Constraints of Workplace Experience Learning Implementation among Fashion Design TVET in Ghana

Authors

Keywords:

Entrepreneurial Competency, Constructivist Learning, Fashion Design TVET, Placement Activities, Workplace Experience Learning

Abstract

Workplace Experience Learning (WEL) programs are vital to Technical and Vocational Education because they enable students to apply classroom learning in real-world settings and develop entrepreneurial skills. In Ghana’s fashion design education context, WEL has gained significance; however, there is a paucity of empirical evidence on the effectiveness of these programs in enhancing students’ practical and entrepreneurial skills in technical universities. The study aimed to investigate the impact of WEL participation on the cultivation of entrepreneurial competencies among Higher National Diploma (HND) fashion design students in Ghana. The study examined the mediating role of placement activities, including mentorship, practical training, and supervision, and identified critical factors influencing the quality and outcomes of implementation. A sequential mixed-method design with an explanatory focus was utilised. Quantitative data were gathered from 250 students at four technical universities and analysed through regression and mediation models. To enhance interpretation of the findings, qualitative data from semi-structured interviews were analysed thematically using NVivo. The results indicated a substantial positive correlation between WEL participation and improvements in entrepreneurial competencies. Placement activities became important links due to weak ties between universities and industry, limited insurance coverage, limited family support, and communication problems. The study concludes that fortifying institutional coordination, augmenting support systems, and refining industry partnerships are essential to optimise WEL’s influence on fashion design education in Ghana.

Author Biographies

  • Ms Phyllis Mensah, Akenten-Appiah Menkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, Ghana

    Phyllis Mensah is a passionate fashion design educator with over 20 years of experience in both the classroom and the industry. I have a lifelong passion for fashion and a dedication to fostering the future generation of fashion designers. I hold a Master of Technology and Philosophy in fashion design and textiles. Currently pursuing a doctorate in art education with a fashion design major. As a fashion design educator at Akenten-Appiah Menkah University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (AAMUSTED), I am dedicated to providing a comprehensive fashion education that combines traditional techniques with contemporary practices. My teaching philosophy emphasizes the importance of creativity and critical thinking, preparing students for the dynamic fashion industry.

  • Prof Harry Barton Essel, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

    Harry Barton Essel is an Associate Professor at KNUST specializing in Art Design and Educational Technology. With a multidisciplinary focus, he contributes to Publishing Studies and Integrated Rural Art and Industry. His PhD in Art Education explored electronic submission systems, advancing institutional repositories. He has held leadership roles, including Head of Department and PI of the UNIHUBS Project Ghana, enhancing digital literacy and employability. His research spans AI chatbots in higher education, machine learning models, educational data science, cyberpsychology, computational thinking, and hybrid learning models. Passionate about youth development, he also teaches programming to children, fostering innovation and creativity.

  • Dr. Akosua Tachie-Menson, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

    Akosua Tachie-Menson is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Educational Innovations in Science and Technology, Faculty of Art and Built Environment, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana. In terms of educational qualifications, I completed my secondary education at St. Monica’s Senior High School. Subsequently, I pursued a Bachelor's Degree in Fine Art (Painting) and a Doctor of Philosophy in Art Education at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, both in Kumasi, Ghana. My research areas are Higher Education, Instructional Design/ Design and Production of Instructional Resources, Art Education, Teacher Education, Educational Research, General Education, Instructional Media, and Teaching and Learning.

     

  • Dr. Benjamin Tawiah , Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

    Benjamin Tawiah is a Senior Lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah

    University of Science and Technology, and a Visiting Postdoc Scholar and

    Research Associate at the School of Fashion and Textiles (SFT), The Hong Kong

    Kong Polytechnic University. He holds a B.A. Industrial Art (Textiles

    Option) from KNUST, Ghana, and M.Eng. in Textile Engineering from

    Jiangnan University, China. Before his Master of Engineering degree, he

    earned a postgraduate Diploma in Management Information Systems from

    The Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA)

    and then obtained his PhD at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in 2019, where he also

    worked as a postdoctoral Fellow and as a research associate at the City University of Hong Kong

    Kong. His research interest focuses on sustainable fire-retardant polymer composites and fibres,

    advanced electrochemical energy storage systems and sustainable transitions in the textile and

    garment industry.

  • Mr. Aaron Daniel Akuteye, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

    Akuteye Aaron Daniel is a design communication student of Kwame Nkrumah Science and Technology, currently pursuing his Master of Technology in Art Education at the same institution. 

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Published

2026-01-27

Issue

Vol. 2 No. 1 (2026): January

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Constraints of Workplace Experience Learning Implementation among Fashion Design TVET in Ghana. (2026). Indonesian Journal of Education and Science , 2(1), 1-19. https://www.journal.formadenglishfoundation.org/index.php/IJES/article/view/149

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