Historically, the purpose of apprenticeships has been to provide structured high-value training, resulting in transferable skills and knowledge for young people seeking to enter work-based learning. Apprenticeship training was enabled by linking industry with local technical colleges and professional engineering institutions. The apprenticeship…

Vocational education and training (VET) in schools promises a seamless entry into apprenticeships, skilled work and further education options, with many best practice examples of this type of training delivered in schools identified around Australia. This synthesis identifies insights emerging from existing research on the delivery of VET to…

This support document contains material that supports the research report, "Higher Apprenticeships in Australia: What Are We Talking About?". It provides more detail on two elements of the research: (1) An overview of publicly available information on international models of higher apprenticeships, both established and under development…

Streamlining the vocational qualification development process in Australia is a current priority of the skills ministers of both the Australian Government and state and territory governments. This research summary explores the development processes associated with vocational qualifications in selected countries and compares them with the current…

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…

This joint OECD-ILO publication provides guidance on how local and regional governments can foster business-education partnerships in apprenticeship programmes and other types of work-based learning, drawing on case studies across nine countries. There has been increasing interest in apprenticeships which combine on the job training with…

This paper provides an overview of recent research on the factors that drive the performance of registered training organisations (RTOs), with a view to identifying areas for future research. Initially it explores the drivers of RTO performance; then discusses findings from available literature from Australia and from overseas, and discusses some…

The Education for All initiative concluded in 2015, but in many countries, and particularly in the developing countries, secondary education is still the preserve of the privileged few. This means that millions of adults and young people are denied the opportunity to complete their basic education, which in turns sees them trapped in a pattern of…

Intermediaries--also referred to as bridge builders, boundary spanners, conveners, and other names--fill the critical role of connecting all the parties in the system to empower people with the skills required in the labor force. Those parties generally include employers, educators, workers, and prospective workers. Within these categories may…

This document covers the data terms used in the "Apprentices and Trainees: March quarter 2010" publication and its associated data tables. The primary purpose of this document is to assist users of the publication to understand the specific data terms used within it. Terms that appear in the publication are listed in alphabetical order…

Data relating to occupations has been collected in the national apprentice and trainee collection since 1994. The coding used conforms to classifications endorsed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The latest version issued from the ABS is the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). The classification…

In recent years, the level of participation and attainment by Indigenous Australians in education and training has improved, yet substantial gaps still exist between Indigenous Australians and non-Indigenous Australians. Education has to be a key focus if the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous employment rates is to be closed. This report…

A literature review indicates that policymakers have forged an apparent consensus on skill training among business, labor and individuals, with the presumption of mutual benefit. However, reforms have shifted control over and benefits from training to private capital, lessening the value of skill development for individuals' bargaining power in…

This report, prepared by the Education Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), analyzes current trends and issues in apprenticeship and in policies for apprenticeship in member countries. Apprenticeship is analyzed in countries where it is the most important activity of young people after leaving compulsory…

The history of the recent development of worker education in Australia and New Zealand shows that, in just the past 15 years or so, very significant improvements have occurred in delivery of trade union education. To a very large degree these developments took place because of the existence of a close relationship between the union movement and…