Skip to content | Change text size
 

2003 CEET Conference: Strategic Directions for VET

Previous CEET conferences: 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998

Abstracts: Papers: Program

Monday 15 September 2003, Ascot House, Ascot Vale, Melbourne.

Conference opening
Robin Shreeve. Deputy Director-General - TAFE – DET NSW

Speakers included
Kareena Arthy. Director, Research, Planning & Reporting, ANTA
Jim Davidson. Director, Office of Training and Tertiary Education, Victoria
Tom Karmel. Managing Director, NCVER.
Jack Keating. University of Melbourne
Peter Noonan. Consultant and Associate of CEET

From CEET
John Ainley, Damon Anderson, Gerald Burke, Fran Ferrier, Mike Long, Chris Selby Smith and Chandra Shah.

Program

In keeping with the theme 'Strategic Directions for VET' the following presentations featured at the conference:

  • A panel, including an ANTA representative on 'Research implications of the national strategy', chaired by
    Jack Keating
  • 'Key emerging issues in VET and policy alternatives'
    Peter Noonan
  • 'Victoria’s VET strategy' Jim Davidson
  • 'How do Vocational Education and Higher Education compare?' Tom Karmel
  • 'Vocational education in schools: Patterns of provision, participation and outcomes' John Ainley
  • 'Individual learners, choice and lifelong learning'
    Damon Anderson
  • 'Participation and resourcing of VET with special attention to Indigenous education' Gerald Burke & Mike Long
  • 'Match or Mismatch? Education and training for innovation and change in regional Australia' Fran Ferrier &
    Chris Selby Smith
  • 'Skill shortages in Australia' Chandra Shah

Abstracts

John Ainley
Deputy CEO and Research Director, National and International Surveys, Australian Council for Educational Research

'Vocational education in schools: Patterns of provision, participation and outcomes'

The period since 1990 has seen growth in the provision of vocational education through schools and structured workplace learning in industry that forms part of senior secondary schooling. There has been a corresponding growth in the uptake of vocationally oriented subjects in years 11 and 12 and participation in both vocational education and training and structured workplace learning. There are, however, substantial variations in student participation in VET in schools and structured workplace learning across states or territories, school sectors and student characteristics.

This paper documents the growth in these components of senior secondary schooling, maps current provision of and participation in them and summarises information about the immediate post-school destinations of participants. It draws on official data collections, data from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth and national surveys of school-industry programs.

Damon Anderson
Research Fellow, CEET

'Individual learners, choice and lifelong learning'

In recent years, vocational education and training (VET) in Australia has been reconstructed within a market framework in part to increase client choice.

Parallel to this development, the concept of lifelong learning has emerged in response to the pressures of globalisation, economic restructuring and technological change. In a context of rapid change and uncertainty, individuals are expected to take greater responsibility for their own education, training and vocational development throughout their working lives. The convergence of VET markets and lifelong learning highlights the need for a better understanding of the needs, interests and preferences of individual learners, and the critical determinants of choice in transitions to and through VET, particularly those relating to information provision.

This session will present the findings of a recent national survey of VET students which examined the nature and dynamics of choice-making in VET markets, and the factors which promote or hinder informed choice. Issues and implications for promoting lifelong learning through VET will be examined, and ways to improve choice-making will be discussed.

Fran Ferrier and Chris Selby Smith
CEET

'Match or Mismatch? Education and training for innovation and change in regional Australia'

Material gathered by CEET in several projects in recent years suggested that enterprises in regional Australia might face difficulties in accessing appropriate training as the nature of their business changed. But how widespread is the problem? What
specific types of difficulties are experienced? And how could they be overcome?

To investigate these issues CEET began a small project in 2003 examining the relationship between regional development, including changes in local industry (eg from low-tech to high-tech production methods), changes in skill requirements and education and training provision. Initially this work has focused on the Gannawarra region of north-western Victoria where CEET conducted extensive consultations with representatives of industry, local government and education and training organizations. Local businesses were also surveyed and relevant literature and statistical data gathered.

The work has suggested that the region is experiencing some change in its industrial profile. Some existing agricultural industries (eg pig farming) are growing and adopting new production and sales methods in response to changing consumer preferences and the globalization of markets. Some new industries are also moving into the area. Existing industries are also being affected by problems arising from salinisation. At the same time the population of the region is in decline and is ageing. Many young people, particularly young women, appear to leave the region for work or study.

All of these changes are presenting challenges to local education and training providers in making sure they continue to meet local needs.

Tom Karmel
Managing Director NCVER

'How do Vocational Education and Higher Education compare?'

The paper discusses aspects of VET and higher education. It examines and compares:

  • their missions;
  • how they are defined;
  • their size;
  • their student bodies;
  • access and equity;
  • the links between them; and
  • the outlook for each.

The relationships between these two components of Australia's tertiary education sector provide considerable scope for further research.

Chandra Shah
Senior Research Fellow, CEET

'Skill shortages in Australia'

To minimise labour shortages, public training authorities need to be able to identify current (and predict future) skill shortages both in quantity and quality and often by geographical regions. The difficulty of this task is often underestimated and more importantly, misunderstood. The misunderstandings arise from
a lack of knowledge of the concepts of skill shortages and the economic theory underpinning those concepts.

This paper discusses:

  • the various concepts of skill shortages.
  • the sources of skill shortages.
  • the measures and indicators of skill shortages.

The presentation will review the methodology employed the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to produce information on skills shortages in Australia.

Papers

Go to Conference papers.

Back to top