Enrolments in public vocational education and training course in 2010 rose by 5.4% from 2009, to a total of 1.8 million students, according to a report released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

 

The report, Students and courses 2010 provides an annual snapshot of publicly funded training activity by enrolments, completions and training activity. 

 

The report's findings include:

  • Hours of delivery and full-year training equivalents (FYTEs) increased by 7.6%.
  • Students aged 15 to 24 years increased by 4.6%.
  • Indigenous students increased by 11.3%.
  • Students with a disability increased by 9.1%.
  • Students from non-English speaking backgrounds increased by 6.7%.
  • Apprentices and trainees undertaking off-the-job training increased by 4.0%.
  • Commonwealth and state-funded students increased by 6.7%.
  • International full-fee-paying students declined by 5.5%.
  • Students enrolled in diploma and above qualifications increased by 16.5% and certificate IV by 16.3%.
  • 43.4% of students in the public VET system were aged 24 years and under
  • 52.4%  were males
  • 85.4% studied part-time.

Sandra Pattison, General Manager, Statistics, NCVER said the increased enrolments is good news for students and employers.

 

“We know that students who complete higher-level qualifications get higher salaries and better job opportunities, and employers benefit because their staff is more highly-skilled”, says Ms Pattison.

 

The number of students enrolled in government funded training increased by 6.7% to 1.4 million students in 2010, with 928 000 students studying at a TAFE or other government provider, up 1.8% from 911 300 in 2009.

 

The number of students undertaking publicly funded training at a private training provider grew 34% in 2010, up from 230 200 enrolments in 2009 to 308 500.

 

Copies of Australian vocational education and training statistics: Students and courses 2010 are available from www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2383.html