Adelaide research centre an Australian 'innovation'

7 April 2008 

Adelaide's National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has been identified as an Australian 'innovation' in vocational education and training (VET) for a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

An OECD team led by Education Analyst, Dr Tracey Burns, will be in Adelaide for two days (7 & 8 April) to get a better understanding of NCVER's role in Australia's VET sector.

The visit is part of a major OECD project to explore the defining features of vocational education and training systems around the world.

NCVER Managing Director Tom Karmel said the visit further underlined NCVER's unique position in vocational education research worldwide.

'Last year NCVER celebrated its 25th birthday. So to many involved in Australian vocational education it's pretty normal to have an organisation carrying out research and collecting the statistics needed to support good policy decisions and better teaching practice.

'But that's not the case in the rest of the world and the OECD is coming here to find out more about what NCVER does and how we do it.

'To be honest it is something of an honour and recognition that NCVER's work on informing policy and practice in Australia's training system is at the leading edge.'

Dr Karmel said NCVER was one of three Australian innovations in vocational education being studied by the OECD team during their visit. The other two are the Australian Flexible Learning Framework's e-learning initiatives and national efforts to raise the status of vocational education and training.

ENDS

Interviews available with Dr Tom Karmel, Managing Director, NCVER.

Please note: due to a heavy work schedule on their visit to Australia, the OECD team is unavailable for media comment.

Media enquiries to: Anna Payton, Marketing Officer  or Chris Booth, Manager, Marketing Services on +61 8 8230 8400.