All publications

This report focuses on frontline management and evaluates the development of the Frontline Managemen… Show more

This report focuses on frontline management and evaluates the development of the Frontline Management Initiative (FMI) which was the first national initiative in Australia designed to support workplace and organisational learning. The considerable evidence of the study shows that the FMI has the capability to extend managerial identity, develop organisational learning and contribute to business growth. The report details the components of the FMI developmental model generated by the more strategic practitioners and making the greatest business impact. The report has been organised into two volumes. The second volume, which comprises the detailed case studies, can be found on the NCVER website. Show less

This report is a companion document to Paradise nearly gained: Volume 1 and provides case studies of… Show more

This report is a companion document to Paradise nearly gained: Volume 1 and provides case studies of companies who used the Frontline Management Initiative (FMI). It provides a rich picture of the FMI diversity and developmental activity in a wide range of organisations. It enables practitioners to scan the variety of options and issues involved, and to customise the FMI to their unique organisational situation. Show less

A comparison of nine vocational education and training (VET) systems from countries across Europe, E… Show more

A comparison of nine vocational education and training (VET) systems from countries across Europe, East Asia, and North and South America. This study examines the variables that best define and influence the character, behaviour and apparent success of VET systems and the impact of change on these variables. Show less

This study undertook a comprehensive examination of a sample of auspiced (or partnership) assessment… Show more

This study undertook a comprehensive examination of a sample of auspiced (or partnership) assessment arrangements. It also included a review of national and international literature on partnerships and six case study sites selected for indepth examination, giving a wide variety of models of partnership arrangements. The research found that there are common factors critical to the development and continuation of effective collaborative alliances such as auspiced arrangements. The report also provides guidelines for partnerships in assessment, based on information gathered through the case studies and the literature review. Show less

This report investigates the ways that the various education sectors in Australia (schools, vocation… Show more

This report investigates the ways that the various education sectors in Australia (schools, vocational education and training, adult and community education, and higher education) are funded. The paper acknowledges it is difficult to get comparable data for all sectors and discusses the implications of changing some aspects of funding arrangements so that a cross-sectoral funding model could be developed. Show less

This report examines the prospects of adults over 25 in the traditional trades. Aided by companies a… Show more

This report examines the prospects of adults over 25 in the traditional trades. Aided by companies around Australia, researchers have studied adult opportunities to qualify and work in these trades. A companion volume, 'Getting adults into the trades: Case studies', is available on NCVER's website. Show less

This is a companion volume to the report 'Getting adults into the trades'.

This is a companion volume to the report 'Getting adults into the trades'. Show less

This study of school students in workplaces looks at their perceptions of what they learned, why and… Show more

This study of school students in workplaces looks at their perceptions of what they learned, why and how. It also examines the application of learning from school in the workplace and vice versa. An extension of the report by Smith and Green, "School students' learning from their paid and unpaid work". Show less

This publication provides a synopsis of the issues surrounding attrition in apprenticeships and trai… Show more

This publication provides a synopsis of the issues surrounding attrition in apprenticeships and traineeships, as identified in recent research reports. An analysis of recent NCVER data relating to completion levels has also been incorporated. Show less

The history of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), covering twenty years… Show more

The history of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), covering twenty years from 1981 to 2001, is detailed in this document. Show less

This report builds on and extends earlier work examining the key drivers that affect the quantity an… Show more

This report builds on and extends earlier work examining the key drivers that affect the quantity and nature of training undertaken by Australian enterprises. It focuses on enterprises in the entertainment related and process manufacturing industries and explores how they view training and its importance within their overall operating structure. Show less

Effective communication of information is critical to the uptake of statistical analysis and researc… Show more

Effective communication of information is critical to the uptake of statistical analysis and research. This At a glance publication looks at how NCVER is communicating information to the vocational education and training sector. Show less

This publication provides a summary of recent research into issues affecting the demand of skills in… Show more

This publication provides a summary of recent research into issues affecting the demand of skills in Australia and the implications of current trends in training and education on future skill supply. It also summarises the impact of Australia's ageing population on future levels of participation and presents a synopsis of Australia's position internationally. Finally, implications for the future of education and training within Australia are summarised. Show less

An exploration of possible reasons why some students who enrol in VET do not complete their courses.… Show more

An exploration of possible reasons why some students who enrol in VET do not complete their courses. Using interviews with past students and statistical evidence of course enrolments, author Peter Grant provokes an in-depth discussion of the factors that complicate any analysis of course completion. His report makes a valuable contribution to our understanding of the issue of course completion in the VET sector as well as the methodological issues that need to be considered in any such study. The pattern that emerges shows a complex interaction of personal and practical factors why students leave vocational courses before they have completed their qualification. Show less

This report provides an outline and discussion of the support needs and services required for studen… Show more

This report provides an outline and discussion of the support needs and services required for students to achieve successful outcomes while studying online. The findings of the report are based on a literature review, surveys and follow-up interviews with students studying online and with teachers/co-ordinators delivering online. The focus of the surveys and interviews is on students' expectations of the services either currently provided or required to be provided to ensure their success. Show less

Ten industry training packages are investigated to assess how much focus they give to the attainment… Show more

Ten industry training packages are investigated to assess how much focus they give to the attainment of generic skills. Author Susan Dawe draws on recent case studies of ten Australian industries where generic skills are taught in companies and TAFE institutes using training packages. This in-depth study also examines approaches that can enhance the delivery of generic skills so that students are better prepared for the new demands of the workplace. Show less

This report explores the changing nature of the demand for training in enterprises which have adopte… Show more

This report explores the changing nature of the demand for training in enterprises which have adopted new management practices. The new management practices examined in this report include the learning organisation, total quality management, lean production, team working and business process re-engineering. As a result of a survey of private sector enterprises and survey of HR practitioners the researchers have drawn conclusions about small business, the use of the VET system, the importance of the individual in driving training, the nature of training and the importance of generic skills. Show less

This report describes the support that informal and formal learners need in order to help them succe… Show more

This report describes the support that informal and formal learners need in order to help them successfully complete VET. It includes two types of indicators deemed necessary to provide effective learning support: those relating to organisational features and learning culture, and those that relate specifically to teaching and learning practices. Show less

There is evidence to indicate that a culture of training and learning is developing in Australia's e… Show more

There is evidence to indicate that a culture of training and learning is developing in Australia's enterprises. The report utilises the data from a range of Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys to develop a picture of the state of enterprise training in Australia and identifies the key factors that are associated with the provision of industry training. The report concludes that the future challenge for Australia's training system is to meet the fragmented demand for training created by an individualised training market. Show less

The study compares the relative costs and effectiveness of online learning with traditional face to… Show more

The study compares the relative costs and effectiveness of online learning with traditional face to face teaching methods through six case studies. These case studies provide rich detail about the operating conditions under which different types of online delivery are likely to be cost effective. Show less