Mapping and Tracking: Data Collections for Monitoring Post-Compulsory Education and Training.

Overview & Synopsis

A study was conducted to identify the capacity of existing data collections to provide nationally comparable information on cross-sectoral dimensions of student enrollment in post-compulsory education and training in Australia. Cross-sectoral dimensions are considered to be student movement from schooling to vocational education and training (VET), from adult community education to vocational education and training, from higher education to vocational education and training and vice versa, and from schools, vocational education, and training and higher education to adult community education (lifelong learning). The study found the following: (1) the national Schools' Statistics Collection is of limited usefulness in monitoring post-compulsory participation or student transitions to further education and training because it is not based on unit-level student records; (2) the National VET Provider Collection, can only be used in a limited way to map cross-sectoral movement of students directly from the data fields; (3) the Higher Education Statistics Collection provides considerable detail about the prior educational experience of students, which assists in monitoring cross-sectoral movement, but the information on past education and training of students is collected at a general level without reference to sector; and (4) the adult community education sector is a significant provider of education and training at the local community level, but fundamental issues regarding reporting standards have not been resolved and the National VET Provider Collection captures only about half of all ACE provision. Modifications are proposed for the data reporting systems. (Contains 16 references.) (KC)