Australia's national VET data custodian

2000 publications

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Labour market models and their use in projecting vocational education and training requirements

By Mike Burns, Martin Shanahan

This report describes the use of large-scale economy-wide models which are available in Australia for occupational forecasting and their use in the VET sector. The paper provides: * a brief review of objectives of VET policy * an overview of international perspectives on the role of occupational forecasting in VET planning * a description of the views and practices of personnel in the VET sector who use labour market projections * an introductory discussion of economic modelling including the nature of economic models, the construction of models, different types of models and the uses and limitation of models * an evaluation of the use of economic and econometric models in assisting VET decisions, particularly the Monash and Murphy models

The effects of different modes of delivery: Student outcomes and evaluations

By Josie Misko

This publication is for those who are interested in looking at the pass and completion rates of students enrolled in courses delivered via different delivery strategies. It is also for those who are interested in finding out how students evaluate the different strategies they have experienced. The findings indicate that although it is difficult to determine which are the best delivery strategies for certain modules, there are trends which show that disproportionately high numbers of non-completions are observed in certain strategies.

TAFE, university or work? The early preferences and choices of students in Years 10, 11 and 12

By Richard James

This report investigates the attitudes and aspirations of school students about their post-secondary education and work. It is based on data from a survey of over 7000 Years 10, 11 and 12 students in NSW, WA and Victoria. The research found that students' intentions are strongly influenced by socio-economic background, geographical location and gender. The study measured socio-economic background by the highest level of education achieved by parents and found that differences in socio-economic background are the major factor in student perspectives. The report also found that VET does not have a high profile among school students and TAFE courses do not enjoy the status associated with degree courses

Student flows through Australian TAFE courses

By John Foyster, Hon Kok Fai, Chandra Shah

This report develops and applies a methodology to analyse the flow of students through TAFE courses based on national VET data collected for the period 1994 to 1996. While it is important to note that not all those who enrol in a course intend to complete it or may recommence their studies later, it was found that most students leave with a positive outcome. There is also very little difference in outcomes based on gender. Success rates vary substantially by both stream and field of study. Age is also a factor but the pattern is complex. Partial completion of courses is significant and illustrates the flexibility of the TAFE system to accommodate the needs of those who wish to acquire skills and competencies rather than qualifications. Concentration on qualifications alone may therefore seriously underestimate the skill base of the Australian workforce.

New directions in Australia's skill formation: Lifelong learning is the key

By Chris Robinson

The education of the population and the skilling of the workforce are the factors which are going to determine a nation's fortunes in the 21st century much more than they have in the 20th century. The skills base of a nation and the speed with which skilling can adjust to meet new requirements will be as important, if not more important in determining economic success than a nation's natural resources and financial capital base. These changes will not be achieved without further significant reform to our education and training system. This report discusses these issues and the direction for the future.

Meeting the demand: The needs of VET clients - An overview

By Stephen Billett, Sharon Hayes

An overview of the report 'Meeting the demand: The needs of VET clients'. Today the provision of vocational education is being shaped more and more by the needs of clients. This report examines the needs of four client groups - industry, enterprises, communities and individuals - and discusses the consequences for policy and practice in VET of their needs. It focuses particularly on the food processing and clerical industries in three regions (a metropolitan centre, a provincial centre and a remote rural centre).

Meeting the demand: The needs of VET clients

By Stephen Billett, Sharon Hayes

Today the provision of vocational education is being shaped more and more by the needs of clients. This report examines the needs of four client groups - industry, enterprises, communities and individuals - and discusses the consequences of their needs for policy and practice in VET. It focusses particularly on the food processing and clerical industries in three regions (a metropolitan centre, a provincial centre and a remote rural centre).

Learning and teaching in initial vocational education and training

By Tony Anderson

This report looks at students' and teachers' perceptions of initial vocational education and training. It also reveals how students engage in learning in education and training, provides a description of current teaching practices, and shows the influences which shape learning and teaching in initial VET.

Building a learning and training culture: The experience of five OECD countries

By Peter Kearns, George Papadopoulos

This study provides an analysis of policies and strategies adopted in five OECD countries to build a learning and training culture. The countries are Britain, United States, Sweden, Netherlands and Germany. The study found that whereas Sweden and the Netherlands have built a learning culture through evolutionary stages embedded in the wider social, economic cultural and political history of the country, Britain shows a revolutionary attempt to change the culture.

How people choose vocational education and training programs: Social, educational and personal influences on aspiration

By Graham Maxwell, Maureen Cooper, Neville Biggs

The report reviews social, educational, employment aspiration and personal factors that affect the reasons for undertaking particular VET programs. The research concludes that a variety of factors are at play in what is seen as a very personal decision. Work experience, employment, parental influence, school subjects, friends and advertising are all factors, though none predominates, while present employers play only a very minor role. Choice of institution is based on offerings, convenience, affordability, quality and ambience, while passage to higher education is becoming increasingly important.

Getting to grips with work experience

By Josie Misko

This booklet provides guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs which aim to give students experience in the workplace. It emphasises the importance of structured workplace training which leads to the achievement of specific objectives and learning outcomes. Also highlighted is the need to prepare students and employers for their specific roles in the training and assessment process, and to provide all participants with specific information of what is expected of them.

Getting to grips with self-paced learning

By Josie Misko

This booklet is aimed at teachers of vocational education and training. It outlines the way we learn new information and provides information on programs which involve students in self-paced learning activities via online learning, video-conferencing, distance learning and campus-based flexible delivery programs. Teacher perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of the methods provide valuable insights into how to go about implementing and modifying programs to achieve the best results for students. Also included is a model for developing, implementing and evaluating self-paced learning programs.

Getting to grips with online delivery

By Di Booker

Getting to grips with online delivery is based on a survey of recent literature. It is an overview of some of the basic issues of online delivery - why get involved, some of the advantages and limitations, how to get started, and providing support for students and teachers.

Equity in the learning society: Rethinking equity strategies for post-compulsory education and training

By Louise Watson, Peter Kearns, John Grant, Barry Cameron

This report provides a review of the equity and access policies in schools, vocational education and training, higher education and adult community education and argues that government equity strategies could be improved by: targeting low-SES students within all equity groups; identifying two new target groups: those with low skills and the long-term unemployed; reporting performance in a way that focuses on the outcomes (in addition to the outputs) of education and training; strengthening pathways to employment from education and training.

Does training pay?: Evidence from Australian enterprises

By Richard Blandy, Anne Hawke, Elizabeth Webster, Alfred Michael Dockery

This book reports an attempt to replicate, for Australia, overseas survey results on the payoff to enterprise training. Some of the results are: * Australian firms provide extensive training for their incoming employees and capture nearly all the resulting productivity gains. * The profitability of firms is directly related to the amount and quality of training that they provide. * The profitability of training is particularly high for training that is highly specific, rapidly accomplished and related to the introduction of new technology. * Informal learning is regarded by many businesses as superior to formal classroom training in terms of its impact on profitability and productivity.

Demands of training: Australian tourism and hospitality

By Brett Freeland

Employers in the tourism and hospitality industry go to great lengths to ensure they select applicants with the right personality and attitude for the job. Training in the tourism and hospitality industry must be directly applicable to the workplace. This report provides details of how best to customise training to meet the skill requirements of tourism and hospitality enterprises.