Key Performance Measures for Vocational Education & Training. A Supporting Paper to Australia's National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 1998-2003.

This paper has been written as a supporting paper to "A Bridge to the Future: Australia's National Strategy for Vocational Education and Training 1998-2003" (ED 420 764). Because vocational education and training (VET) activities constitute a major expenditure for Australia's federal, state, and territory governments, effective performance measurement in VET helps to ensure funds are used efficiently and effectively. The primary objectives of key performance measures (KPMs) for the VET system are to demonstrate public accountability and identify continuous improvement opportunities. KPMs determine the efficiency with which resources are used to produce VET outputs and the effectiveness of these outputs in achieving the goals and objectives. They focus on outputs and outcomes. Efficiency, effectiveness, outputs, and outcomes are incorporated into seven KPMs. KPM 1 measures skill outputs produced annually within the domain of formally recognized VET. The four Effectiveness Measures are as follows: KPM 2: stocks of VET skills against desired levels; KPM 3: employers' views on the relevance of skills acquired through VET; KPM 4: student employment outcomes and prospects before and after participation in VET; and KPM 5: VET participation, outputs, and outcomes achieved by client groups. The two Efficiency Measures are as follows: KPM 6: (actual) public expenditure per publicly funded output and KPM 7: (actual) public expenditure per total recognized output. All KPMs are intended to be implemented progressively over the next 3 years with full reporting occurring in 2001 for the year 2000. (YLB)