Logic Model Framework for Employability and Skills Development in Vulnerable Youth: evidence from pilot intervention and quasi-experimental research

Objective and Purpose: The main objective of this paper is to introduce a simple logic model framework for providing role-based vocational training and sustainable placement of vulnerable and disadvantaged students. The purpose is to ascertain that sustainable skills development in vulnerable youth requires a demand driven framework that is tailored to their needs. Methodology: Framework is outlined as a ‘logic model’ illustrating relationships between activities and outcomes with emphasis on outcome evaluation. Data is collected in three phases using qualitative and quantitative methods. Quasi-experimental research is designed to assess the differences in outcomes for experiment and comparison groups and establish effectiveness of the intervention. t-tests are performed to evaluate statistical differences between groups. Skewness-Kurtosis test for Normality is conducted to strengthen the validity of the t-test showing non-significant results of p > 0.05 for all samples. Results: Significant difference was found between experiment group before intervention and after intervention. Wilcoxon Signed-rank Test showed significant difference in pre- and post-intervention for the experiment group, z (65) = -7.026, p < 0.05; this finding is consistent with t-test results. Behavioural changes such as motivation and self-efficacy showed the highest increase (63.45%), followed by increase in work-based skills (62.92%) and interpersonal skills (43.08%). Sustainable placements of 61 students were achieved after completion of the training. Skewness-Kurtosis test for Normality is conducted to strengthen the validity of the t-test showing non-significant results for all samples. Relevance and Originality: The framework is built on practical experience of authors that initiated a pilot based on theoretical models of skills development. Logic model framework described here can be a useful tool to design and evaluate ‘demand-driven’ skills development programs specially for the vulnerable students from low-income groups. ...