VET News

Participation in VET Continues to Increase

The latest annual data shows an increase in students participating in vocational education and training (VET). 

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) have released a statistical report, Total VET students and courses 2019, which provides an estimate of nationally recognised training activity undertaken on a government-funded, domestic or international fee-for-service basis up until 31 December 2019, as delivered by Australian providers in onshore and offshore locations.

In 2019, compared with 2018:

• student numbers increased by 3.2% to 4.2 million
• full-year training equivalents (FYTEs) increased by 0.9% to 1.1 million
• students enrolled in nationally recognised programs increased by 3.0% to 2.1 million
• students enrolled in subjects not delivered as part of a nationally recognised program increased by 4.0% to 2.6 million.

NCVER Managing Director Simon Walker said that it can be a complex picture to grasp, as some students enrol in more than one program, others in subjects that are not part of a nationally recognised program, and many in a combination of both.  "While there’s been an overall increase in enrolments in 2019, including further significant growth in international students, it was also notable that government-funded program enrolments had increased after a period of gradual decline.  This increase included a sharp rise in government-funded enrolments in higher-level programs, with an increase in enrolments at Certificate IV level and above between 2018 and 2019, compared with a decline over the preceding four years,” Mr Walker said.

It is also interesting to note for independent RTOs that these statistics also show a significant preference in students undertaking training with private training providers above all other provider types.

Access further information via the following links:

• Original NCVER Media Release
• Total VET students and courses 2019 
• Government-funded students and courses 2019
• Timeline of Australian VET policy initiatives 1998-2020 

Date posted Aug 20, 2020