Newsletter 16 August 2010

     

    Education and training at centre of election promises

    Finally, VET has emerged as one of several Federal Election policy issues, with both major parties unveiling their policy platforms.

    Government pledge

    Apprentices will receive a boost to incentives that help them to stay in training, under a Labor government according to the Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP.

    The Prime Minister announced an election promise of a $1,700 tax-exempt bonus under a $334 million plan to bolster apprentice retention and completions.

    The added bonus means that apprentices can access up to $5,500 over the course of their apprenticeship. An extension to the Trade Apprentice Mentoring initiative was also promised, which would see some 40,000 apprentices receive targeted mentoring and assistance.

    Click here for more information.

    Opposition pledge

    The Coalition has announced plans to re-introduce Australian Technical Colleges (ATCs) into the training system should they win the Federal Election.

    Opposition Leader, the Hon Tony Abbott MP, announced a plan to fund 30 ATCs across Australia, with an allocation of $740 million.  Under the plan, ATCs will be provided with grants up to $25 million, with existing ATCs and the Government’s Trades Training Centres to be linked into the new centres.

    Click here to see the announcement.

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    Global leadership program to be delivered in Melbourne

    Victoria University is inviting education managers to participate in the 2010 Chair Academy Leadership Development Program which has been extended to include a second round in October.

    The Program has provided leadership learning and development to more than 1,000 education managers. It is delivered over one week by a facilitator from the Chair Academy (USA) who is supported by a Victoria University facilitator.

    The Program will be delivered from 17-22 October. Registrations are now being accepted.If you are interested or would like to register a staff member, please email Sharon Thng. Click here for more information.

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    New opportunities to aid Indigenous training and employment

    Former TAFE Western Institute Director, Adrian Mitchell, has taken his new post as the head of TAFE for the Bachelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education based in Alice Springs.

    Adrian has provided TDA Members with an update on the changes to the Community Development Employment Projects (CDEPs) program made by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.

    The CDEP is designed to help participants develop the skills they need to take-on paid work through training and/or work experience. Adrian has pointed out that there are new opportunities for TAFE Institutes to partner with the CDEP program. Click here to view a note from Adrian Mitchell.  

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    TAFE NSW celebrates China relationship

    Concurrent events in Sydney and Shanghai in mid-July celebrated TAFE NSW’s on-going partnerships in China including its major contribution to the workforce training program for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

    The Shanghai event was held at the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2010, and comprised 120 guests including senior Chinese Ministry of Education and senior government officials.

    The Sydney event, held at Governor Macquarie Tower, hosted more than 100 business clients and included Vice Consul of Education, Demin Zheng, from the Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Sydney.

    A full description of the events and achievements can be read here.

     

    Mr Peter Sams, Pavilion Director and Deputy Commissioner General for Australia, Australia Pavilion of Shanghai World Expo; Mr Michael Coutts-Trotter, Director – General, NSW Department of Education and Training; Mr Kevin Harris, Institute Director, TAFE NSW – Northern Sydney Institute; and Mr William Chen.

    Mr Des Gorman, General Manager – Learning and Development, NSW DET; Mr Demin Zheng , Consul of Education, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China; Ms Pam Christie, Deputy Director-General, TAFE and Community Education; and The Hon Mr Michael Lee, TAFE NSW Commission Board.

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    International education in the spotlight

    The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), along with TDA, TAFE Institutes in Victoria and other peak bodies representing international education providers, has recently been very active in promoting the benefits of international education.

    Copies of some of the Association's major statements are available at here and include:

    The Association is also active at the political level and with education peak bodies to press for a proper recognition by all political parties of the importance and value of international education and international students.

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    Middle East Roadshow  

    Austrade is organising a Study in Australia Middle East Roadshowfrom 23 October to 1 November which will provide institutions with the chance to explore emerging markets and capture existing opportunities.

    Institution representatives will have the chance to counsel prospective students, meet with local and government representatives and explore areas of potential cooperation.

    The Roadshowwill cover Turkey, Amman (Iraq), Syria and Libya. Application deadline is 17 September. All interested institutions are encouraged to visit Austrade's Events websitefor detailed information about the event and to apply.

    For enquiries please feel free to contact Ms Hania Ghannoum.

