| Abstract: | The article reports the findings of a national evaluation study conducted in 1998 of the contribution of competency‐based training (CBT) to outcomes in vocational education and training in Australia. The study found that CBT has made significant contributions to employers, its main benefit being that learning can be achieved on‐the‐job. Thus the key advantage for enterprises is relevant training where relevance means ‘specific skills for specific jobs’. The conclusion is drawn that three key issues in relation to the practice of competency training in Australia need to be addressed: (i) recognition of the role of the expert practitioner in augmenting, and thus improving, CBT; (ii) recognition of the limitations of CBT with regard to the provision of knowledgeable skill; and (iii) recognition of the importance of defining learning in terms of outcomes and process. |
