"Research Messages 2021" highlights the diverse range of research activities undertaken over the past year by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). In 2021, research was shaped both by the VET (vocational education and training) reform agenda, and issues emerging from the pandemic. The 2021 national VET research…

This project is focused on the second element noted by the Australian Industry Skills Committee (AISC) to streamline the national vocational education and training (VET) system so that it can better respond to the needs of industry -- faster development of qualifications. It looks at the vocational qualification development processes in different…

Australia's education system has served the nation well, but must continue to evolve to ensure competitiveness in a world racing towards the future. The report recommendations presented seek to optimise the ways industry partnerships can assist in the provision of contemporary, internationally competitive Science, Technology, Engineering, and…

Provides details on the philosophy and operation of the Australian Mineral Foundation, established in 1970 to update professionals in the mining and petroleum industries. Services in continuing education courses and to secondary school teachers and students are described. (CS)

This report provides information on trends over the years 1995-98 in the realm of contracts of training in vocational education and training (VET) in Australia's trade industries. Section 1 introduces the report. Section 2 provides a general overview of trends in apprentice and trainee numbers over the period for the major trade occupation…

A brief review is given of some recent investigations into the use of mathematics in industry. Questionnaires and observations are each discussed plus the development of curriculum materials in several projects. (MNS)

Discusses rising enrollments in geoscience courses in South Australian secondary schools, and vocational opportunities for geoscience students in Australian mineral industries. (MLH)

As one in a series of test item collections developed by the Assessment and Evaluation Unit of the Directorate of Studies, items of value from past tests are made available to teachers for the construction of unit tests, term examinations or as a basis for class discussion. Each collection was reviewed for content validity and reliability. The…

Case vignettes of competency-based training's links with industry depict four cultures of practice emphasizing technique, enterprise, craft, or critique. Multiple concepts of competence and multiple cultures of competence development interact and create tensions that are brokered more or less successfully by vocational education practitioners. (SK)

Research tested the hypothesis that preemployment vocational education is a major contributor to enterprise productivity, because it raises workers' skills that are then applied in more effective work practices. An intercountry comparisons approach involving Britain and Germany and Britain and the Netherlands or France identified medium-sized…

A study described the general and vocational education and training (VET) systems in Korea and Australia, focusing on the role of training providers and industry in the delivery of entry-level vocational education and training in both countries. The study also analyzed the nature of the linkages established between VET institutions in the two…

Provides a framework for understanding the issues connecting IT (information technology) studies in Australian high schools to Australia's information economy future. Topics include the IT industry; government's strategic planning for a stronger economic future; and the role of teachers, including the need for more IT teachers. (LRW)

This booklet is written for the general reader who wants to understand important trends in vocational education and training. The first part is a description of the subject matter in a manner intended to be clear to any interested layperson. It defines quality and then discusses these changes in organizations to respond to the demand for good…

Few studies have tracked youth transition beyond the immediate post-school period or have looked at the longer-term outcomes of post-school programs. This study reports the findings of a case study investigating links between an industry-specific school vocational education and training (VET) program and subsequent work transitions to the building…

Principally concerned with printing, publishing, and paper and paper products, the Australian printing industry is segmented into two sectors: general production and specialist (concerned with a variety of processes and products.) Current arrangements for entry-level training in the industry generally consist of off-the-job training usually…