met last?

How? (Demonstration on equipment to show skill accumulation).4. How did your friends react when you told them you will start the training at

Academy? What do they think about you studying at the Academy?5. What is it like to work together with so many men? Do you feel you are treated

differently in any way? Has the Academy adjusted the facilities or training for female students?

6. Last year you said after graduating you would like to work for a big company and maybe own your own garage. How do you feel about this idea now?

Male student:1. Last year you did an apprenticeship at the Volvo garage - how does it compare to

the apprenticeship you did recently?2. How does the training this year build on what you learned since you joined?3. Can you see a difference in your technical ability and skills since we met last?

How? (Demonstration on equipment to show skill accumulation).4. How did your friends react when you told them you will start the training at the

Academy? What do they think about you studying at the Academy?5. You said you wanted to open your own garage – how do you see your future

plans now?

Family Life: Questions to parents:1. How would you describe your son/daughter?2. How was it for you to raise your child / children?3. What did you already know about the Academy before your son/daughter

started to study there?4. How has the education system changed in comparison to when you were young?5. Have you noticed any change in your child after X years of study in the Academy? 6. How does the education of your child influence your family life? Did you notice

any changes at home (e.g. cleaner bedroom, helping with housework etc.)?7. What are your hopes for your son/daughter’s future?

Selam Trainers: course, content and technology questions:

1. What is your name, where are you from?2. What did you do before you worked at Academy?3. Why did you decide to teach mechanics?4. What is your job about? Why do you enjoy it?5. Why do you think this project was started? How do the current educational

facilities compare to the situation before the project started?6. How is this Academy different to other vocational schools in your country?7. What support do you get through UNIDO? 8. How do you benefit from the Volvo trainers? Do you think your own skills have

improved through the project?9. Have you faced any challenges and how did you overcome them?10. What are you teaching this semester? Could you show us some of the equipment

and explain its importance for the education of the students? (Demonstration)11. Have you noticed personal development in the students? If so, how and what?12. Next year the first students graduate - do you think they are prepared to face the

challenges of the job market?

Training and augmented reality questions:

1. What is augmented reality and how can it help train more people / expand the benefits of this programme?

2. Where did the idea to implement this technology come from?3. In your opinion, what are main challenges that you going to face during the

implementation of the augmented reality?

Vocational training trainer (Volvo)

1. What is your role in the project? Could you tell us about your vocational training?

2. How is Volvo supporting these trainers at the Academy?3. Have you had to adapt the materials for the country? If so, how?

(Have you had to develop the materials for knowledge transfer? Are you using any special innovative ways to transfer knowledge?)

4. Have you seen improvement / personal development in the trainers? How (What qualities)?

5. Why is it important for Volvo to be part of this program?6. Does the country need more technicians?7. What role do you think augemented reality can play in expanding the impact of

this programme in the country?8. What are your hopes for the future of the programme?

Local garage apprenticeship

Student:

1. What is your name, age and where are you from?2. In which semester of the Academy are you?3. How was the first day in the garage for you?4. What did you learn on the apprenticeship?5. What was the role of the Academy in getting the apprenticeship?6. Why do you think it’s important to make such an apprenticeship? How does it

differ from trainings at the Academy?7. How do you think the apprenticeship will help you to find a job in the future? (Do

you feel more confident in a professional work environment)?

Garage owner:

1. What is your name?2. Please could you tell us a short history of your garage? Did you always want to

be a mechanic / own a garage?3. What is your job about and why do you enjoy it?4. What qualities do you think are important to become a good technician /

mechanic?5. How has the industry changed in the last 5-10 years? Do you see an increase in

demand for your services?6. How many people do you employ? 7. Did /do you find it easy to recruit skilled workers?

a. If not, why? b. How does this affect your business?

8. How many apprenticeships did you already have in your garage? 9. What skills do the students learn on the apprenticeship?10. Why do you think apprenticeships are an important part of the training? 11. What do you think about Student X, could you tell a little bit about him/her?12. How do the young people that come from the Academy differ from the other

students from typical Vocational Training Schools? From your observations do you think they have any advantages or advanced skills?

13. Why is it important to educate young people in this sector? Do you think this profession is important for the economic and social development of the country? Why?

14. Would you encourage more people to join this profession? What 3 pieces of advice would you give young people? How would you motivate them to join the profession?

National Project Coordinator

1. Why are skills development and youth employment such important development priorities for the country? How does a specialized vocational Academy like this one make a difference?

2. What’s is your role/ the role of the UNIDO local office in the project?3. Is it important that you are based on the site of the school?4. Could you tell us a little bit about the equipment that the Academy received

through the project?5. What changes have you witnessed since the start of the project (in the school,

the students, trainers).6. What are the main achievements of the Academy so far?7. What challenges have you faced since the beginning of the project? What are

the challenges now / for the future?8. How would you describe the communication between project partners?9. What is it that you like the most about your job?10. What are your hopes for the future of the project?

General Manager of the Academy

1. Can you give us an update of the progress of the project? What equipment and training has the Academy received through the project?

2. How is this Academy different from other Vocational School?3. Why are skills development and youth employment such important

development priorities for the country? How does a specialized vocational training Academy like this one make a difference?

4. Do you think the country needs more private public partnership programmes like this one?

5. What changes have you witnessed since the start of the project (in the school, the students, trainers). What are the main achievements of the Academy so far?

6. What challenges have you faced since the beginning of the project? What are the challenges now?

7. Can you describe the role of UNIDO and the other project partners? a. What support have you received from UNIDO, the donor, Volvo?b. How does the training of the trainers through Volvo enrich the teachers

in the Academy?8. How would you describe the communication between project partners?9. The students are graduating next year – how does it make you feel?10. What are your expectations for the future and the sustainability of the project?11. What role do you think augemented reality can play in expanding the impact of

this programme in the country?