There is evidence to indicate that a culture of training and learning is developing in Australia's enterprises. The report utilises the data from a range of Australian Bureau of Statistics surveys to develop a picture of the state of enterprise training in Australia and identifies the key factors that are associated with the provision of industry training. The report concludes that the future challenge for Australia's training system is to meet the fragmented demand for training created by an individualised training market.
This report on evidence of skill shortages in the engineering trades is based on the analysis provided by NCVER to the Engineering Working Group, one of three working groups established in late 1999 to examine trade skill shortages in the electrotechnology, engineering and automotive repair and service trades. This work also draws upon key information provided to the working group by the Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business.
This brief report describes new developments and initiatives in the UK on the issue of employability skills. The report focusses particularly on: *The Enterprising Skills Development Movement *A brief history of employer involvement and government partnership initiatives regarding employability *Future development of both key skills and enterprise skills in vocational education and training An appendix for this report is now included, updating the content of employability skills development in the UK. It concentrates on the wider key skills programs, and enterprise skills and education.
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 surveys to assess the value of various VET qualifications for lifelong learning and longer term employment opportunities.
How lifelong learning and vocational training are currently being implemented in Australia and in Germany is explored by educational specialists from both countries in this edited anthology of conference papers. They compare the methods and effects in both countries. The papers also reflect the importance of lifelong learning in the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung, the Australian National Training Authority, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research and the Monash University, ACER Centre for the Economics of Education and Training. The conference in Potsdam in 2000 was organised for the Australia Centre in Berlin, by the Centre for the Economics of Education and Training.
This study examines the evolving nature of work in the process manufacturing industry. It considers the changing political philosophies and especially the enterprise-based industrial relations system that has enabled much of the job redesign examined in this study to occur. In addition, the report looks at recent social theory on the nature of work.
This research investigates what knowledge, skills and attitudes independent contractors, working in alliances with others, need to operate successfully in their working life. It also shows how the existing vocational and education training (VET) system meets these needs and what the implications are for VET for the future.
This report focuses on the training/learning culture in small to medium-large sized enterprises and investigates what factors enhance the value of training and learning in an organisation. The report highlights the importance of informal learning and identifies lessons for marketing training and learning to Australian enterprises. An appendix containing the case studies is available from the web as a pdf file.
This project examines different ways in which young people still at school experience workplaces through paid work, vocational placements and work experience. The study is based on a survey of students in Years 10, 11 and 12 in 13 schools in NSW and SA. In fact, 1451 responses were received. In addition, case studies were carried out in five schools.
This report investigates the reasons why apprentices and trainees do not complete their contracts of training. It involved telephone interviews with a national sample of non-completing new apprentices and their employers. The study also investigated what those who did not complete their contracts were doing at the time of the survey - whether they were working, in study, unemployed or not in the workforce. The study concludes with some suggested strategies to reduce non-completion.
The aim of this project was to investigate and document successful longer-term career outcomes of a selected sample of VET graduates. The sample was taken from the Youth Research Centre database of 29 000 Victorians who have completed their schooling in 1991. For the quantitative analysis a target group was chosen from the database comprising the 400-500 VET participants who indicated they had established themselves in full-time on-going employment or jobs that they considered to be career jobs. In addition the researchers interviewed over 200 young people with VET qualifications and analysed this data and also drew on interview transcripts from 80 interviews with young people. The data in this report cover such issues as how success in a career is defined, what percentage of young people are in jobs and what kind of jobs are they in three years after they completed their studies, how they assess their career success, how secure they feel in their career and the extent to which their studies have contributed to their success.
Contributing authors from Australia, USA and Canada provide leading-edge information, analysis of issues and hundreds of best practice examples of building strong communities through active and critical learning. The theme is that Australia should become a learning society in order to build capacity and manage regional change for social and economic benefit for all.
This project provides an insight into the perceptions held by young people, businesses and educational authorities about the utility of new apprenticeships in the western region of Melbourne. It takes a critical look at new apprenticeships and aims to provide a way forward for all groups involved so that the quality of apprenticeship and traineeship opportunities and outcomes can be improved.
This study explored retention in apprenticeships and traineeships and factors that influence this process. The study is based on interviews with over 400 apprentices and trainees as well as with teachers, trainers and workplace supervisors. The study identifies a range of personal, industry, labour market, workplace and training factors that contribute to the likelihood of an apprentice or trainee completing their training. The study concludes with the view that retention is the collective responsibility of all parties involved - the individual, the employer and the provider of training.
This report summarises the views of Australian apprentices and trainees on their learning and assessment experiences in on- and off-the-job settings. It also examines through some 20 case studies the strengths and weaknesses of the approaches to learning and assessment that are being used today.
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 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?
The book builds on CEET's review of the economics of vocational education and training for the Australian National Training Authority in 1994. Seven chapters discuss: the overall purpose of the review; changing employment patterns; demand for VET; supply of VET; special supply issues; finance and market issues; and finally, future research, access and equity, and research impact.
This study provides detailed information on students who enrolled in enabling courses and examines the post-course outcomes for these individuals. It also assesses the effectiveness of enabling courses to assist students to progress to a higher level of education or training or to gain employment following the completion of an enabling course.
This report examines trends in occupational mismatch in the metal, building, vehicle and electrical trades and questions whether the process of award restructuring has created incentives for unskilled blue collar workers to pursue skill-based career paths in the trades. The report examines the reasons for high attrition rates by qualified workers from their trade as well as the motives behind employers' decisions to hire unqualified workers to do trade work.