The importance of adult language, literacy and numeracy for greater workforce participation, productivity and social inclusion are well recognised, with both national and international research demonstrating the benefits of increasing proficiency for both individuals and communities. But there are still more questions to be answered, such as what is the extent of adult language, literacy and numeracy provision in Australia, and whose responsibility is it to fund such provision in the workplace? In September 2010, NCVER hosted a forum on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations to explore these questions and what needs to be done to find the answers. This paper presents a summary of those discussions and recommendations for future action.
Research messages 2010 is a collection of summaries of research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning: VET system; and VET in context. Research messages 2010 also has an overview essay that captures the themes and highlights from the research for the year.
The results of the consultations NCVER conducted in November and December 2010 to identify research topics using the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) are presented in this paper and will help determine the research topics best suited to the LSAY data. These will be used to shape the 2011-13 LSAY analytical program of research that NCVER conducts on behalf of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
This discussion paper was the first step in NCVER's review of the Survey of Employer Use and Views of the Vocational Education and Training (VET).
Work practices, skill use and the nature of the workforce in the Australian red-meat-processing sector have undergone significant change over the last few decades. This research overview, based on case studies of four leading enterprises, discusses the importance of supervision and training in the workplace, and how vocational educational and training can contribute.
This survey collects information about the destinations of apprentices and trainees approximately nine months after leaving their training. Information was collected on employment outcomes, reasons for non-completion, satisfaction with the apprenticeship or traineeship, and further study destinations.
The national research priorities for tertiary education and training 2011-2013 were endorsed by the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) in June 2010. This document sets out the context for the priorities, what was learnt from the consultations and the final advice on the priorities by the NCVER Board to MCTEE. The five priority subject areas endorsed are: skills and productivity, structures in the tertiary education and training system, the contribution of education and training to social inclusion, learning and teaching, and the place and role of VET.
This good practice guide is based on research that looked at how to teach adult literacy and numeracy using a social capital approach. The guide suggests ways VET practitioners can adopt a social capital approach to their teaching practice. A social capital approach refers to the process in which networks are drawn on or created during the various stages of the literacy and numeracy program. The guide also outlines indicators of social capital outcomes.
Research messages 2009 is a collection of summaries of research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) in 2009, including conference papers and occasional papers. It also has an overview of the research highlights for the year. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning: VET system; and VET in context.
This overview looks at the key findings of Mike Dockery's report 'Cultural dimensions of Indigenous participation in education and training' and shows that, in both remote and non-remote areas, those with a stronger attachment to their culture had greater educational success. However, it also reveals that the report is a complex one, and the way the data are analysed is key to the findings.
Research messages 2008 is a collection of summaries of research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2008, including conference papers and occasional papers. It also has an overview of the research highlights for the year. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context.
Research messages 2007 is a collection of summaries of all research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2007, including conference papers and occasional papers. It also has an overview of the research highlights for the year. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context.
Research messages 2006 is a collection of summaries on all research projects published or completed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2006. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise all of its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context. Twenty-nine pieces of work are included and each summary provides details of how to access the full research report.
Research messages 2005 is a collection of summaries on all research projects published or completed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2005. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise all of its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context. Forty-two pieces of work are included and each summary provides details of how to access the full research report.
Research messages 2004 is a collection of summaries on all research projects published or completed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research in 2004. It is the first year such a product has been produced by NCVER. The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise all of its VET research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning; VET system; and VET in context. Fifty-six pieces of work are included and each summary provides details of how to access the full research report.
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.
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.
A new body of research has just been completed on the returns to investment in training in Australia. Prior to this research effort, little empirical research had been undertaken on the returns to training in Australia. This research at a glance synthesises the findings of the recent Australian research.
This publication provides a comprehensive analysis of the development of apprenticeships in Australia (including the introduction of traineeships and new apprenticeships). The rapid growth and transformation of the system over the past decade is examined in detail and proposals for the future of apprenticeships in Australia are explored.
This issue of 'Research at a glance' summarises some of the most recent research on the impact of competency-based training (CBT) on the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. CBT was introduced in the late 1980s as part of wider economic policy measures to improve the skill levels of the Australian workforce, enable Australian industry to be more competitive in global markets and establish new career structures for the Australian workforce. CBT has remained a key element of VET policy adopted by successive governments at federal, State and Territory levels. While early research findings suggested that the implementation of CBT in Australia was neither smooth nor rapid (R Harris et al. 1995), commitment by VET participants, particularly industry and governments, has remained strong and substantial.