All publications

This report looks at students' and teachers' perceptions of initial vocational education and… Show more

This report looks at students' and teachers' perceptions of initial vocational education and training. It also reveals how students engage in learning in education and training, provides a description of current teaching practices, and shows the influences which shape learning and teaching in initial VET. Show less

This report presents indicators available for international comparisons of vocational education and … Show more

This report presents indicators available for international comparisons of vocational education and training. It examines a range of data collections, cultural variations and differences in policy objectives across countries. The study can assist educators, policy-makers, researchers and society in general to measure progress towards the realisation of national education and training goals, with Show less

An overview of the report 'Meeting the demand: The needs of VET clients'. Today the provision of… Show more

An overview of the report 'Meeting the demand: The needs of VET clients'. Today the provision of vocational education is being shaped more and more by the needs of clients. This report examines the needs of four client groups - industry, enterprises, communities and individuals - and discusses the consequences for policy and practice in VET of their needs. It focuses particularly on the food Show less

The changes that have occurred in vocational education and training over the last decade have… Show more

The changes that have occurred in vocational education and training over the last decade have profound implications for the focus of evaluation. Funding is becoming tied to outputs rather than inputs; a transition is occurring from a supply-side system to one which has some demand-side characteristics; the range of training providers is more diverse than it was; and there has been a change in Show less

The education of the population and the skilling of the workforce are the factors which are going… Show more

The education of the population and the skilling of the workforce are the factors which are going to determine a nation's fortunes in the 21st century much more than they have in the 20th century. The skills base of a nation and the speed with which skilling can adjust to meet new requirements will be as important, if not more important in determining economic success than a nation's natural Show less

This publication is for those who are interested in looking at the pass and completion rates of… Show more

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 Show less

This report results from a study investigating the role of the workplace trainer. Workplace… Show more

This report results from a study investigating the role of the workplace trainer. Workplace trainers are assuming an increasingly critical role in the provision of training opportunities as more and more training is expected to take place on the job. The report investigates the extent to which workplace trainers, especially in micro and small enterprises are ready, willing and able to meet their 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 issues paper is a summary of some of the important trends worldwide in the organisation of… Show more

This issues paper is a summary of some of the important trends worldwide in the organisation of work and how some international economic developments have affected the position of workers. The author examines some of the issues these trends raise for education and training and argues for government intervention in vocational education and training on economic and equity groups. Show less

This report describes the use of large-scale economy-wide models which are available in Australia… Show more

This report describes the use of large-scale economy-wide models which are available in Australia for occupational forecasting and their use in the VET sector. The paper provides: * a brief review of objectives of VET policy * an overview of international perspectives on the role of occupational forecasting in VET planning * a description of the views and practices of personnel in the VET sector Show less

The aim of the study was to draw together recent literature and examples of current practice to… Show more

The aim of the study was to draw together recent literature and examples of current practice to provide an overview of on-line delivery in education and training in Australia. The report summarises findings within seven key areas. This study points to future directions in on-line delivery. Show less

This report investigates the attitudes and aspirations of school students about their… Show more

This report investigates the attitudes and aspirations of school students about their post-secondary education and work. It is based on data from a survey of over 7000 Years 10, 11 and 12 students in NSW, WA and Victoria. The research found that students' intentions are strongly influenced by socio-economic background, geographical location and gender. The study measured socio-economic background 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

The study analyses the 1997 TAFE graduate destination survey to explore issues concerned with the… Show more

The study analyses the 1997 TAFE graduate destination survey to explore issues concerned with the employment outcomes from vocational education. The study focuses on earnings and occupations of male and female graduates. The research addresses questions such as why is there a gap in full-time earnings between male and female graduates; why does gaining a TAFE qualification appear not to provide a Show less

This report has investigated the impact of the increased trend towards casualisation and… Show more

This report has investigated the impact of the increased trend towards casualisation and outsourcing of work on learning arrangements. It found that there has been an increase in highly task-specific or job-specific training. Moreover, labour hire companies tend to spend less on the training of their employees because they prefer to recruit people who already have the skills needed. This means Show less

The report reviews social, educational, employment aspiration and personal factors that affect the… Show more

The report reviews social, educational, employment aspiration and personal factors that affect the reasons for undertaking particular VET programs. The research concludes that a variety of factors are at play in what is seen as a very personal decision. Work experience, employment, parental influence, school subjects, friends and advertising are all factors, though none predominates, while Show less

This study examined the advantages and disadvantages of cross-sectoral provision of tertiary… Show more

This study examined the advantages and disadvantages of cross-sectoral provision of tertiary education and training. It found that cross-sectoral collaboration could be improved by the development of a coherent national lifelong learning policy, and addressing 'cultural' differences between the various sectors. None of this was assisted by the sources of funding for tertiary education being Show less

This report compares the education and training outputs and outcomes of the Australian higher… Show more

This report compares the education and training outputs and outcomes of the Australian higher education and VET sectors. It identifies: which courses appear to have the best employment outcomes; the impact of students' prior education and employment backgrounds on outcomes; and specific social groups where outcomes vary between the sectors. Show less

How does the industry training market actually operate in contemporary Australia and how well does… Show more

How does the industry training market actually operate in contemporary Australia and how well does the training market meet the needs of employers grappling with the challenges of globalisation? Show less