Non-completion in vocational education and training in higher education: a literature review commissioned by the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs

This document provides a review of the literature on the reasons for non-completion, and strategies designed to reduce non-completion, in vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE) in Australia. The focus in HE was limited to undergraduate courses. The review aimed to provide a comprehensive account of the Australian experience with supporting data from the United States of America and the United Kingdom. It also investigated the adequacy of current data sources and areas in need of further research. The document includes an executive summary and chapters covering the problems of definition, the adequacy of current data sources, an overview of sources and themes in the literature, studies of reasons for non-completion, reports on strategies for reducing non-completion, and conclusions. An appendix contains notes on patterns of group performance and an extensive bibliography is included.