A proposed program for the in service training needs of the emplyees working at Marmara University

The purpose of this study was to propose an. in-service training program for the needs of the employees working at Marmara University. The initial step of a program development study is "Needs Analysis". In order to analyse the needs of the employees working for Marmara University, the perceptions of the employees, academic administrators and non-academic administrators were investigated through two sets of questionnaires which included seventeen in-service training areas and nine courses. The subjects of the study consisted of 609 employees (typists, secretaries, officials, librarians and custodians) excluding the ones who have been working at the technical and medical units of the university, 128 academic administrators and 148 non- academic administrators. Their perceptions of the needs of the employees were compared with each other, and statistically significant differences were determined. The areas and courses were ranked according to the degree of importance. The seventeen in-service training areas and six courses appeared to be the in-service training needs of the employees. IllTeaching methods to be employed in the program and the instruction time of the courses were determined by the subjects. The demographic characteristics of the employees were also analyzed. The data were analyzed by utilizing "Frequency distribution and percentages", "t-tesf, "Chi square tesf. "One-way analysis of variance" and its Post Hoc "the Students-Newman-Keuls tesf. Analysis of the data revealed that employees were in-need of in- service training in all of the seventeen in-service training areas and six courses indicated on the questionnaire. There were no major differences among the perceptions of the employees and administrators, except for the importance of these needs. In addition to the content of the program, in relation with the future implementation of the program, teaching methods and the instruction time of the courses were determined by the subjects. On the other hand, the effects of the demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, educational level, work experience and type of job on the perceptions of the employees concerning in- service training needs were investigated. It was realised that the employees who were between 18 and 29, and over 40 perceived in-service training as being more important than the others who belonged to the other age group. Being female, having had a higher school diploma and working as a secretary, typist or a librarian were also important factors in perceiving the in-service training as very important for the employees of Marmara University. After the determination of the needs of the employees, a 40-hour in-service training program was designed. Employees were divided into five courses. According to the "In-service Training Regulations" of the State Personnel Presidency, the State Personnel Law, No. 657 and the University Law 2547, some courses were included in the program. The courses which constitute the in-service program are; "Turkish", "Time Managemenf, "Behavior and IVAppearance", "Office Management* including "Computer Course", and a "Core Course" including "Public Relations", "The Principles of Atatürk and The History of the Turkish Republic", "Civil Defence" and "First Aid". The proposed program was designed to be applied over a period of two weeks during the morning sessions. It was composed of different groups related to the educational level or the type of job employees perform.