Comparison of 2-year and 4-year telecommunications technicians' training programs against industry standards

The study focused on the academic programs offered for telecommunications technicians provided by 16 two-year and four-year higher education institutions and the ways in which the programs compared to the established telecommunications technicians' skill standards. Six specific research questions concerned the training programs for telecommunications technicians. The first verified the validity of the information in Peterson's 2000: 2 Year Colleges and Peterson's 2000: 4 Year Colleges identifying the institutions offering a communication equipment technology major. The second question focused on the institutions that included telecommunications as part of the curriculum. The third identified the importance of the skill standards to the 2-year and 4-year training programs, and the fourth identified the job functions that were included in or excluded from the training. The fifth question identified the job tasks that were included in or excluded from the training. The final question determined whether the 2-year or the 4-year telecommunications technicians' training program was more closely aligned with the skill standards.;In order to accomplish the objectives of this research, a survey methodology was selected. The survey instrument was developed to compare the importance of the telecommunications technicians' skill standards to the 2-year and the 4-year training programs. The skill standards identified in the 1997 collaborative effort facilitated by the South King County Tech Prep Consortium (SKCTPC), was used as the basis for the survey instrument and reference tool. The reference tool provided additional information regarding SCANS skills and personal qualities that were identified in the skill standards for the telecommunications network technician. The survey included five job functions and 16 tasks.;The evolution of the telecommunications industry has created a demand for a highly skilled, flexible workforce. Who is going to provide the training? Higher education institutions have an opportunity to make a contribution to the telecommunications industry by expanding existing training programs or initiating telecommunications technicians' training programs. The 4-year institutions might need to consider revising not only the curriculum but also their mission and goals. The 2-year institutions are closely aligned with the telecommunications technician's skill standards and this is an opportunity for the 2-year institutions to update and refine existing telecommunications technicians' training programs.