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    Disadvantaged youth get a head start in Vietnam

    KOTO, the Vietnam based not-for-profit restaurant and hospitality training centre for street and disadvantaged youth, which is an extended campus of Box Hill Institute, Melbourne, will launch its first public hospitality training school in Hanoi in September. 

    Australian, Dian Cox, general manager of KOTO said in Hanoi: “There is a lot of demand here for good quality courses and there aren’t many vocational schools,”

    According to Box Hill,KOTO Public Education Programwill deliver high quality vocational training programs, using curriculum reflecting current techniques, policy and practices and incorporating extensive practical components.

    KOTO, which stands for Know One, Teach One, has trained in excess of 300 street and disadvantaged Vietnamese youth in Hanoi over the past 10 years. Training includes both front-of-house and kitchen, as well as English and life skills. KOTO has a restaurant in Hanoi and is also planning one in Ho Chi Minh City where it has opened a second Vietnam training centre.

    Founder, Vietnamese-Australian Jimmy Pham would like to see at least 20 similar organisations worldwide and said in Hanoi he had plans to expand to Cambodia and possibly Bulgaria. For more information click here.

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    Malaysian education exhibition  

    The Austrade education team will be presenting a series of integrated initiatives at this year's Study in Australia Kuala Lumpur (SIA-KL) - the largest Australian education exhibition in Malaysia - to be held 2-3 October.  

    The initiatives include an inaugural alumni dinner, a Malaysia Qualifications Agency session on local regulatory requirements for smarter collaboration, and a roundtable session with major sponsorship boards to inform institutions of Malaysia's education sector directions.

    To find out more about the opportunities in Malaysia and receive a briefing on the SIA Malaysia exhibition, register for a free Austrade webinar being held on 19 August at 12pm AEST.

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    Business/Higher Education Awards

    Applications for the 2010 Business/Higher Education Round Table (B-HERT) Awards will close 2 September.

    The awards recognise outstanding achievement in research and development, higher education and training, vocational education and training, and community engagement.

    More information can be accessed here.

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    International education and training conference opportunity

    The 2nd International Conference on Education, Training, and Informatics: ICETI 2011 will be held in Orlando Florida, 27-30 March, and organisers are currently calling for papers and submissions for the Conference.

    To visit the website click here.

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    Diary Dates

    SKILLS AUSTRALIA 2010 CONFERENCE
    Using Skills Productively
    DATE: 6-7 September 2010
    LOCATION: Hilton Hotel, Sydney
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    TAFE DIRECTORS AUSTRALIA
    2010 National Conference: TAFE in the Year of the Tiger
    DATE: 13-14 September 2010
    LOCATION: Crown Promenade, Melbourne
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AUSTRALIAN COLLABORATIVE EDUCATION NETWORK
    Work Integrated Learning (WIL): Responding to Challenges
    DATE: 30 September - 1 October 2010
    LOCATION: Curtin University of Technology, Perth
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AUSTAFE CONFERENCE 2010
    Leadership, Innovation and Workplace Culture
    DATE: 14-15 October 2010
    LOCATION: Citigate Central, Sydney
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    CHAIR ACADEMY LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
    DATE: 17-22 October 2010
    LOCATION: Peppers Moonah Links Resort, Victoria
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH
    Research Forum - Fostering enterprise: The innovational and skills nexus
    DATE: 9 November 2010
    LOCATION: Australian Technology Park, Sydney
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    AAIR ANNUAL FORUM
    Has institutional research come of age in Australiasia?
    DATE: 10-12 November 2010
    LOCATION: Four Points by Sheraton Hotel, Geelong
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    WORLD CONGRESS
    DATE: November 2010
    LOCATION: Birmingham, UK
    DETAILS: www.wfcp.org

    AUSTRALIAN TRAINING MARKETING CONFERENCE & AWARDS PRESENTATION
    Buidling sustainability through marketing
    DATE: 10-11 November 2010
    LOCATION: Rydges Hotel, Brisbane
    DETAILS: Register for conference or enter awards online at www.atmaltd.org.au

    AUSTRALIAN YOUTH MENTORING NETWORK
    2010 Australian Youth Mentoring Conference
    DATE: 10-11 November 2010
    LOCATION: Radisson Resort, Gold Coast
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

    WISE SUMMIT
    World Innovation Summit for Education
    DATE: 7-9 December 2010
    LOCATION: Sheraton Resort, Doha, Qatar
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

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