How is the success of the system measured?
· Employment outcomes
What proportion of learners find work (or create their own work) and what proportion remain unemployed after qualifying?
· 77.4% of graduates were employed after training, up 1.1% from 2010.
Who measures success? What broad tools are used to assess it (e.g. learner tracer studies)? Who conducts these studies? Are national reports prepared? If there is a national report which illustrates this evaluation, it would be excellent if it could be made available to South Africa (in English).
The performance of the system is measured through a range of data collection processes, which are administered by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). These collections include, for example, submission of data from providers on participation and outcomes, student outcomes surveys and employer satisfaction surveys.
The results of this research program and other data submitted from States and Territories is submitted to the Commonwealth Government as required by national agreements. The National Agreements for VET establishes the mutually agreed objectives, outcomes, outputs, performance indicators and performance benchmarks or targets. The Agreement is underpinned by National Partnerships, which focus on outcomes and outputs, thereby providing a basis for policy or project collaboration and flexibility across the national system.
A system report is developed against
· key performance indicators: students participation and achievement in VET and training, student achievements and student outcomes
· VET system efficiency
· Disadvantage in VET: participation in VET, student achievements and student outcomes.
A copy of this report may be obtained at http://www.voced.edu.au/content/ngv50601
The key findings of the most recent report were:
· Between 2008 and 2010 there was a small but significant improvement in the skills of the Australian workforce
o The proportion of Australians aged 20–64 years without qualifications at Certificate III level or above fell from 48.1% to 45.4%.
o There were also significant falls in every State and Territory except South Australia and Tasmania.
o Importantly, these falls also occurred in the most disadvantaged socio-economic areas.
· If long term trends continue, additional effort will be required to meet the COAG target of 23.6% of Australians without minimum qualifications by 2020
o Based on long-term trends, additional effort will also be required to meet COAG’s target to double the number of higher qualification completions (diploma and advanced diploma) by 2020.
o However, it is too early to see the effect of the COAG reform agenda on these trends.
· Employment outcomes for vocational education and training (VET) graduates in Australia fell significantly between 2009 and 2010, continuing the trend from 2008, but at a slower rate
o The proportion of VET graduates employed after completing training fell from 80.7% in 2008 to 77.8% in 2009, then to 76.3% in 2010.
o Correspondingly, the proportion of graduates unemployed after training rose from 9.2% in 2008 to 11.3% in 2009 and 13.1% in 2010.
o The proportion of VET graduates reporting improved employment status after training fell from 62.9% in 2008 to 59.8% in 2009, then more slowly to 58.0% in 2010.
o While employment outcomes for VET graduates stabilised in most jurisdictions between 2009 and 2010, they continued to decline in Queensland and Victoria. (COAG, 2011[1]).
o Global financial crisis has not impacted on Australia as much as in other countries, in part because of the strength of the resources sector. However, there are some indications that this strength is also a drain on other sectors as skilled workers seek advantage in mining employment. Other factors influencing the economy include: an ageing population, growing skills shortages and gaps; lagging workforce productivity and innovation; and pressures to remain internationally competitive. Workforce development is a central feature of government skills policy.
[1] COAG Reform Council (2011) Skills and workforce development 2010: Comparing performance across Australia. Report to the Council of Australian Governments, Canberra: COAG.