Education Commons^™

Stepping Into Higher Education From The Vocational Education Sector In Australia: Student Perceptions And Experiences, Sarah E. O' Shea Dr, Pauline Lysaght A/Prof, Kathleen Tanner Dr

Professor Sarah O' Shea

It is not unusual to hear study in the vocational education sector referred to as a ‘stepping stone’ into further studies in the higher education environment. What this pathway entails for those who choose it is not immediately clear however. This article reports on research conducted with a small cohort of students who arrived at an Australian university with advanced standing or credit transfer based on their studies in the vocational sector. A narrative inquiry approach highlights the voices of these participants drawn through stories of their individual experiences of the transition to higher education. Recommendations related to structural and …