Jo Balatti

The generic skills debate in research higher degrees

Generic or transferable skills as outcomes of research higher degrees have been the subject of considerable development and debate in universities in recent times. The development of generic skills has been motivated by the belief that there are skills which all graduates should possess, and which would be applicable to a wide range of tasks and contexts beyond the university setting. This paper reviews these developments and debates drawing on a literature from the USA, the UK, with particular reference to Australia. It cites examples of generic skills programs and considers evidence of students’ responses to them. Reviewing criticisms which have been levelled at the idea of generic skills in research higher degrees, the discussion identifies a number of questions which need to be addressed if this development is to succeed.

Socioeconomic contributions of adult learning to community: a social capital perspective

As an explanatory concept that relates skills and knowledge to economic outcomes, “human capital” has dominated for decades. Skills and knowledge are certainly central attributes of a learning society. Given the limitations of economy as a proxy for social well-being, however, two outstanding questions about the impact of adult learning on community linger: What are the multiple impacts of adult learning on community? How do these occur? To address these questions adequately, the theoretical construct of social capital is proving useful. This article examines the impacts of such a nebulous entity as adult learning on diverse socioeconomic domains, and it looks at how these impacts occur. Outcomes of learning are discussed against the eight Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development indicators of social well-being. Social capital—its networks, trust, and shared values—emerges as the missing link in explaining the integrated role of knowledge and identity resources in generating adult learning benefits.

Health literacy and social capital: what role for adult literacy partnerships and pedagogy?

This paper makes the case for adult literacy (including numeracy) practitioners to play a greater role in health literacy initiatives in Australia. The paper draws on data from a national research project that investigated adult literacy partnerships and pedagogy viewed from a social capital perspective. The primary purpose of the project was to produce guidelines on how to deliver integrated adult literacy and numeracy programmes using a social capital approach. Prior experience of partnerships was explored through a review of the literature and an environmental scan of adult literacy providers using an email survey and follow-up interviews. An in-depth case study of a health literacy partnership was trialled using action research. Partnerships between adult literacy and health organisations in Australia were found to be largely ad hoc and rarely documented. To enable sustainable health literacy programmes, partnerships are needed across the three interlinked organisational levels – micro, meso and macro, and in particular the latter, which is currently almost completely absent. The conceptual frameworks outlined for health literacy partnerships and social capital pedagogy in this paper are new and potentially of value to policy makers, researchers and practitioners in the fields of health and literacy.

Reconnecting young people with learning: A social capital approach in VET

Abstract This paper contributes to pedagogical debates on how to meet the learning needs of young people who are disconnected from school. It presents a case study of a program which aimed to prepare students for their Year 10 equivalent school leaving qualification in a basic education section of a Technical and Further Education (TAFE) college in Australia. Most of the students were between 15 and 17 years of age, had experienced literacy and numeracy difficulties in formal learning, and for various reasons were disconnected from the school system. The paper explains how an approach to learning in VET led to important human and social capital outcomes, and in particular, a changed sense of efficacy on the part of students in the program. The two key elements of this VET pedagogy were: individualised, self-paced learning within a flexible program structure; and the fostering of social capital, including mutual trust and respect, through the course-related learning network of teachers and students and other influential networks, including peer networks. Analysis of interview transcript data with students and teachers revealed the mutually reinforcing role of these elements of VET pedagogy.