The purpose of this paper is to describe what we know about apprenticeships and traineeships, with a view to assessing the likely impact of the current economic downturn on them.
This paper provides an account of the management strategies and processes that TAFE institutes use to evaluate their performance.
This literature review, undertaken for Australian Industry Group, shows how multiple variations and combinations of formal, informal and non-formal learning, accompanied by various government incentives and organisational initiatives (including job redesign, cross-skilling, multi-skilling, diversified career pathways, action learning projects, quality assurance arrangements, job rotations and mentoring programs), can be used to prepare workers to gain, maintain or progress through jobs.
The study looks at what factors encourage young people to pursue an apprenticeship. Information from students and courses indicates that the key drivers of apprenticeship uptake are intrinsic interest and academic ability. School students with higher academic ability are less interested in apprenticeships. In contrast, those who are part way through their apprenticeship are very positive about the experience, especially the enjoyment associated with learning new skills and future prospects for career progression and pay.
This report compares the provision of vocational education and training (VET) in Australia, Germany and the United Kingdom. It finds that training policies are increasingly based on similar general principles which promote the improvement and reform of vocational education and training, although the implementation of these principles tends to remain specific to each country.
This study examines the linkages between vocational education and training (VET) and industry in China and Australia. It details each country's arrangements for the provision of industry advice to governments and discusses industry-specific programs and skill development activities, including apprenticeships. It notes how changes in the economic, political and educational philosophies of Chinese governments have affected the operation of the linkages there, and how industry associations and organisations can play a larger role in the training of the population. It also notes the importance of employer incentives for increasing the participation of industry in training.
This project investigates the uptake of e-learning in two countries (Australia and Korea) which have experienced a rapid expansion of the use of information technology in education and training. A key finding is that although e-learning can increase flexibility and cost efficiencies in the delivery of training, it cannot on its own guarantee successful learning outcomes for students. The way in which the teacher and the learner utilise the technology continues to be important.
The Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP) scheme provides funds to help Indigenous communities in rural and remote Australia provide employment, skills development, and various essential and desirable municipal services. However, there is room to improve the range and quality of employment and community development activities available. There is also room for increasing the number of participants who engage in and complete courses leading to trade and other formal qualifications.
The importance of close connections between vocational education and training (VET) systems and industry is highlighted in this report. The report finds that any system of entry-level training, which aims to help students make a successful transition from school to work, must have support mechanisms and frameworks in place to enable accurate assessment of industry and labour market needs. From Australia's perspective, the Korean experience provides useful insights to improving school retention rates, and establishing formal pathways for VET students who are not undertaking apprenticeships and traineeships. From the Korean perspective, useful lessons include developing inter-sectoral linkages between industry and education, applying flexible teaching and training methods, implementing a national qualifications framework, and introducing apprenticeship-type arrangements.
Innovative companies in emerging industries have diverse and important training needs. This study examines the training requirements of emerging industries and the role Australia's vocational education and training (VET) sector plays to develop further employees' skills and knowledge. As innovative companies often operate at the leading edge of their technological fields, the training they require is highly specialised and sometimes unique. While the VET sector already provides customised training for employers, there are opportunities for the sector to advance the currency of its knowledge, develop programs to deliver special training, and extend the expertise and knowledge of its teachers.
Queensland is leading Australia in offering vocational education and training (VET) options to students through the VET in Schools program, and has the highest rate of school students enrolled in technical and further education (TAFE) institutes. However, the success of such initiatives is dependent on the ability to transfer qualifications gained (part or full) across educational sectors. The report suggests adopting a state-wide approach to generating better articulation and credit transfer arrangements, combined with financial assistance for schools, TAFE institutes and universities to develop innovative inter-sectoral arrangements.
During the past decade both Australia and China have implemented reforms to their educational systems to develop labour force skills for the new globalised markets. This report describes the major features of the vocational education and training sectors in China and Australia, and their strategies and reforms, with emphasis on links between secondary and post-secondary vocational education and training.
This book provides an overview of approaches to assessing returns on investment in training. It also introduces readers to practical strategies for calculating these returns.
This short publication examines mechanisms used by training providers to develop industry linkages through a series of case studies. Its particular focus is the hospitality information technology and electrical/electronics industries.
This comparative study describes the vocational education and training systems of Korea and Australia. Its particular focus is on the linkages between training providers and industry in both countries. Researchers from the Korean Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research have collaborated in conducting the research and writing this book.
This publication is for those who are interested in looking at the pass and completion rates of students enrolled in courses delivered via different delivery strategies. It is also for those who are interested in finding out how students evaluate the different strategies they have experienced. The findings indicate that although it is difficult to determine which are the best delivery strategies for certain modules, there are trends which show that disproportionately high numbers of non-completions are observed in certain strategies.
This booklet provides guidelines for the development, implementation and evaluation of programs which aim to give students experience in the workplace. It emphasises the importance of structured workplace training which leads to the achievement of specific objectives and learning outcomes. Also highlighted is the need to prepare students and employers for their specific roles in the training and assessment process, and to provide all participants with specific information of what is expected of them.
This booklet is aimed at teachers of vocational education and training. It outlines the way we learn new information and provides information on programs which involve students in self-paced learning activities via online learning, video-conferencing, distance learning and campus-based flexible delivery programs. Teacher perceptions of the advantages and disadvantages of the methods provide valuable insights into how to go about implementing and modifying programs to achieve the best results for students. Also included is a model for developing, implementing and evaluating self-paced learning programs.
This publication provides an overview of research findings on the pathways young people take when they leave school. Also examined are data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics which track the labour market outcomes of young people.
This book addresses the issue of whether or not skills learnt in one context are able to transfer successfully to other contexts. The findings showed that being able to perform a skill successfully in one context is not a guarantee of being able to perform the same skill in a different context. However, higher levels of proficiency in the first task increased the likelihood of higher levels of proficiency in the second task. Comparisons are made for males and females and for students of different ability groupings.