Work in Progress
Connecting the dots: A successful transition for deaf students from vocational education and training to employment
Summary
- Item:
- 10322
- Title:
- Connecting the dots: A successful transition for deaf students from vocational education and training to employment
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR4004
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 1 July 2004
- Contact:
- Catherine Clark
- phone: +61 3 9269 8306
- email: cathyc-vp@nmit.vic.edu.au
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to identify and evaluate the available pathways from VET to work for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing. The project will develop a snapshot of available pathways, including barriers, to ensure that students are able to achieve more satisfying jobs commensurate with their skills and training.
Approach
Case studies.
Research questions
The research will consider the following questions related to Deaf and hard of hearing students within the VET sector:
1) Are these students able to make informed choices about the pathways and opportunities for further study from the nature of career guidance and other advice or services available to them?
2) What experience or opportunities do students have of VET during their years of study?
3) What are the employment outcomes for people who have completed their VET courses? Are they able to obtain employment commensurate with their skills and qualifications? How quickly does this happen?
4) What other pathways to further study need to be available and how can the identified barriers be overcome for those who are deaf or hard of hearing? What are the barriers to employment and how can these be removed?
Methodology
Stage One
An advisory group will be established to provide input and feedback for this research project. People will be sourced from within the Deafness sector.
A review of available literature will be conducted from
* the VOCED database, * Australian Disability Clearinghouse on Education and Training, * Australian Council for Educational Research, * National Centre for Vocational Education Research, * Australian Vocational, Education and Training Research Association, * Enterprise and Career Education Foundation
A preliminary review of research literature in preparation of this project proposal has shown that there have is no evidence of a research project that researches key issues of pathways for Deaf and hard of hearing students. The literature review will bring together relevant research that has been conducted in the field of disability and VET, which will provide background for the case studies to be held in late 2004.
Development of the case study protocol for use when conducting case studies.
Stage Two
Identification of a group of potential students commencing their first year of studies in the VET. Groups will be sourced from around Melbourne and some regions in Victoria such as Bendigo and Ballarat by linking with through Disability Co-ordination Officers and Regional Disability Liaison Officers and local schools.
Development of descriptive case studies through face-to-face interviews, which will be recorded and then transcribed.
A sample of at least 8 people will be studied from around Melbourne and regional Victoria. Two in-depth interviews will be conducted with each participant over a 6-month period, resulting in a total of 16 interviews.
The outcome will be to develop an understanding of student experiences in three areas:
1) The nature of their career guidance
2) Information received in preparation for VET
3) Experience of VET during their first year of studying
Stage Three
The final interview with the case study participants will be conducted to further explore their experience of VET Information will be collated using the same methodology as outlined in Stage Two. The information gathered will be used to develop a draft research report to be submitted to the advisory group for feedback before being submitted to the NCVER.
Stage Four.
Completion of final report to be sent to NCVER for publication
Organisations
Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT)
Is a large TAFE Institute in Victoria and the second largest in Australia. The Institute was established originally as a multi campus institution in 1988 to support VET in the central and northern regions of metropolitan Melbourne. The Institute was accredited under ISO9001, Licence no. 4170.
Centre of Excellence for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing
The Centre of Excellence for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing is based at NMIT in Preston, Victoria. The centre was established in 1993 by the then Office of Training and Further Education (OTFE, now OTTE). The Centre's aim is to provide leadership and support to the VET sector on the needs of Deaf and hard of hearing students statewide. Their information and research are based on the Victorian system but the implications and recommendations can have a national impact.
