Research in Vocational Education & Training
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Research in Vocational Education & Training
Vocational Education and Training (VET) research at Charles Sturt University (CSU) began with major projects on enterprise training and on competency-based training in 1994. Since then many national projects, as well as smaller consultancies, have been undertaken by VET staff. VET research at CSU supports, and is supported by, the strongest VET teacher-training program in Australia.
The VET research team, which has operated as RIVET (Research in Vocational Education & Training) since 2003, is an active and energetic team of experienced researchers based in the School of Education on CSU’s Wagga Wagga campus. Through regular meetings and collaboration, this coherent team maintains its energy while monitoring its own performance, investigating and discussing research opportunities, fostering and building research capacity and enthusiasm. The core members are Dr Cathy Down (Team Leader), Associate Professor Ros Brennan Kemmis, Dr Peter Rushbrook, Dr Annemarie Lloyd, Ms Annette Green, Ms Wendy De Luca and Mr Paul Galloway.
RIVET members sustain strong links with other VET research groups and individual researchers in Australia and overseas, as well as with government departments and practitioners. RIVET has been awarded the status of a preferred supplier of research services to both the New South Wales and Victorian Departments of Education and Training. RIVET is also proud to be a member of the INAP network http://www.innovative-apprenticeship.net
RIVET also values its roles of encouraging a research culture and mentoring other less experienced researchers and students. RIVET members supervise PhD, EdD and Masters research students and invite enquiries about post-graduate study at CSU. Information about undergraduate and postgraduate VET study is available at http://www.csu.edu.au/faculty/educat/edu/vetfolder/
RIVET holds twice–yearly research colloquia in Wagga Wagga. These are generally free and are open to all those with an interest in current practice and research in VET.
RIVET has a high national and international reputation and has been recognised by CSU as a designated ‘Community of Scholars’ (2003-2006) and as a ‘Problem Focussed Research Grouping’ (2007). In 2008 RIVET became a key member of the Research Institiute for Professional Practice, Learning and Education (RIPPLE).
[Download the RIVET presentation to the 2007 VISTA conference Research that addresses barriers to participation and successful outcomes in VET (zip file - 16kb)]