Search Results | VOCEDplus, the international tertiary education and research database

The factors affecting the educational and occupational aspirations of young Australians

The authors examine factors that influence young people’s plans to complete Year 12, their aspirations to commence ... Show more
The authors examine factors that influence young people’s plans to complete Year 12, their aspirations to commence university study in the first year after leaving school and their expected occupation at age 30. They also examine the extent to which the occupational aspirations of teenagers align with their actual job outcomes a decade later. The findings in this report demonstrate just how important parents and peers are in relation to young people’s aspirations. The findings also indicate that the aspirations of 15-year-olds are somewhat unrealistic. By age 25 years, which is the age until which data are available for analysis, a significant portion of young people fall short of what they set out to achieve occupationally. However, this does not mean that they cannot achieve their desired occupations at a later stage in life.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Gemici, Sinan; Bednarz, Alice; Karmel, Tom; Lim, Patrick

Date: 2014

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: LSAY research report

Subjects: Youth; Career development; Culture and society ... [+] Show more
Opinion pieces 2012

Six opinion pieces were released in 2012: (1) 'Shaken not stirred' by Leesa Wheelahan (released 18 January); (2) 'R ... Show more
Six opinion pieces were released in 2012: (1) 'Shaken not stirred' by Leesa Wheelahan (released 18 January); (2) 'Rich seam: the supply of tradespeople for the resources sector' by Tom Karmel (released 1 March); (3) 'Address at University of Canberra's graduation ceremony for the Faculty of Education, Parliament House' by Francesca Beddie (released 28 March); (4) 'Students with mental illness: to disclose or not to disclose?' By Sara Wilson and Tabatha Griffin (released 26 April); (5) 'For the long-term: guidelines for effective career development services' by Sara Wilson, Sian Halliday Wynes and Josie Misko (released 23 July); (6) 'Risk of bursting by degrees' by Tom Karmel (released 5 October). Show less

Authors: Wheelahan, Leesa; Karmel, Tom; Beddie, Francesca; Wilson, Sara ... [+] Show more

Date: 2012

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: NCVER opinion pieces

Subjects: Industry; Labour market; Students ... [+] Show more
Maximising the use of data: vocational education and training

The range of data collected by NCVER for the national vocational education and training (VET) system and how it is ... Show more
The range of data collected by NCVER for the national vocational education and training (VET) system and how it is disseminated is discussed in this conference paper. The author talks about how analytical techniques are used to maximise what can be extracted from those collections; the current focus on expanding the range of data to contribute to the 'transparency agenda'; and current gaps in VET data in the collections. He ends with some comments on the challenges NCVER faces in maximising the use of data.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom

Conference name: NatStats Conference

Date: 2013

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Statistics; Providers of education and training
Can school characteristics influence university entrance scores?

This article examines the importance of schools relative to individual characteristics in explaining Tertiary Entra ... Show more
This article examines the importance of schools relative to individual characteristics in explaining Tertiary Entrance Rank scores, using Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth data. The school characteristics explain around 20 per cent of the variance in Tertiary Entrance Rank scores, with the measured school characteristics explaining around 7 percentage points, indicating that idiosyncratic factors - which we interpret as reflecting schools' ethos - dominate. School sector is an important explanator; whilst the government, independent and Catholic systems all contain 'good' schools, schools that have low Tertiary Entrance Rank scores, after controlling for individual characteristics, are dominated by the government sector.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Gemici, Sinan; Lim, Patrick; Karmel, Tom

Date: 2014

Geographic subjects: Australia; Oceania

Resource type: Article

Journal title: Australian economic review

Subjects: Students; Providers of education and training; Outcomes ... [+] Show more
Interview with Tom Karmel on 'The impact of schools on young people's transition to university'

In this interview, Steve Davis talks with co-author Tom Karmel about this report which uses data from the 2006 coho ... Show more
In this interview, Steve Davis talks with co-author Tom Karmel about this report which uses data from the 2006 cohort of the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) to investigate how schools influence tertiary entrance rank and university enrolment over and above young people's individual background characteristics. A point of discussion was the authors' finding that schools do matter and although young people's individual characteristics are the main contributors to university entrance, the school characteristics are responsible for almost 20 per cent of the variation in tertiary entrance rankings.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom; Davis, Steve

Date: 2013

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Webinar or podcast

Series name: Vocational voices

Subjects: Students; Youth; Secondary education ... [+] Show more
Associate degree or advanced diploma?: a case study

