Building research capacity in the vocational education and training sector Francesca Beddie Manager, Research Management

Evolution of VET research  A 1992 review of the Centre identified shortcomings: under-funded, fragmented, poorly targeted and used research  National research strategy adopted – centrepiece is competitive grants program managed by NCVER  Creation of Australian VET Research Association in 1997  But: the community is small, perhaps diminishing, and greying

Johnston Review  The 2006 review of NCVER’s research and statistical services identified the need to build research capacity in the VET sector by: ► attracting experienced researchers from outside the sector ► encouraging early career researchers ► supporting people in the sector to undertake research

Over-reliance on established researchers?

Over-reliance on academic researchers?

Why develop a research capacity?  Research from within the sector can help with strategic planning and operations by: ► identifying effective delivery mechanisms ► helping to better understand clients ► pointing to new markets ► maximising the existing compliance effort.  NCVER can assist you with data, qualitative research and to tailor findings for your own purposes.

NCVER data  The data you and others submit to NCVER can tell you a great deal about: ► the quality of teaching and learning ► rising and falling demand ► employers’ and students’ views of training.  We can help you get more out of this data, including through special initiatives to build researcher capacity.

Building research capacity Our objectives:  to increase the pool of researchers, by ► attracting established researchers from outside the sector ► supporting new career researchers  to increase the proportion of funding going to non-university researchers, by ► developing the research skills and capacity of those working in the VET sector

Direct initiatives  Growing research capacity fund of $250,000 over three years for: ► practical projects to build capacity in the VET sector ► attendance at No Frills of several young researchers and publish their papers ► co-funding PhD scholarships ► introducing fellowships

Indirect initiatives  Actively market and enhance the research status of NVETRE* grants  Encourage research teams/networks, particularly those which include new career researchers  Establish a register of research mentors  Run workshops on proposal writing and using NCVER resources (VOCED, national training statistics)  Establish MoUs with collaborating organisations * National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE)

How will you know if it is working?  annual NVETRE report  details of capacity building projects undertaken  statistics on proposals and grants by institutional affiliation and previous funding status  review to be conducted in 2010