Elite independent schools in globalising circumstances: a multi-sited global ethnography. This is a study of elite independent schools in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Barbados, South Africa, the USA and England. Because such schools are often seen as the gold standard for school education, and because their alumni are often highly influential in economic, political and professional circles, understanding what they do and the ideals they stand for is important na ....Elite independent schools in globalising circumstances: a multi-sited global ethnography. This is a study of elite independent schools in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Barbados, South Africa, the USA and England. Because such schools are often seen as the gold standard for school education, and because their alumni are often highly influential in economic, political and professional circles, understanding what they do and the ideals they stand for is important nationally and globally. This study will identify the impact of increased global connections on such schools and will enhance understanding of how many national and international leaders are formed through their education and with what possible implications. Read moreRead less
Understanding and managing 'risk' for 15-19 year olds in a learning network: a case study of the Geelong LLEN. Learning networks are new strategies of educational reform and community capacity building addressing risk and interdependence arising from globalisation. This Deakin/Smart Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network partnership investigates the effectiveness of learning networks dealing with 15-19 year olds at risk. It explores stakeholders' understandings of learning networks ....Understanding and managing 'risk' for 15-19 year olds in a learning network: a case study of the Geelong LLEN. Learning networks are new strategies of educational reform and community capacity building addressing risk and interdependence arising from globalisation. This Deakin/Smart Geelong Region Local Learning and Employment Network partnership investigates the effectiveness of learning networks dealing with 15-19 year olds at risk. It explores stakeholders' understandings of learning networks and risk, undertakes a case study of the SGRLLEN, and considers the responses of schools and young people to the SGRLLEN using innovative youth researcher methodologies. It will inform policies, practices and evaluation of Victorian LLENs, provide professional development within SGRLLEN, and theoretically and empirically advance an emerging under researched field.Read moreRead less
Getting a job: vocationalism, identity formation and schooling in communities at disadvantage. This research will use young people's stories to investigate the barriers and obstacles to getting a job, and from their vantage point, identify the educational, policy and practice contexts that need to be created and more widely sustained in order to assist their career aspirations and life chances.
Re-engaging disadvantaged young people with learning. Having significant numbers of young people, especially those from contexts of socio-economic disadvantage, not experiencing a satisfying and worthwhile education, is a personal, social and economic loss the nation can ill-afford. This research will provide insights into the impediments confronting these young people, the circumstances in which they re-engage with formal learning, and the benefits of having done so. This will enable new policy ....Re-engaging disadvantaged young people with learning. Having significant numbers of young people, especially those from contexts of socio-economic disadvantage, not experiencing a satisfying and worthwhile education, is a personal, social and economic loss the nation can ill-afford. This research will provide insights into the impediments confronting these young people, the circumstances in which they re-engage with formal learning, and the benefits of having done so. This will enable new policy and practice responses in the direction of reducing economic costs while seeking to ameliorate personal, health and social consequences. Reducing educational inequalities is one of the most salient ways of strengthening Australia's social and economic fabric.Read moreRead less
Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 15 ....Tertiary education and social capital in Victoria: the effects of the new economy courses in Business and IT. Over one third of tertiary students are enrolled in the fast-growing new economy disciplines in business studies and IT. In partnership with the Victorian government, this project studies the contribution of business and IT courses to social capital, the collaborative networks that underpin economic innovation and sustainable community. The research will survey and interview Victorian 1500 graduates from 12 higher education and VET institutions (6 rural); and survey and interview employers and community leaders. The research will inform Victoria's education policy and Growing Victoria Together strategy, and encourage tertiary institutions throughout Australia to strengthen their contribution to social capital.Read moreRead less
