All publications

Vocational education and training (VET) has a role to play in sustainable regional development.… Show more

Vocational education and training (VET) has a role to play in sustainable regional development. Through five regional case studies this research examines how well VET is tailoring supply to skill needs, how VET has become more flexible to obtain a better match between demand and supply, and whether partnerships have been linked to whole-of-government frameworks in ways which support sustainable Show less

There is increasing worldwide focus on education reform, driven by rising pressures for lifelong… Show more

There is increasing worldwide focus on education reform, driven by rising pressures for lifelong learning, the burgeoning impact of technology, and an escalating pace of change in much of industry and society. This report examines the key trends in Europe and North America in finding more effective means of strengthening the impact of educational research on practice. It analyses trends to Show less

There is growing international and national interest in the concept of social capital, its role,… Show more

There is growing international and national interest in the concept of social capital, its role, and the ways economic and social policies coalesce to drive economic progress and community well-being. This paper identifies eight areas the VET system can contribute to social capital: building social capital in firms; building networks of businesses, especially the small business sector; developing Show less

This study of training and learning services for small business gives an impressionistic snapshot… Show more

This study of training and learning services for small business gives an impressionistic snapshot of the current system, its products and strategies, also the results of recent initiatives and the promotion of training and learning for small business in Australia. Show less

This review of research examines how sets of key competencies/key skills/generic skills have… Show more

This review of research examines how sets of key competencies/key skills/generic skills have developed in Britain, United States and Australia. The review analyses the literature that relates to the following questions: *What are the generic skills? *What are the teaching and learning implications for VET providers? *What impact do generic skills have on business performance? Show less

This report provides a review of the equity and access policies in schools, vocational education… Show more

This report provides a review of the equity and access policies in schools, vocational education and training, higher education and adult community education and argues that government equity strategies could be improved by: targeting low-SES students within all equity groups; identifying two new target groups: those with low skills and the long-term unemployed; reporting performance in a way Show less

This study provides an analysis of policies and strategies adopted in five OECD countries to build… Show more

This study provides an analysis of policies and strategies adopted in five OECD countries to build a learning and training culture. The countries are Britain, United States, Sweden, Netherlands and Germany. The study found that whereas Sweden and the Netherlands have built a learning culture through evolutionary stages embedded in the wider social, economic cultural and political history of the Show less

This discussion paper argues the need for VET to broaden its scope in response to the anticipated… Show more

This discussion paper argues the need for VET to broaden its scope in response to the anticipated changes of the 21st century and to 'coverage' with what we now think of as 'lifelong learning'. The result of such convergence will be a new form of learning, different in character from the prior forms and better able to meet the needs of individuals and society as a whole. Show less

This report draws on international experience and is designed to outline some general features of… Show more

This report draws on international experience and is designed to outline some general features of the current (as distinct from earlier) approaches to lifelong learning and present the work of major international organisations that have been active in this field such as the Council of Europe, UNESCO, the OECD and the European Union. It also suggests the lessons that can be drawn from this Show less

This report provides an indepth analysis of the implications of lifelong learning for vocational… Show more

This report provides an indepth analysis of the implications of lifelong learning for vocational education and training. It shows that the sector needs to develop policies and strategies to advance lifelong learning opportunities for all through strategic partnerships at all levels, and that Australia lags behind other OECD countries in responding to the lifelong learning challenge. Maintaining Show less

Examines recent Australian research in the area of flexible delivery of training. Issues uncovered… Show more

Examines recent Australian research in the area of flexible delivery of training. Issues uncovered include the need for future research to focus on managing change and to address the learning aspects associated with flexible delivery. Show less