VSA Project 1:  Student Voice

The first research project funded by the Australasian VET Research Association and the Victorian Skills Authority, focused on student voice in VET.

"Mechanisms that capture and incorporate student voice into vocational education and training design: Strategies, tools and approaches - Evidence from Australia and the Wider World" 

Researchers:

• Dr. Seth Brown, Head and Coordinator, UNEVOC Centre, RMIT University (AUSTRALIA)
• Dr Scott Phillips, Adjunct Associate Professor, UNEVOC Centre, RMIT University (AUSTRALIA) and Director, Kershaw Phillips Consulting
• Dr James Goring, School of Education, Deakin University (AUSTRALIA)

The report provides a comprehensive review of the research literature on the challenges and opportunities around capturing and incorporating student voice into vocational education and training design. Student voice is about recognising students’ distinctive views about their educational experiences and affording students' opportunities to engage with and influence vocational education policies and curriculum by responding to their feedback and insights (Cook-Sather, 2006). Student voice, therefore, enables students, staff and other stakeholders in the vocational education and training (VET) sector to listen to and involve students in the decision-making processes and design of the curriculum.

The report examines student voice mechanisms at three levels. The macro-level concerns national policy commitments and arrangements in large scale states (including populations of 15 million or more people). The meso-level concerns policy commitments and arrangements in small to mid-level states (including populations of less than 15 million people). The micro-level is mainly concerned with institutional level policies and arrangements (including small regions or municipalities). 

AVETRA has been engaged by the Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) for a two-year programme to engage Australian VET researchers to produce ‘Research Insights’.

These Research Insights will translate findings and evidence from existing research into critical policy facing outputs. The Victorian Skills Authority (VSA) provides financial support to AVETRA under a grant agreement to support AVETRA members’ research activities. Although the VSA is providing financial support for this research, the research is not a statement of Victorian Government policy. The Victorian Government provides no endorsement of the research’s content, recommendations, or findings. By sharing the final research insight, VSA makes no representation about the Victorian Government’s intention to implement any recommendations or findings identified in the research.

Read the report