Work in Progress
VET and the diffusion and implementation of innovation
Summary
- Item:
- 10436
- Title:
- VET and the diffusion and implementation of innovation
- Type:
- Managed research project
- Project no:
- NR10002
- Status:
- Finished
- Date commenced:
- 3 September 2009
- Contact:
- John Stanwick
- phone: 08 8230 8400
- email: john.stanwick@ncver.edu.au
- Principal researcher:
- Jacqueline McManus
- University of NSW
Purpose
The aim of this study is to expand understanding of how VET and innovation are
interrelated, producing an integrated and practical understanding of how VET assists innovation and how best to structure the relationships between industry and VET to support innovation systems.
Approach
Qualitative
Research activities
The overarching research question to be addressed is what is the role of VET qualifications and ongoing vocational training in the diffusion and implementation of innovations?
1. How does VET keep up to date with innovation in technology and methods?
2. How do workers learn the skills needed for working with new technology and methods?
3. How does the VET system affect the abilities of individuals and firms in generating and dealing with innovations?
Methodology
The project uses comparative qualitative case studies of three sectors to answer the research questions. The approach is exploratory. The project is undertaken in three phases. The first phase involves the development of an overall picture of each sector and VET’s role, and the development and testing of a questionnaire. The second phase is the main data collection phase where most of the interviews will be conducted. The third phase follows up leads and confirms unexpected findings.
Organisations
The Centre for Industry and Innovation Studies (CInIS), a Research Centre of the University of Western Sydney. The Centre was formed from the merger of two successful UWS innovation research concentrations – The Australian Expert Group in Industry Studies (AEGIS) which had a predominantly public policy focus; and The Innovation and Continuous Improvement Technologies Research Group (InCITe) that had an applied firm level focus to it’s activities. The Centre's aim is to contribute to public policy debates relating to innovation, in the broad sense, both in Australia and internationally. The primary element of all CInIS research is the analysis of the dynamics of innovation, and skills development is seen as a significant contributor to innovation. The centre has a proven track record of delivery with high quality and creative research and analysis in innovation and VET studies in an Australian and global context. The work of the Centre is academically rigorous, policy and practice oriented, and applied. CInIS draws together the experience of a team of national and international specialists in assessing innovation system and skills development, especially in VET. The Centre is well placed to provide policy relevant and insightful research, a timely and quality assured report.
