This study explores the common features of high-quality traineeships using case studies from the cleaning, child care, construction, retail, finance and insurance, and meat processing areas.
The report highlights that there is no simple fix to increasing employer investment in training which has generally not been a core component of long-term business planning.
This report forms part of a comprehensive research program that has examined issues related to building the organisational capability of vocational education and training providers. In particular, this report focuses on the current state of human resource management practice in both technical and further education and private registered training organisations. It also provides an assessment of the extent to which human resource management plays a truly strategic role and proposes approaches to improve both human resource management practice and its impact.
Through an analysis of major surveys, as well as interviews and case studies with firms in four industries - construction, retail trade, manufacturing and health and community services, this research brings us closer to an understanding of the factors that influence training expenditure. The research shows that survey data needs to be complemented with a program of research in a number of industries to provide a richer understanding of the drivers of employer expenditure and practices.
This report aims to provide a clearer understanding of how and why enterprises use nationally recognised type of training. It finds that an enterprise's decision to engage in recognised training is not made lightly and decisions are made afresh each time a new training need arises. Successfully embedding training in enterprises involves a three-phase process - engagement, extension and integration. In most cases, it is dependent on: positive initial engagement; extension of training through a 'VET evangelist' who 'sells' the benefits of recognised training and persuades management; and, integration of competency standards associated with recognised training into many human resource processes. The availability of funding strongly influences whether enterprises use recognised training. However, one of the key reasons why more enterprises have not taken up this training is lack of awareness.
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.
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.
This publication, edited by Andrew Smith, summarises the outcomes of research projects funded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee on the subject of return on investment in training.