Choosing VET: aspirations, intentions and choice [webinar]

This webinar brings together the relevant key findings from two related research projects investigating school students' post-school aspirations for undertaking vocational education and training (VET), the drivers influencing their thinking and behaviour, and awareness of vocational training options and career pathways, as well as how post-school choices are made in a competitive training market. Importantly, both studies directly capture the voice of students.

'Choosing VET: investigating the VET aspirations of school students' [indexed in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 129.16] surveyed students in Years 3, 5, 7 and 9 about their occupational and educational aspirations, with the survey repeated every year until the Year 9 group reached Year 12. The study focused on those students who signalled an interest in VET in a sample of 6492 students from Years 3 to 12 in NSW government schools over a four-year period; using the data gathered during an Australian Research Council (ARC) Linkage Project (2012-15). The project was undertaken by Jenny Gore and a team of researchers from The University of Newcastle and Western Sydney University.

'In their words: student choice in training markets: Victorian examples' [indexed in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 129.17] interviewed VET students about their experiences choosing a training provider and course, gaining insights into their understanding of choice. The research explores the extent to which the consumer model of training, aimed at increasing student choice, is changing the dynamics between prospective students and registered training organisations (RTOs). The focus is on examples from Victoria, the first state to initiate market reforms, historically by means of the Victorian Training Guarantee. The project was undertaken by Justin Brown, from the Australian Centre for Educational Research.

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