Identifying the Effective Factors on Trainees Reduction vocational and technical institutes

This article is intended to identify the causes of the trainees reduction in private vocational and technical institutes. According to the purpose, exploratory mixed research method was selected as the appropriate method of research. The research method consists of two qualitative and quantitative steps.In the qualitative stage, the data were collected using thematic analysis and conducting targeted and in-depth interviews with 20 experts in technical and vocational education.Then, with the initial coding and the definition of the main and sub- themes,Factors affecting the reduction of trainees in private technical and vocational institutes were identified. In the quantitative stage, a questionnaire was set up based on the results of the first stage interviews. The statistical sample at this stage was 270 managers and founders of private technical and vocational institutes in East Azerbaijan province. Data was collected through a questionnaire categorized using exploratory factor analysis. That way, the effective factors on the reduction of trainees were re-identified. The results of exploratory factor analysis were in line with the results of Thematic Analysis. The results of both qualitative and quantitative methods indicate that institute factors (physical resources, human and finance resources, educational programs and educational marketing), organizational factors (content, policy, support, evaluation) and environmental factors (competitors, labor market, community culture,laws and government policies) are three major factors affecting the reduction of trainees in private technical and vocational institutes.