Challenges of Training Motor Vehicle Mechanics for Changing World Contexts and Emergent Working Conditions: Cases of Kenya and Australia

This chapter is an extract from a study that examined how institute-based automotive training in the retail, service and repair (RS&R) sector could be made more responsive and effective to the changes in workplace demands and new technology. It dealt with the promotion of vocational relevance in the training of motor mechanics in the contexts of a changing world and emergent working conditions. It was an applied learning study that followed a comparative case study research design aimed at advancing reciprocal lessons between the two regions of Kenya and State of Victoria, Australia. The research was propelled by the fact that technology used in this area is now changing faster than at any other time in modern history and is impacting upon most of the human lifestyles. This chapter deals with a summary of the main issues that were researched. Specifically the chapter deals with relevance of institute-based automotive training, stakeholders’ involvement in programs development, and program transfer from one region to another: and learning for work and at workplace. It highlights the views if trainers, trainees and industry practitioners on equity in program development, relevance to workplace requirements and ownership of the automotive training programs. It was found that Australian trainers felt somehow sidelined in the program design while the Kenyan trainers complained of being left alone by relevant industry in the program development venture. None of these two cases produces optimal results since participation in program design should be equitably distributed among the stakeholders.