Mixed-Sector Tertiary Education. Research Overview

Research Papers in …, 2008

Colleges and universities that provide both further and higher education are a key component of government policies to expand participation in English undergraduate education. The opportunities for access and progression made available by these organisations are regarded as central. At the same time, the division of further and higher education into sectors has implications for how 'dual-sector' education is conceived and developed. Drawing on early evidence from policy interviews and fieldwork studies in four case study institutions, the influence of this division on national policy formation, organisational change and the student experience is discussed.

2012

This chapter highlights the Australian tertiary education system that is divided into vocational and higher education systems. It provides information on student enrolment and participation in the vocational and higher education systems as well as the fields of study. It analyses the transition from vocational to higher education and provides evidence that dual sector universities support this transition more successfully than other universities.

Research Papers in Education, 2008

Colleges and universities that provide both further and higher education are a key component of government policies to expand participation in English undergraduate education. The opportunities for access and progression made available by these organisations are regarded as central. At the same time, the division of further and higher education into sectors has implications for how 'dual-sector' education is conceived and developed. Drawing on early evidence from policy interviews and fieldwork studies in four case study institutions, the influence of this division on national policy formation, organisational change and the student experience is discussed.

Dual sector universities (or duals) are a growing international phenomenon that cut across the divide that typically exists in post-secondary education. Duals combine 'further' and 'higher' education within a single institution providing enhanced opportunities for student transition between post-secondary sectors. This paper reports the results of an international survey of duals in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa and the UK. The results indicate that duals operate divergent operational models in managing the structural challenges of cross-sector education characterised as unitary and binary. Many duals contend that state and provincial government regulation militates against the integration of structures, processes and human resources within a dual sector context.

Australian Association for Research in Education …, 2006

Many TAFE programs at Victoria University have developed articulation pathways that allow students to qualify for entry into a degree course on the basis of studies undertaken at TAFE level and gain credit for their TAFE studies in their destination course. The evidence for the success or otherwise of these pathways and the degree of transparency of the articulation arrangements is largely anecdotal. This paper will discuss the initial outcomes of a longitudinal project being conducted at Victoria University in 2005 to 2006 on the aspirations and experiences of TAFE students travelling along these pathways to higher education. The project involved individual interviews with 118 TAFE students and 20 teachers across seven disciplines in the second semester of 2005 to determine both students' and teachers' understanding and experience of the articulation process. This year, in first semester, the same students will be interviewed to determine their experience of the articulation process. This paper will provide an analysis of the processes that facilitate or hinder articulation and the success or otherwise of the articulation pathways developed within the university. It will discuss the aspirations of students and the "promise" of a pathway in a dual sector university.

2000

Glossary of terms ABS Australian Bureau of Statistics ANTA Australian National Training Authority, the joint Commonwealth and State vocational education and training coordinating body AQF Australian Qualifications Framework, a table of courses related to qualification level by sector adopted by the Commonwealth and the States Articulation A relationship established between two courses to provide for student transfer and/or advanced standing AVCC Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee, the peak body of Australian universities Competency Skill, commonly referring to a skill used or required in the workplace CBT Competency-based training, training to develop competencies 'to meet industry-specified standards rather than [to] an individual's achievement relative to that of others in a group' (ANTA) Credentialled learning Learning that leads to an accredited award, credential or qualification DIMA Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Dual-award program A program that combines two courses into a single accredited course of study that leads to two awards in less time than it would normally take to complete the awards sequentially. For at least part of the program the student concurrently undertakes study towards both awards DETYA Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs EFTSU Equivalent full-time student unit, a measure of study load in higher education HECS Higher Education Contribution Scheme, which imposes a fee on higher education students and gives them the option of paying it upon enrolment ('up front') or through the taxation system when their income reaches $21 000 p.a. ITAB Industry training advisory body, which approves national training packages Joint courses Courses that are studied concurrently Lifelong learning Education throughout life, particularly working life Module A subject or unit of study National training package The specifications of a vocational education and training award to qualify for the National Recognition Framework: the qualification, the competencies that comprise the qualification and guidelines for the assessment of the competencies. NCVER National Centre for Vocational Education Research Nested awards Qualifications that are conceived and developed as a coherent whole but offer a number of entry and exit points. NRF National Recognition Framework, the agreement between the States and the Commonwealth that ensures that all qualifications awarded in compliance with the framework are recognised nationally NFROT National Framework for the Recognition of Training OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Project details provided by Lifelong Learning Network Project description This project will examine the experience of dual sector institutions in terms of their institutional image, management systems, accountability, funding and reporting arrangements, university profile management, curriculum development, organisational arrangements for teaching and student support, residual sectoral divisions and inter-sectoral collaboration. The study will highlight the difficulties experienced by dual-sector providers in meeting the accountability and reporting requirements of government agencies and will identify directions for policy reform.

Higher Education Quarterly, 2007