Outline
    
     Introduction to the Australian Council for 
    Educational Research (ACER)
    
     Brief Background to the Australian Vocational 
    Education and Training (VET) sector
    
     Part 1: Using Data to Enhance Skills for 
    Learning, Living and Working in the 21st 
    Century
    
     Part 2: Measuring Student Achievement (if 
    time and interest!) or demo of the Core Skills 
    Profile for Adults (CSPA)
     Australian Council for Educational 
           Research (ACER)
   ACER was established in 1930 with a grant from the Carnegie 
   Corporation to promote 'the advancement and diffusion of knowledge 
   and understanding'.
   ACER’s mission is to create and promote research-based knowledge, 
   products and services that can be used to Improve Learning across the 
   life span. 
   As a not-for-profit organisation, independent of government, ACER 
   receives no direct financial support and generates its entire income 
   through contracted research and development projects and through 
   products and services that it develops and distributes.
   ACER has experienced significant growth in recent years and now has 
   more than 300 staff located in Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, 
   Adelaide, Dubai and New Delhi .
              ACER Role
    Data Gathering: A major aspect of ACER’s work is to assist educational 
    decision makers at all levels in their collection, analysis, interpretation and 
    use of reliable data. Our purpose is to assist in the development of clearer 
    pictures and understandings of educational challenges, opportunities and 
    progress over time.
    Action Planning: A second major aspect of ACER’s work is to assist 
    educational decision makers at all levels in their identification and 
    implementation of evidence-based policies and practices. Our purpose is 
    to promote better outcomes for all learners through the use of approaches 
    that have been demonstrated to be effective in practice.
    Delivery: A growing part of ACER’s work is to work directly in providing 
    services such as specialised professional learning, quality assurance and 
    monitoring of educational providers and certification and accreditation of 
    professionals and learners.
            ACER Research
    ACER has two research divisions, each with a number of 
    programs.
    Assessment and Psychometric Research Division
    Assessment and Reporting
    Psychometrics & Methodology
    Systemwide Testing
    Educational Monitoring and Research Division
    National Surveys
    International Surveys
    Higher Education
    Policy Analysis and Program Evaluation
    Teaching, Learning & Transitions
   Examples of Major Research Projects
   Program for International Student Achievement (PISA)
   Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes 
   (AHELO)
   Australasian Survey of Student Engagement (AUSSE)
   Australian National Assessment Program – Literacy 
   and Numeracy (NAPLAN)
   Australian National ICT Literacy Assessment 
   UAE National Assessment Program
   Financing TVET in the Pacific