This research uniquely amplifies the voices of First Nations and migrant learners who have disengaged from foundation skills courses. By understanding their goals, experiences, and recommendations, ways to better support their completion are identified. The research explores how these learners first encountered the courses, their motivations for enrolling, the supports available, and the barriers they continue to face. Participants directly shared their training experiences and suggested improvements, offering valuable insights to enhance the effectiveness of foundation skills programs.
Assessing the impact of research in the social sciences is important in demonstrating that the research is useful and has been used. This good practice guide firstly provides indicators of how to best assess impact across four domains - producing knowledge, building the capacity of researchers and end users, influencing policy, and influencing practice. The guide secondly discusses ways to maximise the impact of research such as approaches to dissemination, using contacts and networks (including end users), knowledge translation, and developing programs of research.
Over the past decade, the Australian vocational education and training (VET) sector has focused on the outcomes of training in terms of qualifications and competencies. Up until this time there had been little information available on the value that employers place on qualifications and how they use them to contribute to the success of their business. This 'at a glance' synthesises recent research, which shows that employers do value qualifications, and see them as having three main benefits: to 'screen' candidates in the recruitment process, to meet compliance requirements, and to provide career development for existing workers. However, VET providers could encourage employers to view qualifications more favourably by linking them to skills required at work and by keeping costs down, especially of the assessment process.
Generic skills are gaining importance internationally and in Australia. This 'At a glance' explains how generic skills can be fostered in vocational education and training (VET) programs and workplaces. It also focuses on research into describing, teaching, learning, assessing, recognising, and certifying these important skills, and includes the views of a variety of groups. A complementary publication 'Defining generic skills: At a glance' is also available.
A new body of research has just been completed on the returns to investment in training in Australia. Prior to this research effort, little empirical research had been undertaken on the returns to training in Australia. This research at a glance synthesises the findings of the recent Australian research.
This review of research summarises the recent Australian VET research that relates to literacy and numeracy issues since 1990. The review concentrates on literacy and numeracy policy initiatives, impact of literacy/numeracy levels on participation in VET, approaches to delivery of literacy and numeracy support, professional development and teacher education.
This publication reviews research relating to demand for VET. Demand is expected to increase for 'knowledge work', 'soft' and literacy and numeracy skills. Current policy's focus on the needs of industry and enterprises needs to be re-evaluated in the broader context of the demands of other stakeholders who have longer term interests.
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.
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.