Workplace learning approaches among support staff in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Abstract

The workplace learning (WPL) is seen as a platform to improve and enhance the human resource intervention in upgrading and developing human resources at the workplace. According to Bierema (2002), organisations must be aware of various factors that can influence the learning environment and working system. A working environment that can stimulate learning such as how employees can be involved in learning activity and organisational support are literally the main factor on how an organisation can be categorised as a learning environment (Billet, 2001). Billet (2000) has also indentified that skills, knowledge and learning capacity of human resources are the critical success factors for an organisation. Consequently, nowadays aspects of the WPL are seen as the main effort towards lifelong learning. Kirby et. al (2003) stress that there is a critical need for an organisation to realize and understand the importance of this learning aspect in their organisation. This includes on how important it is to understand how employees learn and think at their workplace. This could be influenced by the current changing factors in working environment which emphasise more on learning aspects such as lifelong learning, knowledge management and learning organisation. However, learning at the workplace will only be accomplishment if there is a strong commitment from employers.