This publication is designed for those who need an overview of publicly funded vocational education and training activity delivered under South Australia's vocational education and training system. It provides an overview of South Australian vocational education and training students, and the outputs and outcomes from the South Australian vocational education and training system in 1997. Information is provided from a wide range of sources including the NCVER's 1998 Graduate Destination Survey and 1997 Employer Satisfaction Survey, national VET provider and apprentice and trainee data collections, and population and labour force statistics prepared by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
This issue of 'Research at a glance' summarises some of the most recent research on the impact of competency-based training (CBT) on the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. CBT was introduced in the late 1980s as part of wider economic policy measures to improve the skill levels of the Australian workforce, enable Australian industry to be more competitive in global markets and establish new career structures for the Australian workforce. CBT has remained a key element of VET policy adopted by successive governments at federal, State and Territory levels. While early research findings suggested that the implementation of CBT in Australia was neither smooth nor rapid (R Harris et al. 1995), commitment by VET participants, particularly industry and governments, has remained strong and substantial.