Students most likely to access VET FEE-HELP income contingent loans study externally and are not employed, characteristics historically linked to those least likely to complete training according to new research.
The study, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) investigated the characteristics of students who accessed VET FEE-HELP and their completion of training courses in comparison to students eligible to access the scheme.
VET FEE-HELP is a HECS-styled loan available to eligible students undertaking higher level vocational education and training courses.
“Since VET FEE-HELP was introduced in 2009, there has been considerable change particularly over the last few years in the number of training providers approved to offer the loan scheme and students taking it up”, said Dr Mette Creaser, National Manager, Statistics and Analytics.
Comparing the profiles of students who access VET FEE-HELP and where they undertake their training in the scheme’s early years (2009-12) with more recent times (2013-14) shows students are more likely to:
- undertake training full-time
- study externally
- undertake training in management and commerce
- be not employed.
In terms of completion, the study found that of all students eligible to access VET FEE-HELP, those most likely to complete their training are those who study internally (or via a mixed mode), are employed and study at diploma level. Conversely, those students who are eligible for the scheme who are least likely to complete their qualification study externally, are not employed and are undertaking a course at advanced diploma level.
The results also show that there is considerable variation in completion by provider and the average probability of course completion for all eligible students is 21%. Just over a quarter of training providers have a higher than average probability of their eligible students completing training.
Copies of A preliminary analysis of the outcomes of students assisted by VET FEE-HELP are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2826.html. A summary of the research is also available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2827.html
This work has been produced by NCVER for the Australian Department of Education and Training.
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