The latest annual data shows an increase in students participating in vocational education and training (VET), with student numbers (4.2 million) up 3 per cent compared with 2018.
Total VET students and courses 2019 provides an estimate of nationally recognised training activity undertaken on a government-funded, domestic or international fee-for-service basis up until 31 December 2019, as delivered by Australian providers in onshore and offshore locations.
NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said that it can be a complex picture to grasp, as some students enrol in more than one program, others in subjects that are not part of a nationally recognised program, and many in a combination of both.
“While there’s been an overall increase in enrolments in 2019, including further significant growth in international students, it was also notable that government-funded program enrolments had increased after a period of gradual decline.
“This increase included a sharp rise in government-funded enrolments in higher-level programs, with an increase of 7% in enrolments at Certificate IV level and above between 2018 and 2019, compared with a decline of 12% over the preceding four years,” Mr Walker said.
International fee-for-service student numbers jumped significantly in 2019, up 15 per cent to 224 400, with increases seen for those enrolled in both nationally recognised programs (up 16 per cent to 212 800) and stand-alone subjects (up 13 per cent to 15 000).
Total VET students and courses 2019 is now available on the NCVER Portal.
Also released today is Government-funded students and courses 2019, which presents all training activity administered by state and territory training authorities, including non-nationally recognised training.
For more context on the changing VET landscape, NCVER’s Timeline of Australian VET policy initiatives 1998-2020 sets out key events and policy changes that may have influenced VET enrolments and completions over time.
Media enquiries: Helen Wildash, PR and Social Media Officer M: 0448 043 148 E: helenwildash@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the principal provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy-makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.