This issue of 'Research at a glance' summarises some of the most recent research on the impact of competency-based training (CBT) on the Australian vocational education and training (VET) system. CBT was introduced in the late 1980s as part of wider economic policy measures to improve the skill levels of the Australian workforce, enable Australian industry to be more competitive in global markets and establish new career structures for the Australian workforce. CBT has remained a key element of VET policy adopted by successive governments at federal, State and Territory levels. While early research findings suggested that the implementation of CBT in Australia was neither smooth nor rapid (R Harris et al. 1995), commitment by VET participants, particularly industry and governments, has remained strong and substantial.
This report describes the range of outcome measures used in the VET systems and reviews a range of literature concerning these measures. The report identifies various perspectives on outcome measures - those of governments, of employers, of students and the broader community and how these perspectives influence the type of measures in use. The report covers research related to student outcomes, training markets and outcomes, reducing unemployment as an outcome, industry-oriented outcomes, industry investment in training, VET in schools and outcome measures in the broader context.
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 processing and clerical industries in three regions (a metropolitan centre, a provincial centre and a remote rural centre).
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.
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.
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 international experience.
Globalisation is impacting on most spheres of human endeavour - the economy, the society, politics and education. This publication addresses a world-wide view of globalisation and its potential impact on most areas of technical and vocational education and training. It is particularly relevant to policy-makers, planners, curriculum developers and industry partners in both formal and non-formal education for work.
This Research at a glance explores early school leaving, who early school leavers are, why they leave school early, risk factors and likely outcomes of early school leaving, and the positives and negatives of retention. It examines what is being done for early school leavers through VET in school and post-school settings and identifies major issues and 'best practice' as well as possible directions.
Four major impediments to higher youth employment are identified in this review. These are: the inability to maintain rates of economic growth sufficient to reduce unemployment without inducing inflationary pressures; changes in the composition of demand for labour favoring more highly skilled workers; systems for delivery of vocational education and training which remain poorly adapted to users' needs; and wage structures that prevent the market for youth labour from clearing.
This review of research provides an overview of the literature on the way in which work is changing and the effects such changes have on the VET sector. The nature of the changes is described, including the decrease in full-time permanent work, the move towards increasing part-time and casual work and employment shifts across industries. If VET programs are to be judged successful they need to address the needs of multiple clients simultaneously, and be tolerant of diversity while balancing the tensions between national and/or State policy frameworks and more localised needs. Regional frameworks to connect VET with local and community development networks are particularly important.
This report presents a review and analysis of research on the internationalisation of vocational education and training and provides an assessment of other research that needs to be conducted in this area.
The review has examined the available literature related to the access, participation and outcomes for people with disabilities. It explores the range of barriers to access as well as describing some innovative models and their associated success factors. People with disabilities continue to be under-represented in the sector. Nevertheless, the provision of adequate support for individual participants is a key factor in ensuring good educational outcomes and maintaining their levels of participation.
This study reviews both international and Australian literature on provision of vocational education in adult and juvenile correctional institutions. The international research includes some studies that found that vocational education and literacy/numeracy education have led to reduced recidivism. The Australian literature, which is small scale at this stage, indicates that VET improves access to employment but the studies do not identify in what way VET assists as there are many variables which affect why prisoners participate in programs.
This publication reports on a research project which set out to analyse recent research and policy documents on indigenous peoples' development needs and aspirations, and was aimed at assessing the extent to which current developments in vocational education and training research and policy were sufficiently informed by this separate but related body of literature. The report argues that current policy settings and research on the educational needs of indigenous Australians have been overly influenced by human capital theory and economic rationalist policy.
This synthesis of the 11 reviews of research brings together recent Australian research literature covering a range of key VET issues. Authors are drawn from a cross-section of Australia's foremost VET researchers. Topics include: aspects of enterprise learning in the workplace, returns to enterprises from investment in training, vocational education and small business, training markets, entry-level training, vocational education in schools, public and private training providers, flexible delivery, assessor training, quality assurance and the use of evaluation in the VET sector.
This 'Research at a glance' explores small business and its attitude to training, its training needs, how it becomes involved in training and how the training happens. It suggests that small business owners and operators prefer a learning style which is problem based, practical and integrated with their business.
Provides a summary of the major research conducted into the issue of the participation in VET programs by those with a non-English-speaking background. It covers who they are, the policy agenda, their participation in programs, the outcomes achieved and factors influencing both participation and outcomes.
Recent research has highlighted major differences between metropolitan and non-metropolitan Australia. This publication looks at the implications of differences in areas such as vocational education and training (VET), participation rates in education, and outcomes of education for vocational education and training policy and practice by considering existing research which is relevant to these issues of difference, and also to variations within rural Australia.
Documents the state of evaluation in vocational education and training in Australia. Describes the history and current state of evaluation, and makes recommendations for improving the use that is made of evaluative techniques.
Examines recent studies conducted into the area of assessor training. Issues brought to light include the background and skills required for assessor training, the effectiveness of recent program implementation, and whether assessor training programs are producing competent assessors.