All publications

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 information of recent research into issues affecting the demand for skills… Show more

This publication provides information of recent research into issues affecting the demand for 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

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

This report on evidence of skill shortages in the engineering trades is based on the analysis provid… Show more

This report on evidence of skill shortages in the engineering trades is based on the analysis provided by NCVER to the Engineering Working Group, one of three working groups established in late 1999 to examine trade skill shortages in the electrotechnology, engineering and automotive repair and service trades. This work also draws upon key information provided to the working group by the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business. Show less

This resource contains practical material to help assessors maintain the quality of their assessment… Show more

This resource contains practical material to help assessors maintain the quality of their assessment systems. It includes an overview of how registered training organisations can develop a validation or moderation process, and a range of checklists that assessors can use as part of the assessment review process. Also included is a sample of a code of practice for assessors, guidelines for set-up simulated assessment and gathering evidence, and guidelines for training organisations on documenting partners and collaborative assessment arrangements. The resource is designed as a series of strategies with case study examples and scenarios of how particular RTOs have dealt with assessment issues. Show less

The encouragement of lifelong learning is one important aim of the Australian vocational education a… Show more

The encouragement of lifelong learning is one important aim of the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. The recognition of the concept of 'module' enrolments in VET, in addition to enrolments towards qualifications, gives practical effect to that aim. A student undertaking VET modules only or a 'module enrollee' may be thought of as an individual enrolling in a program with a VET provider, but not intending to proceed to a qualification. Similarly a 'module completer' is a student who is not a graduate but has successfully completed some training in a VET program of study and then left the VET system. This report provides information on the employment and industry characteristics of module enrollees and completers in VET. Their reasons or motivations for module (as opposed to course) enrolment and the employment and lifelong learning outcomes associated with the types of module providers and training programs are also examined. Show less

This project reports the approaches used by six Australian organisations to build and maintain a lea… Show more

This project reports the approaches used by six Australian organisations to build and maintain a learning culture. The research study identifies pressures which have contributed to the participating organisations' commitment to learning as well as the similar and dissimilar characteristics which allow these organisations to consider themselves as learning organisations. Show less

This brief report describes new developments and initiatives in the UK on the issue of employability… Show more

This brief report describes new developments and initiatives in the UK on the issue of employability skills. The report focusses particularly on: *The Enterprising Skills Development Movement *A brief history of employer involvement and government partnership initiatives regarding employability *Future development of both key skills and enterprise skills in vocational education and training An appendix for this report is now included, updating the content of employability skills development in the UK. It concentrates on the wider key skills programs, and enterprise skills and education. Show less

This is a report of research undertaken to investigate the current linkages between schools and smal… Show more

This is a report of research undertaken to investigate the current linkages between schools and small enterprises. In particular it examines the literature on structured workplace learning (SWL), identifies the issues and concerns common to the schools and enterprises that took part in the study and develops a model framework for SWL. Show less