VET student outcomes 2020

Description

This product provides a summary of the outcomes and satisfaction of students who completed nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs) in Australia during 2019 using data collected between June and September 2020. The figures are derived from the National Student Outcomes Survey, which is an annual survey of VET students.

Introduction

Historically the National Student Outcomes Survey included graduates (students who completed a qualification) and subject completers (students who completed at least one subject and left the VET system without obtaining a qualification).

To better reflect the training undertaken in the VET system, the survey has been segmented by training type, consistent with the Total VET students and courses publication, by:

• qualification completers - students who completed a training package qualification or an accredited qualification (previously known as graduates)
• qualification part-completers - students who enrolled in but only completed part of a training package qualification or an accredited qualification (and are no longer undertaking that training)
• short course completers - students who completed a training package skill set or an accredited course
• short course part-completers - students who enrolled in but only completed part of a training package skill set or accredited course (and are no longer under taking that training)
• subject(s) only completers - students who completed one or more subjects not delivered as part of a nationally recognised program and who are no longer undertaking training in the VET sector (figure 1).

Figure 1 Student groups surveyed and how they align with type of training

Refer to the explanatory notes and technical notes supporting documentation for information about the scope of this publication, the survey design and important information to assist with interpreting survey data (specifically understanding the confidence intervals presented graphically and the margins of error available in the DataBuilder product).

Highlights

Main reason for undertaking training

In 2020, the most common reason for undertaking training:

• for qualification completers and part-completers was ‘to get a job’, at 25.7% and 22.4% respectively
• for short course completers, part-completers and subject(s) only completers was because ‘it was a requirement of my job’, ranging from 39.6% to 50.2%.

Employment status before training

Lower proportions of qualification completers and qualification part-completers were employed before training than any other group. Proportions employed before training were:

• 64.7% for qualification completers
• 64.1% for qualification part-completers
• 82.2% for short course completers
• 83.2% for short course part-completers
• 86.2% for subject(s) only completers.

Improved employment status after training

In 2020, a lower proportion of qualification part-completers had an improved employment status after training than any other group. Proportions with an improved employment status after training were:

• 56.0% for qualification completers
• 49.7% for qualification part-completers
• 58.4% for short course completers
• 59.4% for short course part-completers
• 61.3% for subject(s) only completers.

Satisfaction with training

In 2020, a lower proportion of qualification part-completers was satisfied with the overall training than any other group. Proportions satisfied with the overall quality of training were:

• 88.4% for qualification completers
• 76.1% for qualification part-completers
• 93.3% for short course completers
• 89.6% for short course part-completers
• 92.2% for subject(s) only completers.

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© Commonwealth of Australia, 2021

For details and exceptions visit the NCVER Portal.

This document should be attributed as NCVER 2021, VET student outcomes 2020, NCVER, Adelaide.

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.

The views and opinions expressed in this document are those of NCVER and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Australian Government or state and territory governments.

Published by NCVER, ABN 87 007 967 311

DataBuilder

The DataBuilder provides extensive data on students’ satisfaction with training, reasons for training, and their employment and further study outcomes. Users can filter by a selection of variables (including by state or territory), view the margins of error (to determine the amount of certainty/error in survey estimates) and export their results. The figures in this product are derived from the National Student Outcomes Survey, which is an annual survey of students who completed their vocational education and training (VET) in Australia during the previous calendar year.