ERIC Number: EJ957163
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2012-Jan
Pages: 22
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0091-5521
EISSN: N/A
Identifying the Local Impacts of National ATE Centers on Their Host Institutions: An Exploratory Study
Henderson, Charles; Fynewever, Herb; Petcovic, Heather; Bierema, Andrea
Community College Review, v40 n1 p3-24 Jan 2012
The purpose of this study is to identify the local impacts of national advanced technological education (ATE) centers on their host institutions. A sample of three mature, national ATE centers are chosen, with each center serving as a case for a mixed-methods, collective case study research design. Results, drawn from interviews and surveys, indicate that national ATE centers create a variety of direct local impacts (i.e., impacts related to improving education in the targeted technology field) and indirect local impacts (i.e., impacts on the host institution that are beyond the targeted technology field). Direct impacts are created by a depth of focus on and connections to the targeted technology field, whereas indirect impacts are created by diversification within the host institution through collaborations with other projects on campus. The organizational structure and physical location of a center are also found to be important factors affecting the types of impacts created. In addition, characteristics such as strong center-industry partnerships, leadership qualities of the center directors, and a culture that promotes grant getting at the host institution are found to contribute to both types of impacts. The authors suggest that local impacts can be sustained through development and articulation of an ATE center's core competencies. (Contains 6 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Technical Education, Vocational Training Centers, Community Colleges, Partnerships in Education, Case Studies, Mixed Methods Research, School Business Relationship, Administrative Organization, Institutional Characteristics, Program Effectiveness
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education; Two Year Colleges
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A