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Professor Erica Smith

Emeritus Professor

Campus

Mt Helen Campus

Biography

Erica Smith is Emeritus Professor of Education in the Institute of Education, Arts and Community, and was leader of the Researching Adult and Vocational Education group for over a decade. Professor Smith’s specialisation is vocational education and training (VET). Other areas of expertise include VET policy, training in workplaces, competency-based training, and the school-to-work transition.

Erica is Australia’s foremost apprenticeship researcher and is co-chair of the International Network on Innovative Apprenticeship. Erica is also an expert on VET teachers, their work and qualifications. She was the founding leader of Federation University’s VET teacher-education program, and until her retirement in mid-2023 convened the Australian Council of Deans of Education Vocational Education Group. She is an appointed member of the Australian Government’s VET Workforce Blueprint Steering Group and a member of the Advisory Board for the National Careers Institute, a government body.

Erica makes many invited contributions to Commonwealth and State government policy and practice in her areas of expertise and has advised governments in several other countries. She has managed over 30 national and international research projects and is an invited speaker at events around the world.

  • Publications

The nature and benefits of partnerships between employers and training providers

The oversight of VET teacher-education in Australia

Women and apprenticeships: An Australian perspective

How women are disadvantaged in the Australian apprenticeship system