Statement of Capabilities

Knowledge and Experience of Teachers

CPELL is a social science laboratory within the Melbourne Education Research Institute at the University of Melbourne.  Researchers assist in the research training of graduates and provide expert advice to education and training agencies on issues of policy and performance of systems.

CPELL has provided leading edge research in the area of post compulsory education and training in Victoria and Australia over the past decade.  CPELL staff have made major contributions to policy development and system evaluations through projects, such as most recently:

• Ministerial Review of equity programs in NSW (2005)
• Ministerial Review [Kirby] of Post-compulsory Education and Training (2000)
• The development of the Student Resource Package (SRP) in Victoria (2003-2004)
• The review of the South Australia Certificate of Education (SACE) 2005
• The design and development of the comprehensive school leaver monitoring programs of On Track (Victoria) and Next Step (Queensland) (2003-2006)

CPELL has provided key policy directions in school funding models, and its recent work on ACE and TAFE participation in Victoria is ground breaking.  It has been the main research organisation in the area of student destination tracking over the past decade. 

The researchers have an extensive knowledge of the secondary school, TAFE and ACE sectors in Victoria and school and VET systems across Australia. They have participated in much of the research related to provision for the 15-24 year old cohorts in education and training in Victoria and in other Australian states and territories.  They frequently are called upon to give advice about research, data and policy in these areas. 

Specifically CPELL and its researchers:

• are the leading national researchers on post-compulsory schooling, VET outcomes and student destinations;
• have conducted the most recent research and modelling of resource allocation methods and equity programs;
• have detailed knowledge and experience of the three relevant sectors: schools, TAFE/VET & ACE;
• have undertaken some of the leading Victorian and national studies of cross sectoral programs, pathways and policies;
• have a strong understanding of Victorian and national policy frameworks relevant to the project;
• are able to access and interrogate a wide range of data sources: AVETMISS, ABS, On Track, LSAY;
• are designers and providers of comprehensive destinations monitoring and reporting systems;
• are currently engaged by international agencies, such as the OECD and World Bank;
• are multi-lingual and work in a range of European languages (French, Italian, Spanish, Russian).

Access to and Capacity to Interpret Data

Over the past decade CPELL has conducted numerous state and national surveys in the area of post compulsory education and training.  Much of its work has been quantitative and based on surveys or individualised datasets.  However, to capture learner and practitioner perspectives on programs, resources and outcomes, the research staff have also developed a strong capacity for qualitative research, and for research that is carefully framed within and for policy regions and options. 

CPELL regularly uses major national and state-based data sources, including – AVETMISS, ABS and LSAY.  From its own survey programs and close interactions with government departments and agencies, CPELL also has constructed several data bases specifically for the purposes of examining patterns of education and training for young people and adults in all Australian states and territories. 

Collaboration, effective relationships and quality assurance

In undertaking project work, CPELL follows a collaborative process in which there are extensive consultations at critical stages.  CPELL is committed to establishing and maintaining effective relationships with all agencies involved in research projects.  Through previous work, established strong links have been built with various government and non-government education providers across Australia.

CPELL has considerable experience in liaising with a wide range of agencies including individual TAFE institutes, ACE providers and schools for undertaking research and survey work, and maintaining effective relationships.  CPELL is committed to ensuring the timely provision of feedback and reports. 

CPELL believes that quality assurance should be an integral part of research and reporting activities not only to maximise effectiveness.

CPELL conducts an extensive program of research communication activities.  For example, in 2004 the director gave presentations on the new Student resource Package to meetings around Victoria, involving approximately 1,600 school principals (all active principalship in the state).  In the past senior staff have delivered regional presentations of On Track and Next Step research findings to hundreds of participants throughout Victoria and Queensland.

Skills Base

• A thorough knowledge of the operation of Australian education systems.
• Experience in consultation and liaison with a wide range of key stakeholders including government agencies, principals and education and training providers and practitioners.
• An ability to efficiently gather and summarise relevant literature.
• Expertise in the development of a variety of survey instruments.
• High level project management skills.
• Statistical and econometrical modelling skills.
• Capacity to design and implement large scale telephone and mail-out surveys.
• Expertise in qualitative methods, including focus groups and interviews.
• High-level communication skills.
• High-level review and evaluation skills.
• Language skills in selected European languages.