Making It Real: The Benefits of Workplace Learning in Upper-Secondary VET Courses

33 Pages Posted: 30 Oct 2013 Last revised: 8 Nov 2013

See all articles by Cain Polidano

Cain Polidano

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Business and Economics, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research

Domenico Tabasso

IZA (Institute for the Study of Labour); University of Essex - Department of Economics; Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: September 2013

Abstract

In OECD countries, ‘real world’ upper-secondary vocational education and training (VET) programs are used to engage less academically oriented youth in learning, while helping to prepare them for post-school work and/or further training. In general terms, VET programs with high employer involvement, such as apprenticeship schemes, are considered to be superior to classroom-based VET programs that are typically found in many English-speaking countries. In this study, we examine outcomes from a potential ‘third way’: classroom-based VET with a short-term structured workplace learning component. Using propensity score matching and PISA data linked to information from the Longitudinal Survey of Australian Youth, we find this model is associated with higher school completion rates and better employment transitions.

Keywords: Educational economics, vocational education and training, workplace learning

JEL Classification: I20, J01

Suggested Citation

Polidano, Cain and Tabasso, Domenico and Tabasso, Domenico, Making It Real: The Benefits of Workplace Learning in Upper-Secondary VET Courses (September 2013). Melbourne Institute Working Paper No. 31/13, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2346481 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2346481

Cain Polidano (Contact Author)

University of Melbourne - Faculty of Business and Economics, Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic & Social Research ( email )

Level 5, FBE Building, 111 Barry Street
Parkville, Victoria 3010
Australia

Domenico Tabasso

IZA (Institute for the Study of Labour) ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

University of Essex - Department of Economics ( email )

Wivenhoe Park
Colchester CO4 3SQ
United Kingdom

Fondazione Rodolfo Debenedetti ( email )

Via Roentgen 1,
Room 5.C1-11
Milan, Milano 20136
Italy

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