This research shows that pre-apprenticeships are effective in increasing the probability of apprenticeship completions.
This report identifies the strengths, limitations and effectiveness of employment-based training models and provides international and Australian examples.
This research summary brings together findings using primarily international country comparisons on industry's role in VET over the last decade.
Approximately 70% of all employees in Australia participated in formal or non-formal education and training in 2011—12, and a significant majority of them received employer support for it.
This summary looks at the similarities and differences between work-based learning and work-integrated learning and discusses how education providers, practitioners and lecturers can better engage with employers.
This good practice guide is designed to help employers think about and provide work-based social support structures for young apprentices.
This research synthesis examines the general decline of the manufacturing industry, and the education and training needs of workers affected by impending car plant closures in Australia by comparing two case studies and using findings from other NCVER reports.
This good practice guide aims to assist employers, employment agencies and support services, and training providers in designing programs that help displaced older workers find new jobs.
Research messages 2010 is a collection of summaries of research projects published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). The summaries are clustered under five broad themes used by NCVER to organise its research and analysis: Industry and employers; Students and individuals; Teaching and learning: VET system; and VET in context. Research messages 2010 also has an overview essay that captures the themes and highlights from the research for the year.
Work practices, skill use and the nature of the workforce in the Australian red-meat-processing sector have undergone significant change over the last few decades. This research overview, based on case studies of four leading enterprises, discusses the importance of supervision and training in the workplace, and how vocational educational and training can contribute.
The early childhood education and care sector in Australia has traditionally been characterised by low skill/low pay jobs and high staff turnover. Some employers, however, have attempted to combat high turnover through careful recruitment and skill development. This research overview describes the approaches of innovative employers who have excelled in the delivery of early childhood education and care services, while also providing staff with a high-quality workplace and attractive employment conditions.
This publication presents the results of a comprehensive research program on Indigenous Australians in vocational education and training (VET), along with feedback from over 200 people who attended the NCVER Research Forum on Indigenous VET in August 2005. The planning and implementation of the research strategy and the forum were undertaken in a partnership between the National Centre for Vocational Education Research and the former Australian Indigenous Training Advisory Council of the Australian National Training Authority Board.
Possessing generic or employability skills is vital in the current labour market. The vocational education and training (VET) sector, like other education sectors, must ensure its clients gain and develop generic skills. This volume of readings summarises NCVER managed research into generic skills undertaken in 2001 and 2002. The work covers four main topics: defining and specifying generic skills; exploring training providers', teachers' and learners' perspectives of these skills; exploring the workplace perspective of generic skills; and assessing these skills. To ensure people gain the generic skills they need, the research suggests improving the documentation of these skills in training packages, and sharing good teaching, learning and certifying practice.
This publication, edited by Andrew Smith, summarises the outcomes of research projects funded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee on the subject of return on investment in training.
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 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.
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).
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 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.