Michelle Circelli, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and Josie Misko, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
Around 45% of secondary students do VET for employment reasons, while 30% do it for further study.
Even before the pandemic added to their financial stresses, a survey of international students suggests more than 20,000 were renting beds that are available to them for only certain hours.
Women enrolled in STEM courses are often more confident than men, but it hasn’t translated into career success and they are still very much a minority. More needs to be done in workplaces and schools.
A higher proportion of Islamic-school students in years 11 to 12 are enrolled in science and maths than other students in Australia. But they may not all get the careers they want.
Australia loses female talent at every stage of the STEM pipeline. A program in which educators and industry work together to help women gain in-demand skills is one piece in the puzzle.
Students in Australia and overseas are actively comparing their experiences during the pandemic. Countries that support them well will gain an edge in a competitive global education market.
Somayeh Parvazian, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and Ronnie Semo, National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)
LSAY is one of the biggest and oldest surveys of its kind in the world. It follows young Australians from the age of 15 to 25 to find out what helps and hinders them along the way.
Of the students with jobs, 60% lost them and and two-thirds of the rest had hours cut. As they struggled, and often failed, to get rents and tuition fees reduced, precarious lives became even harder.
‘These Australians deserve a greater sense of security’, Albanese said.
Richard Wainwright/AAP
In this first of a series of “vision statements” Albanese has sought to send the messages that Labor under his leadership is focused on jobs, is looking to the future and is not afraid of change.
Once qualified, men who did a popular engineering-related VET course often worked in high-paid fields such as construction or manufacturing.
from shutterstock.com
Students with lower ATARs generally have lower lifetime earnings. But a Grattan Institute report found low ATAR men could earn more doing a VET course than a bachelor degree in their chosen field.
The VET sector is struggling to keep up with the rapid changes in industry.
from shutterstock.com
In April 2019, the government-commissioned Joyce review made 71 recommendations to reform the VET sector. Here’s what the report said, and what the government is doing about it.
Trade apprenticeships are male-dominated and already have a high level of support.
from shutterstock.com
Both major parties have promised more money to help boost apprenticeship numbers, including by providing incentives to employers. But history shows this isn’t the best way to spend public dollars.
How do the major parties’ education commitments stack up?
from shutterstock.com
If you’re confused about all the millions and billions thrown around for education by the two major parties, here’s the low-down on what the policies actually mean.
The vocational education sector has an important role to play in social inclusion of disadvantaged groups in learning and work.
www.shutterstock.com
VET’s role in employable skill development is critical. But we also need to strongly support the role VET plays in getting disadvantaged groups into education and work.
Teacher quality is key in getting a good education.
www.shutterstock.com
Teacher preparation has been identified as a key factor in the quality of education. To improve the quality of the VET sector, we need to ensure teachers and trainers are qualified to teach.
If we don’t respect plumbing as an occupation, how will we respect the system that trains plumbers?
www.shutterstock.com
Many young Australians and their parents don’t consider VET as a potential post-school pathway, even if it might be more suitable for them than university.
Vocational education and training can help increase workforce participation by offering opportunities to disadvantaged groups, including women and people from rural communities.
April Fonti/AAP
Politics Podcast: Bill Ferris on Australia’s innovation mission.
CC BY46.8 MB(download)
Innovation and Science Australia chair Bill Ferris launched a report this week setting out a plan that seeks to put Australia into the top tier of innovation nations by 2030.
Is school the most important part of education?
from www.shutterstock.com
Senior Research Fellow in Youth, Research & Policy Centre, Brotherhood of St Laurence, Honorary Fellow in Education Policy, Melbourne Graduate School of Education, The University of Melbourne