All publications

This report is based on a survey of vocational education and training students who were studying… Show more

This report is based on a survey of vocational education and training students who were studying online, as well as discussions with teachers. It describes what makes for a quality online learning experience and provides suggestions for organisations delivering training online. 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 'At a glance' consolidates a range of research into online learning and delivery undertaken… Show more

This 'At a glance' consolidates a range of research into online learning and delivery undertaken within the Australian Flexible Learning Framework for the National Vocational Education and Training System 2000-2004. This publication focusses on the extent, scope, quality features, student support needs and cost-effectiveness of online learning and delivery. Show less

A comparison of nine vocational education and training (VET) systems from countries across Europe,… Show more

A comparison of nine vocational education and training (VET) systems from countries across Europe, East Asia, and North and South America. This study examines the variables that best define and influence the character, behaviour and apparent success of VET systems and the impact of change on these variables. Show less

This report investigates the ways that the various education sectors in Australia (schools,… Show more

This report investigates the ways that the various education sectors in Australia (schools, vocational education and training, adult and community education, and higher education) are funded. The paper acknowledges it is difficult to get comparable data for all sectors and discusses the implications of changing some aspects of funding arrangements so that a cross-sectoral funding model could be Show less

This report builds on and extends earlier work examining the key drivers that affect the quantity… 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

This publication provides a summary of recent research into issues affecting the demand of skills… 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 Show less

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

An exploration of possible reasons why some students who enrol in VET do not complete their… 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 Show less

This report provides an outline and discussion of the support needs and services required for… 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' Show less

Ten industry training packages are investigated to assess how much focus they give to the… 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 Show less

This report explores the changing nature of the demand for training in enterprises which have… 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 Show less

This report describes the support that informal and formal learners need in order to help them… 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

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 resource contains practical material to help assessors maintain the quality of their… 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 Show less

This project reports the approaches used by six Australian organisations to build and maintain a… 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 is a report of research undertaken to investigate the current linkages between schools and… 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

The long-term benefits of a VET qualification are compared with the long-term employment outcomes… Show more

The long-term benefits of a VET qualification are compared with the long-term employment outcomes for university graduates and for individuals whose education ceased at Year 12. Also looked at are the long-term effects for VET graduates with disabilities and from non-English speaking backgrounds and what differences exist for males and females over time. Author Chris Ryan uses data from two major Show less

This study builds on earlier work by one of the authors that identified strategies for effective… Show more

This study builds on earlier work by one of the authors that identified strategies for effective flexible delivery in workplaces. Training managers and focus groups with supervisors/trainers in 12 enterprises in Victoria were interviewed and their opinions examined on the feasibility of these strategies. Show less

The focus of this report is on the nature of the uptake of web-based technologies and the quality… Show more

The focus of this report is on the nature of the uptake of web-based technologies and the quality of teaching and learning that is emerging. The report provides an overview of selected online vocational education and training delivery sites and explores a model for evaluating web-based flexible learning practices. Show less