The distinction between [vocational education and training] VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The ... Show more
The distinction between [vocational education and training] VET and higher education in Australia is blurring. The purpose of this paper is to examine - through the conduct of a case study of engineering qualifications (AQF6) delivered in Victoria - how education and training providers and students are likely to respond to different fees and funding arrangements under the student entitlement model.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom; Lu, Tham

Date: 2012

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia; Victoria

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: NCVER occasional paper

Subjects: Qualifications; Research; Students ... [+] Show more
Reflections on the tertiary education sector in Australia

The split between higher education and vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is not clean. This pape ... Show more
The split between higher education and vocational education and training (VET) in Australia is not clean. This paper discusses a number of aspects of this tertiary education sector: the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), which describes the qualifications offered by the three education sectors: schools, higher education and VET; student characteristics of the two sectors; a characterisation of higher education and VET; and student movement between the two sectors. Many education providers operate in both the higher education and VET sectors, and many have links with providers in the other sector. Higher education and VET differ in terms of student characteristics. The number of students transferring between the two sectors are substantial but are relatively small compared to the numbers following traditional pathways of school to TAFE or higher education. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom

Conference name: Charting new terrain: creating and maintaining a diversified tertiary education sector in Australia conference

Date: 2009

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Pathways; Qualifications; Providers of education and training ... [+] Show more
Reimagining the tertiary education system

Is the time right for change and 'to be bold and think big, and challenge the way we think about tertiary education ... Show more
Is the time right for change and 'to be bold and think big, and challenge the way we think about tertiary education' in Australia? In this episode, we explore potential reforms to universities, their missions, and structures, while considering the role of [vocational education and training] VET. One perspective suggests establishing two types of universities: one focused on practical, hands-on learning for professional skills, and the other dedicated to research and comprehensive education.
Tom Karmel argues that higher education is more than just theoretical knowledge - it's inherently vocational, preparing students for their chosen professions. He sees a lot of what the VET sector is teaching is generic skills which can be transferred to a wider range of jobs. Tom proposes the idea of a 'professional university' that offers qualifications from certificates to degrees, focusing on practical education and strong connections to the job market. Jenny Dodd agrees with many of Tom's ideas for creating a more integrated tertiary education system but raises concerns about the term 'professional university'. Simon Walker supports the need for an integrated model that allows students to build on their learning across various qualifications. He sees potential benefits in such a system, particularly in promoting equity and supporting disadvantaged students.
Published abstract. Show less

Authors: Davis, Steve; Walker, Simon; Karmel, Tom; Dodd, Jenny

Date: 2023

Geographic subjects: Australia; Oceania

Resource type: Webinar or podcast

Series name: Vocational voices

Subjects: Tertiary education; Higher education; Vocational education and training ... [+] Show more
Pre-apprenticeships and their impact on apprenticeship completion and satisfaction

Pre-apprenticeship programs have attracted a great degree of interest from employers and training providers as one ... Show more
Pre-apprenticeship programs have attracted a great degree of interest from employers and training providers as one means of increasing apprentice satisfaction and completion rates, by providing an introduction to the trade. We test this proposition using data from the 2010 Apprentice and Trainee Destination Survey. We find that the impact of pre-apprenticeships varies with occupation and prior education level. Pre-apprenticeships increase the likelihood of completion for apprentices in the construction, food and electro-technology trades but reduce completion rates among those already holding a certificate III or higher qualification and some other categories of apprentices. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom; Oliver, Damian

Date: 2011

Geographic subjects: Australia; Oceania

Resource type: Report, paper or authored book

Series name: NCVER occasional paper

Subjects: Apprenticeship; Employment; Providers of education and training ... [+] Show more
The Tasmanian Polytechnic: some thoughts from a research perspective

This paper presents some thoughts on the concept of the Tasmanian Polytechnic, drawing on a range of research mostl ... Show more
This paper presents some thoughts on the concept of the Tasmanian Polytechnic, drawing on a range of research mostly undertaken by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). It first considers a number of 'goals' that are clearly relevant to judging the success of the endeavour: Year 12 retention (or its equivalent); the completion of Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications; university entrance; transition to the workforce; and 'second chancers'. It then makes a number of observations on relevant issues. Show less

Authors: Karmel, Tom

Corporate authors: National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER)

Conference name: New Polytechnic Education: Why? What? How? Conference

Date: 2008

Geographic subjects: Oceania; Australia; Tasmania

Resource type: Conference paper

Subjects: Vocational education and training; Performance; Secondary education ... [+] Show more