All publications

This report explores the ways in which quality is defined and understood within vocational education… Show more

This report explores the ways in which quality is defined and understood within vocational education and training (VET) systems, and the indicators that various systems and institutions have adopted around the world. The quality indicators have been brought together into an evaluative framework and reveal Australia's need to consider how to accommodate the aspirations of learners in a changing society and to better meet broad community needs. Show less

Small businesses, like larger enterprises, need the capacity to respond to the changing demands and… Show more

Small businesses, like larger enterprises, need the capacity to respond to the changing demands and requirements of the economy. This report identifies opportunities for Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system to work collaboratively with local associations, organisations and networks to meet the educational needs of small business. It confirms small business operators learn via informal and local networks, and want training that directly addresses their specific needs. The report is based on a study that examined the processes small business undertook to implement the goods and services tax (GST) and the associated business activity statement (BAS). Show less

This report explores how, and to what extent training packages are locally customised to meet the ne… Show more

This report explores how, and to what extent training packages are locally customised to meet the needs of stakeholders in regional and local communities. In doing so it investigates who the stakeholders are, what they want from training and whether their needs are being met. Show less

Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains… Show more

Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains why there is such an interest in generic skills, and describes how they have been defined and addressed in educational programs in Australia. It also compares the different definitions and interpretations of generic skills in various overseas countries. A complementary publication 'Fostering generic skills in VET programs and workplaces: At a glance' is also available. Show less

Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains… Show more

Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains how generic skills can be fostered in vocational education and training (VET) programs and workplaces. It also focuses on research into describing, teaching, learning, assessing, recognising, and certifying these important skills, and includes the views of a variety of groups. A complementary publication 'Defining generic skills: At a glance' is also available. Show less

A descriptive analysis of recent pathways to apprenticeships is presented in this report. It finds p… Show more

A descriptive analysis of recent pathways to apprenticeships is presented in this report. It finds pre-apprenticeship programs can play an effective role providing short-term vocational training to young people as a means of improving their chances to gaining an apprenticeship. The report is based on analysis of NCVER data and interviews with students, trainers, training experts, and representatives of industry. Show less

Assessing generic skills in a selection of training packages is the focus of this report. Based on c… Show more

Assessing generic skills in a selection of training packages is the focus of this report. Based on case studies, the authors also examine how these skills are understood by trainers and learners. The report contains a comprehensive literature review of assessment of generic skills. Show less

This report provides a statistical overview of Indigenous peoples' participation and outcomes in voc… Show more

This report provides a statistical overview of Indigenous peoples' participation and outcomes in vocational education and training (VET) over the period of implementation of the Australian National Training Authority's 'Partners in a learning culture' strategy. It was developed as an outcome of the mid-term review of this strategy. The data analysis provides base benchmarks against which trends over the coming years, and up to 2005 (when the strategy is due to end), can be assessed. The data are all sourced from the national VET statistical collections managed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research. Show less

This volume is a companion to 'Making experience work: Generic skills through the eyes of displaced… Show more

This volume is a companion to 'Making experience work: Generic skills through the eyes of displaced workers - Volume 1'. The detailed report of the project is contained in volume 1 while volume 2 contains the appendices. Show less

This report is based on interviews with workers who have lost their jobs due to changes in the workp… Show more

This report is based on interviews with workers who have lost their jobs due to changes in the workplace and are thus 'displaced workers'. It investigates how generic skills are perceived and valued by these workers, where they acquired their generic skills and what the implications of this are for teachers and trainers in the workplace and in registered training organisations. The study finds that the workplace is the most important influence on the development of generic skills and therefore teachers and trainers in formal education settings have to create opportunities for skill development through experiential learning in workplaces. The report is published in two volumes. Volume 1 is the main report and volume 2 contains the appendices and is available in PDF format only. Show less

This report provides a description of the full range of adult and community education (ACE) services… Show more

This report provides a description of the full range of adult and community education (ACE) services and clients; an analysis of ACE outcomes and contributions to lifelong learning for its range of clients; and a discussion of issues that might be considered relating to valid and reliable national data collection and reporting for ACE. Representatives of 40 ACE providers across Australia were interviewed for the project. Show less

This report documents a new approach to assessing problem-solving skills. This approach uses an asse… Show more

This report documents a new approach to assessing problem-solving skills. This approach uses an assessment tool that incorporates problems that participants routinely experience in their courses and in the workplace. Assessment is performance and evidence based. The assessment tool was trialled among students in the Electronics and Information Technology Program at Torrens Valley Institute of TAFE and proved successful as a device for reliably assessing problem-solving ability. An extensive literature review regarding key competencies and the assessment of generic skills is also provided. Show less

The implementation and management of recognition of prior learning (RPL) by registered training orga… Show more

The implementation and management of recognition of prior learning (RPL) by registered training organisations following the introduction of Australian Quality Training Framework standards are reviewed in this report. Proposals to support registered training organisations' compliance with RPL in the standards are also included. The report is based on work commissioned by the Australian National Training Authority to identify and analyse the barriers that affect the implementation of RPL, and to advise the National Training Quality Council. Show less

Exploring the roles, functions and expertise required of senior and frontline managers in training o… Show more

Exploring the roles, functions and expertise required of senior and frontline managers in training organisations, this report examines approaches to developing management and leadership expertise. The report analyses the influences on management leadership skills from three perspectives - the individual, organisation, and system wide context. The report is published in two volumes. Volume 1 is the main report and Volume 2, which is available in PDF format only, contains the appendices. Show less

This volume is a companion to Leadership and management in vocational education and training: Stayin… Show more

This volume is a companion to Leadership and management in vocational education and training: Staying focussed on strategy - Volume 1. The detailed report of the project is contained in Volume 1. Volume 2 contains the appendices and is available in PDF format only . Show less

This report exploits a policy change that occurred in South Australia in the mid-1980s to generate a… Show more

This report exploits a policy change that occurred in South Australia in the mid-1980s to generate a causal estimate of the effect of schooling on full-time employment outcomes. The results of this study provide evidence that the process of schooling itself has an effect on labour market outcomes and that education reform may have complex outcomes, all of which need to be identified and analysed. Research report no. 35 This report, published by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), is part of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) research program. Show less

This paper was presented to the IIEP/UNESCO-KRIVET International Policy Seminar on 'Making Lifelong… Show more

This paper was presented to the IIEP/UNESCO-KRIVET International Policy Seminar on 'Making Lifelong Learning a Reality' in Seoul, Republic of Korea, in June 2003. Show less

This paper was presented by the Managing Director of NCVER to the TAFE Directors Association confere… Show more

This paper was presented by the Managing Director of NCVER to the TAFE Directors Association conference in May 2003. Show less

Recent research into workplace learning in Australia is reviewed and important findings are synthesi… Show more

Recent research into workplace learning in Australia is reviewed and important findings are synthesised in this publication. It finds that six elements are required to be in place for effective workplace learning and proposes that the 'ideal' workplace learning situation fosters innovation, and involves a systematic approach. Additionally, the 'At a glance' emphasises that the networks and partnerships of the workplace learning system - the workplace, individual, external training provider and a variety of community and government organisations - are crucially important. Show less

This report focusses on employability skills that young people entering work for the first time, or… Show more

This report focusses on employability skills that young people entering work for the first time, or novice workers, need. It examines the nature of the skills that employers seek when recruiting young people and the processes and techniques which can be used in the workplace to develop these skills. The report synthesises the findings of a comprehensive literature review and 12 case studies. Show less