Designing training programs for HRD, expectations of participants explored

This paper aims to investigate the expectations of adult part-time participants enrolled in training programs. The purpose was to provide knowledge for the adequate design of those programs.

The design was a combination of complementary research methodologies. A literature review exploring the topic marked the start of the investigation. On the basis of this review, questions were formulated for group interviews, using the Delphi method, a qualitative research method.

The results revealed that participants in training programs have high expectations, in terms of facilities and organization, as well as in content, instructional formats, and trainers, albeit that these expectations differ per course.

Insights into participants’ expectations provide educational institutes with the opportunity to respond to the target group more appropriately, and to fulfill their obligation to facilitate lifelong learning for employees.This paper also supports human resource development professionals to select and design adequate training programs for their employees.

This is one of the few studies using the Delphi method, a qualitative research method, to investigate the expectations of adult part-time participants enrolled in training programs.