Socio-Ecological Theory and Apprenticeship Systems

Apprenticeship as a paradigm may be regarded as a system consisting of inter-related stakeholders in a relatively complex but collaborative relationship. Societal phenomena such as this are suitable for analysis through the application of the theory of socio-ecology. While such studies have been undertaken to an extent in the past, the analyses conducted have been limited in terms of socio-ecological strata used. Furthermore, such studies have generally analysed apprenticeship within jurisdictions where training is extensive with few social partners involved. Conversely, this study analyses apprenticeship in the context of the standardised Irish craft model where the number of key stakeholders involved is more expansive. Consequently, these stakeholders may be represented by a more thorough socio-ecological analysis utilising levels including micro, meso, exo and macro systems as described by Bronfenbrenner (1994).