Project purpose
The aim of this project will be to explore how RTOs can best support students towards qualification completion in VET, where students likely had an intent to complete. This research will seek to identify factors, strategies and support services successfully used by RTOs in supporting students to completion. Both educational and wellbeing support will be examined in this project. This project also intends to provide a student perspective by investigating the student experience of supports that may be assisting them towards qualification completion.
Research questions
The project is guided by the following research questions:
- What are the types of good practice student support that assist students towards qualification
completion? - What are the characteristics of these types of student support?
- How does this vary across the student learning life cycle?
Methodology
Qualitative research methods will be used to explore good practice interventions and supports that reduce student non-completion.
To provide background and context to the project, the first stage will involve:
- A brief and targeted review of the literature to determine current knowledge.
- A review of NCVER data on completion rates and reasons for withdrawal, as reported by students in the most recent Student Outcomes Survey (SOS).
- A review of recent work conducted by other organisations on student support (subject to availability).
- Consultation with jurisdictions to determine any insights with regards to their approaches in supporting students to completion and information they have on issues faced by students (subject to availability and access).
Stage 2 will consist of two parts:
- Case studies with RTOs considered successful at supporting students towards qualification completion.
- Focus groups or interviews with VET students.