Search

One of the significant issues in vocational education and training is student pathways and how students use them to achieve their personal goals. These "pathways" can be within or across sectors, as well as into and out of paid work. This study focuses on the pathways--to and fro--between vocational education and training (VET) and higher education. The magnitude of these pathways can be contested ground. However, this study is predominantly qualitative and builds on an earlier study by the same authors and published in 2005: "Student Traffic: Two-Way Movement between Vocational Education and Training and Higher Education" [ED495183]. This project draws on the experiences of 49 South Australian students who had experienced learning in both the VET and higher education sectors and who were part of that earlier study. The study found that patterns of movements are quite complex, within and across different fields of study. This suggested the title of the report, for what was found were not linear and seamless pathways, but rather "stepping stones, zig zags or lurches"--crazy paving or stepping stones. These were overlaid with a range of barriers along the learning journey, including finance, juggling work, other commitments, transportation and institutional location, as well as a range of other personal and provider issues. The report reveals the richness and complexity of ways individual learners use and exploit available options. As such, the report is not only of interest to those in policy, but also to staff involved in teaching and counseling students in both the higher education and VET sectors. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.) [This document was produced with funding provided through the Department of Education, Science and Training. The author/project team was funded to undertake this research via a grant under the National Vocational Education and Training Research and Evaluation (NVETRE) Program.]

Movement in Australia's tertiary sector--between and within higher education and vocational education and training--is a key feature of Australia's post-compulsory education system. This report investigates the extent and nature of student traffic between the two sectors, nationally and in South Australia from 1997 to 2002. Movement from university to VET was dominated by women and mature-aged students studying part-time, and the move occurred some time after completing university. Often they chose to study in a different field of education to improve their prospects in their current career. On the other hand, VET to university students tended to be younger and studying full-time, and the move to higher education tended to occur soon after completing VET. Usually they chose to study in the same or a similar field of study to retrain for a different career. (Contains 3 tables.) [For Support Document, see ED495184.]