Basing policy and practice on sound evidence

The aim of the National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE) program is to improve policy and practice through the creation of a credible body of research and active communication strategies. All work done under this program goes into the public domain. The NVETRE program has recently been reviewed. This paper will discuss the findings and, in particular, it will focus on the positive contribution to policy and planning made by the program and the success of the dissemination processes that have been implemented thus far. It will also consider the review...  [+] Show more

The aim of the National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE) program is to improve policy and practice through the creation of a credible body of research and active communication strategies. All work done under this program goes into the public domain. The NVETRE program has recently been reviewed. This paper will discuss the findings and, in particular, it will focus on the positive contribution to policy and planning made by the program and the success of the dissemination processes that have been implemented thus far. It will also consider the review recommendation that a stronger focus on evaluation would be desirable in the future, and will comment on how the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), contracted with the management of the program, plans to go about this. With the discussion paper by Rod McDonald titled 'Towards evidence-based vocational education and training' (NCVER 1999) [indexed in VOCED at TD/TNC 60.06] as a starting point, this paper will discuss what has been evaluated, what could be evaluated in the future and how NCVER might ensure that use is made of these evaluations within the sector.

Published abstract reprinted by permission of the copyright owner.