Research rewards

NCVER has awarded 10 research scholarships to VET sector staff with the aim of giving VET practitioners an opportunity to experience the research process first hand.

The scholarships, valued at $4000, are part of NCVER’s initiatives to build researcher capacity in the sector.

The recipients work for a range of TAFE institutes, private training providers, dual sector institutes and universities. Their employers are supporting them by giving them study leave.

The 2008 NCVER Research Scholarship recipients are:

• Kath Curry, Victoria University
• Sue Goodbourn, University of Ballarat, TAFE Portfolio
• Simon Hamm, William Angliss Institute
• Regan Harding, TAFE NSW, North Coast Institute
• Heather MacLeod, University of Ballarat, TAFE Portfolio
• Sherridan Maxwell, RMIT University
• Mark Mossuto, RMIT University
• Melinda Randall, Major Training Services
• Debbie Soccio, The Malka Group
• Ruth Wallace, Charles Darwin University.

The scholarship holders will form a ‘community of practice’, collaborating with each other and sharing research ideas, progress and outcomes. An experienced mentor, matched with each recipient, will support their research during the 12 months of the scholarship.

A range of topics will be examined, including: authentic learning in the workplace, online staff development programs, the decline of student numbers in hospitality, collaborative ‘earlier intervention’ initiatives, the delivery of degrees in TAFE, grading and competency-based assessment, using problem-based learning to enhance student learning and engagement, online/blended delivery of VET for students in remote locations, strategies to improve completion rates, existing models of e-learning delivery and resources, and exploring learner identities through e-portfolios.

NCVER will publish the research at the end of the program.

Another raft of scholarships will be awarded in 2009 and NCVER would like to see a broad range of applicants from across Australia.

Application information will be available later this year. To receive further details, subscribe to NCVER News at www.ncver.edu.au/newsevents/subscribe.html.