Research cited in the Tasmania Tomorrow [PDF 1MB] public document
Skills for a Nation: A Blueprint for Improving Education and Training 2007-2017
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), April 2007.
This ACCI policy blueprint recognised that creating the best possible educational institutions and ensuring the best possible education outcomes are critical for raising living standards. It also believes that it is increasingly important for public policy to widen career development choices and to create delivery systems that respond to varying needs of the individual across a lifespan. ACCI supports research which demonstrates the value of education and training to workplace productivity. The policy blueprint recognises its 'great importance' in improving productivity for business and industry. It contends that while business and industry create jobs, significant productivity gains can be made through increasing the skills base of the workforce. The ACCI policy also stresses the need to 'think outside the square' in relation to mature-aged workers and how they will be up-skilled in the future.
Qualifications and the Future Labour Market in Australia [PDF 365KB]
Chandra Shah and Gerald Burke, Monash University – ACER Centre for the Economics of Education and Training (CEET), National Training Reform Taskforce, November 2006, Australia.
This National Training Reform Taskforce report projected an increase by over two million in the number of employed people with qualifications and a decline by 840,000 in the number without qualifications by 2016. Demand for people with vocational qualifications, and particularly at diploma level, is predicted to grow. Increasingly, there will be less demand for unqualified workers.
Does training pay? Evidence from Australian enterprises [PDF 311KB]
Richard Blandy, Mike Dockery, Anne Hawke, Elizabeth Webster, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), June 2000, Australia.
This NCVER research paper suggested that enterprise productivity and profitability is directly related to the quantity and quality of training they provide. It finds that enterprise returns from training can be exceptionally high, especially for training that is highly specific, rapidly accomplished, and related to new technology or working patterns. Such training pays a return to an enterprise, even if labour turnover is high. The results from this work provide a solid body of evidence that across a range of sectors, training investments can yield very high levels of returns for firms. However, informal learning and training was regarded by many businesses as superior to formal classroom training, such as that currently provided by TAFE.
ACCI Education and Training Survey – Flexibility and Choice Needed [PDF 777KB]
ACCI National Employment, Education and Training Survey, May 2007, Australia.
This ACCI Education and Training Survey shows that TAFE flexibility still remains a key concern and indicates that significant work needs to be conducted in improving flexibility of training times, the location at which training occurs and the times classes are held.
National Survey of Young Australians [PDF 1MB]
Research and Social Policy, Mission Australia 2006, Sydney.
This survey showed how young Tasmanians differ significantly from their national counterparts. Young Tasmanians, particularly males, seek work rather than study at a relatively young age, for reasons of economic independence. Despite their significantly higher non-participation in the workforce, few of them choose not to work. Unfortunately, their quest for a job without a post-school qualification frustrates their desire for economic independence. The report showed how full- and part-time work patterns, low retention rates, and a later start to establishing homes of their own, create a complex landscape for young people to navigate. It observed that attempts to respond to these changes have largely tinkered with a system 'established to meet the needs of the 1970s and 80s based on assumptions of a linear pathway from childhood to adulthood that no longer exists'. The report concluded that while some young people can navigate this environment with family and community support, it presents very significant challenges for many young people and the current policies are inadequate to meet their needs.
The Cost of Dropping Out: The Economic Impact of Early School Leaving [PDF 285KB]
Business Council of Australia (BCA), January 2003, Melbourne.
The BCA report called for an urgent effort to increase the number of young people who complete twelve years of learning. It required, they believed, better organised and flexible options to connect education with work, further study or training. BCA research indicated that a significant proportion of young people leave the education and training system early because they are disaffected with the limited range of courses and the inflexible way they are offered, and because of poor literacy and numeracy skills. BCA was disappointed with the level of flexibility between the different sectors and called for more cooperation between schools, vocational education and training, and universities. In 2003, BCA warned that there would be serious long-term consequences if there was not a greater investment in ‘long-term and sustainable solutions to ensure that we increase the education and training outcomes of Australia’s youth’.
