A multi capital approach to understanding participation in professional management education. Jane Simmons Hope Business School, Liverpool Hope University, Liverpool, England Hope Park Liverpool England L16 9JD Working paper Stream: Vocational Education and Training and Continuing Professional Education and Development Email
[email protected] Telephone 44 (0)151 291 3911 This paper presents the outcomes of research which has been framed by a multi capital approach. It reflects, and illuminates the rationale for engagement in continuing professional development and focuses on a case study of employees, and their employers, who are engaged in Chartered Management Institute professional courses at a university in the northwest of England. This phenomenological study used two methods sequentially, quantitative by the use of questionnaires and qualitative by the use of interviews. These were used by the researcher to construct the stories of the respondents. Fifty questionnaires were completed by employees and fifteen interviews were undertaken, out of a total population of eight one. The entire population of twenty four employees completed a questionnaire and six of them were interviewed. In this study the researcher aimed to describe, as accurately as possible, the phenomena, professional management education, lifelong learning and the cultural, economic, human and social capitals of the respondents. It was concerned with the lived experiences of the people involved, or who were involved, with the issue that is being researched. The respondents were encouraged to reflect on their lived experiences, which were explored by way of their stories. The outcomes of the research highlight the changing nature of the workplace in the twenty first century together with the impact of the current adverse economic climate.