All publications

There are many factors which might cause a student to drop out of a course of study; some of these… Show more

There are many factors which might cause a student to drop out of a course of study; some of these are preventable. This paper describes the piloting of a survey tool designed to identify students at risk of not completing. Attendance was found to be the strongest predictor of module completion; low or declining scores on the survey were also predictive of students dropping out. The research for Show less

This report explores the beliefs and experiences of new graduates of the certificate IV, with a… Show more

This report explores the beliefs and experiences of new graduates of the certificate IV, with a focus on the graduates' sense of preparedness and confidence in planning, delivering and assessing training, as well as their views on the benefits and limitations of the certificate IV. Show less

This briefing paper assesses the effect VET in Schools programs have on school retention,… Show more

This briefing paper assesses the effect VET in Schools programs have on school retention, post-school vocational education and training (VET) and employment, and on young people's school and post-school aspirations. VET in Schools programs are seen as a way to increase Year 12 retention through broadening subject choices in the school curriculum. Research based on the Longitudinal Surveys of Show less

Apprentices with a learning disability can face significant barriers to completing their training.… Show more

Apprentices with a learning disability can face significant barriers to completing their training. This paper explores what these apprentices, their lecturers and disability support staff see as the most effective strategies for helping them to overcome these difficulties. Instructional approaches which accommodate students' learning styles, individual tutoring and supportive relationships were Show less

This briefing paper draws together findings from two LSAY (Longitudinal Surveys of Australian… Show more

This briefing paper draws together findings from two LSAY (Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth) research reports: 'Participation in and progress through New Apprenticeships'; and the 'VET pathways taken by school leavers'. These two reports use data obtained from young people who were in Year 9 at school in 1995 and whose educational and occupational activities were traced each year Show less

This briefing paper draws on findings from several LSAY Research Reports (5, 27, 31, 33 and 41)… Show more

This briefing paper draws on findings from several LSAY Research Reports (5, 27, 31, 33 and 41) which report on how student attitudes and engagement in the formative school years influence subsequent participation in post-compulsory education and training. Data is used from two LSAY cohorts: students who were in Year 9 in 1995, and students who were in Year 9 in 1998. Attitudes to school in the Show less

The link between academic achievement and labour market outcomes is well established. But how well… Show more

The link between academic achievement and labour market outcomes is well established. But how well does a student's achievement in a test predict their later success in life? This study examines this question, with 'success' considered to encompass satisfaction with life together with the extent to which young people are fully occupied with education, employment or a combination of these. Show less

Student intentions and outcomes in regard to studying the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment … Show more

Student intentions and outcomes in regard to studying the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment at NSW community colleges is the subject of this paper. Gaining employment and acquiring presentation skills were the most common reasons given for undertaking the course, but for many students the course did not deliver this. Those students who accessed pre-course information and thus had more Show less

This guide is intended for students, career counsellors and others assisting vocational education… Show more

This guide is intended for students, career counsellors and others assisting vocational education and training (VET) students in the credit transfer process. It is based on research that set out to identify the core elements required to negotiate successful pathways from VET to higher education. Credit transfer structures between Deakin University and three Victorian TAFE institutes, as well Show less

Education is generally seen as enhancing people's lives. However, previous research has reported an … Show more

Education is generally seen as enhancing people's lives. However, previous research has reported an inverse relationship between education and happiness or satisfaction with life: as education level goes up, happiness goes down. Using data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY), this report examines the relationship between education and happiness. The impact of factors such as Show less

Rubrics are a tool that can be used to provide graded assessment for articulation from vocational… Show more

Rubrics are a tool that can be used to provide graded assessment for articulation from vocational education and training (VET) into higher education. By mentoring teachers to use rubrics and interviewing them to determine their experiences in using them, the author explored the potential of rubrics as an assessment tool. Overall, teachers found rubrics not only useful for grading assessments Show less

The preference of students to choose a career in events management over hospitality despite low… Show more

The preference of students to choose a career in events management over hospitality despite low demand for skills is the focus of this paper. The need for greater involvement of external stakeholders is identified as important in ensuring that students make an informed decision when choosing a career path. A model representing the ideal situation for student decision-making on career choice is Show less

An analysis of student verbatim responses in the Student Outcome Survey provides suggestions for… Show more

An analysis of student verbatim responses in the Student Outcome Survey provides suggestions for how the vocational education and training (VET) system could be improved. Show less

The adoption of problem-based learning as a teaching method in the advertising and public relations … Show more

The adoption of problem-based learning as a teaching method in the advertising and public relations programs offered by the Business TAFE School at RMIT University is explored in this paper. The effect of problem-based learning on student engagement, student learning and contextualised problem-solving was investigated and it was found that students perceive problem-based learning to be Show less

The perceptions of students, school and TAFE staff involved in V Tracks, an early intervention… Show more

The perceptions of students, school and TAFE staff involved in V Tracks, an early intervention program for Aboriginal school students are explored in this paper. The study identifies outcomes, challenges and recommendations for future program design. Overall, V Tracks was found to improve student engagement in school and provide greater insights into the available education, training and Show less

This report considers how the ALRP has contributed to the adult language, literacy and numeracy… Show more

This report considers how the ALRP has contributed to the adult language, literacy and numeracy sector. Show less

In this At a glance we summarise what is known about student transfer between the vocational… Show more

In this At a glance we summarise what is known about student transfer between the vocational education and training (VET) and higher education sectors. Transfer occurs when a student who has enrolled in one sector subsequently commences a qualification in the other. Some students have completed their first qualification, but some have not. The second qualification may be in the same field of Show less

Recent research in the vocational education and training (VET) sector shows that students are… Show more

Recent research in the vocational education and training (VET) sector shows that students are gaining a range of benefits from their studies, beyond expected course outcomes. Students are developing new networks, and gaining confidence and self esteem through the respect received from their teachers and classmates. For some students, these advantages help them to find work and interact more Show less

Information on the divergence between student numbers and delivery hours for the period 2002 to… Show more

Information on the divergence between student numbers and delivery hours for the period 2002 to 2007 is provided in this technical paper. The change in hours from one year to the next is decomposed into three effects, one of which is 'hours inflation', whereby nominal hours increase over time for the same unit of competency or module. Here we show that the 'hours inflation' explains relatively Show less

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher… Show more

This paper was presented to a meeting of the Wellington Exchange, an international group of higher education officials, in December 2008. Show less