Opportunities for researchers

• Background
• NCVER Fellowships
• Academic scholarships for VET practitioners
• Community of practice scholarships for VET practitioners
• AVETRA mentoring network
• VET Researcher of the Year Award

Background

NCVER is committed to building research capacity in the VET sector by:

• attracting experienced researchers from outside the sector
• encouraging early career researchers
• supporting people in the sector to undertake research

In support of these initiatives, NCVER has allocated $450 000 over three years to build researcher capacity in the VET sector. From these funds, NCVER has established a number of $4 000 scholarships to support VET practitioners to undertake workplace-focused research or academic study.

In addition to funding these programs, NCVER also aims to publish each of the papers scholarship holders produce. This will give participants an insight into the way in which NCVER works and offers an additional level of quality assurance. Draft reports will be internally reviewed and final reports copy-edited in accordance with NCVER style. NCVER sees these processes as important elements of learning about research.

NCVER Fellowships

NCVER is currently funding a fellowship scheme. The aim of this scheme is to provide researchers interested in education, labour markets and social inclusion with the opportunity to use NCVER data sets to improve our understanding of VET. Research topics will be negotiated between the host institution, the researcher and NCVER. Funding will be offered between $10 000 and $20 000 per annum.

For queries regarding the fellowships please contact Bridget Wibrow

  Fellowships - Terms of Reference (51 KB PDF file)

Academic scholarships for VET practitioners

NCVER is sponsoring VET practitioners to undertake university study at honours, masters or doctorate level. Participants are assisted in their studies with a $4 000 scholarship and are jointly supervised by a university supervisor and a VET supervisor. The program has initially been funded for a three year period from 2008 to 2010 with Roger Harris from the University of South Australia co-ordinating it. Approximately 6 scholarships are awarded each year.

Applications are now open for 2010 and will close COB 17th February 2010. An information kit and application form are available below.

For general inquiries please contact Bridget Wibrow.

  Information sheet - Academic 2010 (57 KB DOC file)
  Application form - Academic 2010 (74 KB DOC file)

Community of practice scholarships for VET practitioners

NCVER is sponsoring VET practitioners to take part in a community of practice. The aim is to encourage a culture of research in VET organisations by providing novice researchers without any formal post-graduate qualifications the opportunity to undertake their own research project. Participants receive a $4 000 scholarship to undertake a work-based research project over 12 months. Each participant will be matched with an experienced mentor  who will guide and support their research. The program has initially been funded for a three year period from 2008 to 2010 with Berwyn Clayton from Victoria University co-ordinating it. Approximately 10 scholarships are awarded each year.

Applications for 2010 are now open and will close COB 17th February 2010. An information kit and application form are available below.

 For general inquiries please contact Bridget Wibrow

  Information sheet - Community of practice (84 KB DOC file)
  Application form - Community of practice (90 KB DOC file)

AVETRA mentoring network

NCVER has funded the Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) to develop a mentoring network that supports practitioner researchers, specifically those involved in the community of practice. Mentors from this network have been matched with participants in the community of practice. Llandis Barratt-Pugh from Edith Cowan University is managing this network.

VET Researcher of the Year Award

Sponsored by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), the VET Researcher of the Year Award aims to promote the value of an evidence base in improving policy and practice in the VET sector.

The award will be given to a VET researcher of high standing whose work has had a positive impact on policy or practice in the VET sector, and who is actively engaged with the sector.

The award winner will be presented with a cash prize of $5 000.

Guidelines and a nomination form for the 2010 award will be made available later this year.