Never mind the width, feel the quality: improving VET research in Australia

In this paper, some of the more important changes that have occurred in vocational education and training (VET) research in Australia are outlined. The establishment of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) in 1993 and of the ANTA Research Advisory Council (ANTARAC) in 1994 and the consequent increased the amount of VET research being conducted in Australia are described. In 1997 ANTARAC was succeeded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee (NREC) and ANTA established a program of national key centres for VET research. This paper focuses on research carried out...  [+] Show more

In this paper, some of the more important changes that have occurred in vocational education and training (VET) research in Australia are outlined. The establishment of the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) in 1993 and of the ANTA Research Advisory Council (ANTARAC) in 1994 and the consequent increased the amount of VET research being conducted in Australia are described. In 1997 ANTARAC was succeeded by the National Research and Evaluation Committee (NREC) and ANTA established a program of national key centres for VET research. This paper focuses on research carried out under the NREC program. NREC research projects are looked at by: thematic cluster; source institution or researcher; supply and demand side approaches to research; and methodological type. The emphasis on quality in the NREC program through peer and practitioner review is discussed, as is the emphasis on dissemination and utilisation of research. The author describes the national VET research strategy which governs the work of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) and NREC (The national research and evaluation strategy for vocational education and training in Australia 2001-2003 is indexed at TD/TNC 66.20) and looks at directions for VET research in the future.

The volumes of papers are indexed from TD/TNC 69.351 to TD/TNC 69.353; individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 69.354 to TD/TNC 69.445.