Ministerial Review of Post-Compulsory Pathways in Victoria
Peter Kirby, Department of Education, Employment and Training, August2000, Victoria.
The review criticised the fragmentation in transition pathways for young people as 'uncertain, unequal, poorly signposted…complex and unpredictable…and mediocre by international standards.' The review identified a lack of coordination between the parts of the system, and a need for a clearer vision so that fewer young people would continue to 'fall through the cracks'. It proposed a stronger focus on young people rather than institutions where 'fragmentation and institutional territorialism becomes absurd and unjustified'. The Victorian Ministerial Review concluded that ‘there will be pressure for change in post compulsory education and training provider structures in the future. There is a need for clearer government policy direction on these provider structures.
Young People at Risk in the Transition from Education and Work
Dr John Spierings, Australian Social Trends - Australian Bureau of Statistics 2005, Australia.
Dr John Spierings of the Dusseldorp Skills Forum envisages a reshaping of the system, ‘including integration of schools and TAFE colleges, and employability skills developed through relationships between the learning needs of employers and the schooling system’. In this paper, Dr Spierings concludes that educational attainment is a significant influence in the transition experiences of school leavers. Continued participation in formal skill development and learning, through education and/or work, also makes an important contribution to labour force participation beyond the immediate transition from school.
Vocational education and training and young people: Last but not least [PDF 456KB]
Tom Karmel, NCVER April 2007, South Australia.
This NCVER report concluded that VET is much more important to young people than is apparent, particularly for those young people who do not proceed on the conventional academic path of 12 years of school followed by university. For many, VET is an alternative to university; for others, it is an alternative to school. The research estimated that over one half of school leavers will attend VET in the early years after leaving school. However, the pathway to VET and the support within VET needs to improve if more young people are to gain qualifications.
The report observed that to ‘complete Year 12 and go to university’ is easy to understand, but for many young people pathways involving VET are a lot less straightforward’. The report emphasised the value of training and the need to concentrate on qualification completion as well as participation.
Government Secondary Colleges in the Australian Capital Territory: Challeng, Opportunity and Renewal
Atelier Learning Solutions Pty Ltd, ACT Department of Education and Training, December 2005, Canberra.
This Review reflected divided community opinion on the future of senior secondary colleges for years 11 and 12. Many people were committed to the model, but others believed that the colleges needed significant transformation to be effective and relevant in the 21st century. The review strongly endorsed the latter view but it recommended only minor reforms. However, it strongly supported a much closer alignment between the colleges and TAFE.
TAFE, university or work? The early preferences and choices of students in Years 10, 11 and 12 [PDF 326KB]
Richard James, NCVER, June 2000, South Australia.
This NCVER publication investigated the aspirations of school students regarding post-secondary education and work. While there is evidence that ongoing learning is valued for personal and vocational reasons, many students did not find their school motivating or satisfying. Higher education was the goal of most students and only one-quarter of them were attracted to TAFE. This suggests that many school-leavers are poorly informed and have unrealistic aspirations. Because VET does not have a high profile among them, and TAFE courses do not enjoy the status of degree courses, many young people may be unaware of the opportunities available to them. Consequently, many of them do not make successful transitions to work, with a meaningful qualification. The NCVER study concludes that it is time to reassess the negative effects of the current model. It contends that lifelong education will be best served by a more flexible spectrum of education and training opportunities. It suggests blurring the boundaries and distinctions between higher education and VET into a more continuous spectrum of education and training opportunities.
Skilling the Existing Workforce Project
Peter Noonan, Australian Industry Group (AiG), April 2007, Australia.
AIG research into workforce skills development recognised the workplace as an increasingly important learning site. The research contended that skilling the existing workforce requires a workforce skills development approach, rather than through institutional delivery. AiG recognises that workforce skills development is primarily a responsibility of enterprises (in terms of the training investment). However, it also views some elements as a shared responsibility between governments, industry and individuals, particularly in public funded training. A Training Enterprise GBE model would provide the opportunity to improve productivity by leveraging industry’s investment with Government funds.
