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Seven research grants awarded to address education & training issues

Published
24 July 2014

Research grants have been awarded to seven recipients, to investigate current issues in the vocational education and training sector, by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Ms Sandra Pattison, NCVER’s General Manager, Research, said this round of funding through the National Vocational Education and Training Research (NVETR) program has been targeted to address three key topics:

  1. Quality, flexibility and responsiveness within the training system
  2. The role of employers and industry in on-the-job skills formation and structured training arrangements
  3. Impact of changing economic conditions on individuals and the role of training.

“We believe it’s important to commission research that will provide insight, and impact the future direction of the training system. Global economic conditions are directly affecting Australia’s labour market, and the skills our workers will need. The sector will need to respond accordingly to provide effective training that addresses future skills needs” said Ms Pattison.

To address this need, research funding has been awarded to:

  • Shedding light: private RTOs training for young early school leavers – Lead researcher: Dr George Myconos, Brotherhood of St Laurence
  • Consistency with flexibility in the Australian national training system – Lead researcher: Dr Kaye Bowman, Kaye Bowman Consulting
  • Employer-supported training: prevalence, enablers and barriers – Lead researcher: Dr Chandra Shah, Centre for the Economics of Education and Training, Monash University
  • Employer training in a changed environment – Lead researcher: Professor Erica Smith, Federation University Australia
  • Skills transfer, re-skilling and training of older workers in response to restructuring – Lead researcher: Professor Victor Callan, Callan Consulting Group
  • Cross-occupational skill transferability: challenges and opportunities in a changing environment – Dr Darryn Snell, RMIT University
  • The effects of the Victorian training guarantee on up-skilling later in life – Lead researcher: Dr Justin van de Ven, Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research.

Media contact: Rebecca Farrell, Media and Communications Officer, P 08 8230 8418 or 0407 608 409