This book of readings combines the results of a body of research on the funding and financing of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. Funding arrangements, or how money is distributed, are described in the first section of this book and includes chapters on allocation of funding by state training authorities, the effects of market reform in the VET sector and funding for various disadvantaged groups. Financing, the subject of the second half of the book, refers to how money is raised. In this section the various contributions to costs of VET by government, employers and individuals are discussed, as are various methods whereby funds are attracted to the sector, for example, TAFE fees and charges and various mechanisms designed to increase employer and individual investment.
This publication presents the results of a comprehensive research program on Indigenous Australians in vocational education and training (VET), along with feedback from over 200 people who attended the NCVER Research Forum on Indigenous VET in August 2005. The planning and implementation of the research strategy and the forum were undertaken in a partnership between the National Centre for Vocational Education Research and the former Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council of the Australian National Training Authority Board.
Two well-established findings about employer-provided training form the backdrop to this research. First, the provision of training and its associated expenditure are highly variable across employers, notably by industry and employment size. Second, employer engagement with the formal system of VET is substantial, and growing, but a number of employers are not entirely satisfied with the system. This publication consolidates and synthesises a body of research conducted over the past few years on the topic of training provided by employers for their workforces.
Over the past decade, the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector has focused on the outcomes of training in terms of qualifications and competencies. Up until this time there had been little information available on the value that employers place on qualifications and how they use them to contribute to the success of their business. This 'at a glance' synthesises recent research, which shows that employers do value qualifications, and see them as having three main benefits: to 'screen' candidates in the recruitment process, to meet compliance requirements, and to provide career development for existing workers. However, VET providers could encourage employers to view qualifications more favourably by linking them to skills required at work and by keeping costs down, especially of the assessment process.
This publication explores adult literacy and numeracy. It draws on major insights from a wide body of recent research commissioned by NCVER and funded by the Department of Education, Science and Training. It shows that literacy and numeracy practices change over time, and that the literacy challenge is not confined to those people traditionally considered to be poorly educated or unsuccessful. It also affects people looking to understand new forms of communication and technology, for example. In addition, it considers Australia's place in the international arena, looks at strategies for integrating literacy into unconventional learning environments, and at ways to ensure the continuing strength of the teaching workforce.
This suite of overviews provides a comprehensive summary of each of NCVER's managed adult literacy and numeracy research projects funded in 2003.
Research messages 2004 is a collection of summaries on all research projects published or completed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2004. It is the first year such a product has been produced by NCVER. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise all of its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context. Fifty-six pieces of work are included and each summary provides details of how to access the full research report.
Vocational education and training (VET) programs for young people in Australia have significantly expanded over the past decade. This publication provides an overview of research into the VET options available to school-aged people. It also details the emerging social benefits and outcomes of undertaking recognised VET options. The challenges which face the implementation of vocational education in schools are also summarised.