Employer Training Expenditure and Practices
Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), April 2003, Canberra.
This ABS report indicates that approximately 80% of employers provide training. Of this, approximately 40% provide structured training to their employees and a further 40% provide unstructured training. Based on this ABS data, only about 4% of employers are not engaged in training or do not see it as a need for their business.
Education and training that meets the needs of small business: A systematic review of research [PDF 1.1MB]
Susan Dawe & Nhi Nguyen, NCVER, May2007, Australia.
This 2007 NCVER report found clear evidence that small businesses are willing to pay for education and training, if they see the value in it and it meets their needs. However, this delivery requires a training provider that is aligned to their needs and can respond as a business, with strategies that focus on their client, rather than self-interest, policy imperatives, or funding initiatives. Importantly, the report emphasises, small business managers and employees ‘learn through doing’ and much of their learning is focused on current or real issues for them.
The ecomonic benefit of increased participation in education and training [PDF 415KB]
Report by Access Ecomonics for Business Council of Australia and Dusseldorp Skills Forum, April 2005
Report on the returns to increased rates of Year 12 retention.
Additional supporting research
It's Crunch Time: Raising Youth Engagement and Attainment
Australian Industry Group and Dusseldorp Skills Forum Discussion Paper August 2007
Passing on Prosperity – Raising the High Bar on Reform [PDF 4MB]
Business Council of Australia (BCA) Budget Submission 2007-08
Growth 56 - Lifelong Learning
Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) June 2005, Australia
Address to Making the Boom Pay Conference [PDF 117KB]
Craig Emerson, 2 November 2006
Report on the 2002 Destinations of the Full Cohort of 2001 Year 10 Students in Tasmanian Schools - 2001 Year 10 Destination Survey 2004
Office of Post-Compulsory Education and Training, Department of Education, Tasmania
Clearing the Myths Away: Higher Education’s Place in Meeting Workforce Demands
Bob Birrell and Virginia Rapson, Dusseldorp Skills Forum October 2006, Australia
Education Vision for 2015 [PDF 83KB]
Dr John Spierings, Opinion piece published in New Matilda http://www.newmatilda.com
Comments on How Young People are Faring [PDF 112KB]
Stephen Lamb, Mark Wooden, Rebecca Huntley, Dusseldorp Skills Forum2006, Australia
How Young People are Faring 2006 [PDF 850KB]
Mike Long, November 2006, Dusseldorp Skills Forum, Australia
Education in Singapore – Corporate Brochure [PDF 560KB]
Ministry of Education 31 May 2006, Singapore
Thematic Review of Tertiary Education – Finland [PDF 602KB]
John Davies, Thomas Weko, Lillemor Kim, and Erik Thulstrup, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) September 2006
New Zealand Country Background Report [PDF 818KB]
New Zealand Ministry of Education, January 2006, OECD Thematic Review of Tertiary Education
Polytechnic Education in Finland [PDF 1.3MB]
Reviews of National Policies for Education 2003, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
Unlocking Opportunity - The Difference Scotland’s Colleges Make to Learners, the Economy and Wider Society
Review of Scotland’s Colleges October 2006, Scotland
Pathways to Future - Options to Improve Post Compulsory Pathways and Transitions [PDF 65KB]
Office of Teaching and Learning 2006, Department of Education Victoria
Careers for Life - Creating a dynamic and responsive apprenticeship and traineeship system [PDF 2.6MB]
Skills Formation Taskforce 2006, State Training Board, Western Australia
Ralph Lattimore 2007, Men Not at Work: An Analysis of Men Outside the Labour Force [PDF 2.2MB]
Productivity Commission Staff Working Paper, Canberra, January
The Well-being of Nations: The role of human and social capital [PDF 1MB]
Centre for Educational Research and Innovation, OECD 2001
The role of VET in helping young people's transition into work: At a glance [PDF 2MB]
Davinia Woods, March 2007, NCVER, Australia
A well-skilled future: Tailoring VET to the emerging labour market
Sue Richardson, November 2006, NCVER, Australia