Knowledge/economy/society: a sociological study of an education policy discourse in Australia in globalising circumstances. Education policies that fuse knowledge, economy and society are globally influential. Such policies seek to promote economic and social enhancement. Yet critics claim that these policies have a narrow view of knowledge, society and the economy, and of current trends. This study adopts inventive methodologies to assess such critics' claims in the light of research by leading ....Knowledge/economy/society: a sociological study of an education policy discourse in Australia in globalising circumstances. Education policies that fuse knowledge, economy and society are globally influential. Such policies seek to promote economic and social enhancement. Yet critics claim that these policies have a narrow view of knowledge, society and the economy, and of current trends. This study adopts inventive methodologies to assess such critics' claims in the light of research by leading sociologists. It explores the ways that the knowledge/economy/society discourse is interpreted in national and supranational policy texts, by senior policy agents and in innovative educational programs in different educational settings. The research findings will enrich education policy research and benefit national education policy.Read moreRead less
Moving Ideas: Mobile Policies, Researchers and Connections in the Social Sciences and Humanities - Australia in the global context. Leading Australian researchers who study culture, politics, society and human behaviour are increasingly on the move across national borders, taking their ideas in new directions and making new international connections. This is now seen less as a national brain drain and more as a chance for Australia to benefit from what researchers learn and the new relationships ....Moving Ideas: Mobile Policies, Researchers and Connections in the Social Sciences and Humanities - Australia in the global context. Leading Australian researchers who study culture, politics, society and human behaviour are increasingly on the move across national borders, taking their ideas in new directions and making new international connections. This is now seen less as a national brain drain and more as a chance for Australia to benefit from what researchers learn and the new relationships they develop as they travel. But what exactly are these benefits and what can Australia do to make sure that what looks like a loss becomes a gain? This research answers these questions. Read moreRead less
Vocational Education and Training in Schools: Cultural Resistance and the Academic Tradition. This study seeks to relate how well different models of VET in Schools delivery (in different settings) work towards achieving the objectives of improved participation, more effective transitions and engagement of reluctant learners. It also seeks to assess how effectively the different ways of delivering VET are meeting governments' objectives to build Australia's skills base and provide young people w ....Vocational Education and Training in Schools: Cultural Resistance and the Academic Tradition. This study seeks to relate how well different models of VET in Schools delivery (in different settings) work towards achieving the objectives of improved participation, more effective transitions and engagement of reluctant learners. It also seeks to assess how effectively the different ways of delivering VET are meeting governments' objectives to build Australia's skills base and provide young people with effective pathways. This study will provide education and training systems with valuable data on the effectiveness of this major policy innovation for different student groups. It will do so by analysing three major school leaver data-bases, followed up by qualitative studies in 12 schools in Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.Read moreRead less
Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for ....Developing Effective School-Community Learning Partnerships for Sustainability. The research contributes to 2 areas of national concern:achieving environmental sustainability and strengthening social cohesion, especially in the expanding urban growth corridors of Australian cities. It will develop guidelines for facilitating models of community learning partnerships that build social capital as a vehicle for protecting natural capital. Knowledge generated will advance conservation practices for natural capital:water, energy, biodiversity and waste, and strengthen the school-community partnership elements of programs such as ResourceSmart and the Australian Sustainable Schools Initiative (AuSSI), supported extensively by networks of local, State and Commonwealth governments, schools and community groups.Read moreRead less
A Tale of six cities: Explaining social inequality in secondary school systems: an international comparative study. Australia is frequently compared with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries as 'only average' in equity. But why? League tables don't explain this and commentators are vague. What good are comparisons if they don't improve student outcomes through better understanding and better policies? This study shows why inequality persists in six cou ....A Tale of six cities: Explaining social inequality in secondary school systems: an international comparative study. Australia is frequently compared with other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries as 'only average' in equity. But why? League tables don't explain this and commentators are vague. What good are comparisons if they don't improve student outcomes through better understanding and better policies? This study shows why inequality persists in six countries. It highlights the role of curriculum as a vehicle for distinguishing between students in more or less sharp ways and of selective schooling as a vehicle for gaining access to the most discriminating paths in the curriculum. It points to ways in which schooling can operate more equitably without sacrificing quality.Read moreRead less