Newsletter 9 August 2010
- Response to the Productivity Commission report into the VET workforce
- Room for greater collaboration between TAFE and ISCs
- TDA Conference – impressive international speakers
- TDA responds to qualifications framework paper
- Victorian TAFE Institutes send strong message to political parties
- International student travel safety campaign
- Applications open for VET international study scholarships
- VET teaching forum – registrations open
- Victorian Training Awards - to be held after TDA Conference in Melbourne
- Diary Dates
Response to the Productivity Commission report into the VET workforce
TDA has joined with the Victorian TAFE Association and the Victorian TAFE Development Centre with a submission to the Productivity Commission Inquiry into the Australian VET Workforce.
We congratulate the 44 Australian TAFE Institutes which contributed to a national TDA survey on the VET workforce – contributions significantly informed the views outlined in the joint response.
Some of the key messages of the response include:
- There is a strong demand for workforce development across all sectors of the TAFE workforce to help deal with changes driven by governments, industry, social and economic conditions, and technological developments.
- A major challenge for the future will be the aging TAFE workforce.
- The pressure on TAFE providers to help with broad social and economic issues will require more adaptive teachers with an extensive range of teaching skills.
- There is a need to re-examine the current methods of measuring VET workforce performance.
- There is a need for a national VET workforce database.
View the entire response here.
Room for greater collaboration required between TAFEs and ISCs
TDA has lodged a submission to a Senate inquiry into the value of Industry Skills Councils (ISCs), indicating that there is a need for improved collaboration between TAFE Institutes and ISCs.
The response says that current collaborations have contributed to improvements in the relevance and quality of vocational education and training, and this could be expanded with more effective funding for ISCs.
View TDA’s response here.
TDA Conference – impressive international speakers
This year’s TDA National Conference will host two foremost international VET leaders, bringing both a European and Chinese perspective to the annual network event.
Dame Jackie Fisher DBE, Chief Executive, Newcastle College Group, UK, will give insight into the critical success factors and approaches of the Newcastle College Group, which has achieved impressive growth and award-winning quality provision in a highly competitive training sector, and in areas of high disadvantage. To view the synopsis of Dame Jackie Fisher’s address click here.
Also presenting at the conference will be Mr Lui Jiantong, Deputy-Director Department of Vocational and Adult Education, Ministry of Education, Peoples Republic of China. Mr Lui has held numerous positions within the Department of Vocational and Adult Education, and studied in the Department of History, Beijing University.
To see the full list of TDA Conference speakers and sessions click here.
TDA responds to qualifications framework paper
TDA has submitted a response to the Australian Qualifications Framework Council’s consultation paper Strengthening the AQF: A Framework for Australia’s qualification.
The response congratulates the AQFC on creating a framework that can be applied across all three sectors of the Australian education sector, and will have a positive impact on Australia’s international reputation for quality qualifications.
However, it also outlines four key observations of the framework including:
- A misalignment of the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) with the Certificate lll Trade qualification
- A need for improved provisions for pathways and linkages between qualifications
- The lack of clarity surrounding the concept of 'qualification types', which unnecessarily limits the flexibility of the Framework.
- The need for clarification around international linkages
To view TDA’s response click here.
Victorian TAFE Institutes send strong message to political parties
A group of six Victorian TAFE Institutes launched a national advertising campaign to promote the value of international education to the Australian economy and the community.
The first of a series of advertisements featured in The Australian. It argues that it’s not in the national interest to confuse the issue of international education with the current debate on immigration. Click here to view the advertisement.
The advertisement highlights the recent study on the intentions of international TAFE students, commissioned by TAFE Directors Australia, and funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, which found that only 13% of international students are seeking permanent residency.
The campaign is being funded by TAFE Institutes comprising Box Hill Institute, Chisholm Institute, Holmesglen Institute, Kangan Institute, Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE, and William Angliss Institute.
The advertisements will appear throughout the course of the election campaign.
International student travel safety campaign
A new information service and safety awareness campaign for international students was launched last Friday by a group including Victorian Police and education peak bodies.
The “Think Before” travel campaign presents safety messages delivered via the internet, SMS, video and social networking websites. The messages are available in English and twelve other languages.
For more information click here.
Applications open for VET international study scholarships
Applications are now open for the 2011 round of the Endeavour Vet Mobility Program, which offers scholarships for students to study overseas.
Information on the program can be found on the DEEWR website. The 2011 round will close on 20 August 2010. Those interested in applying for the 2011 Round can find the guidelines here, and the application form here.
VET teaching forum – registrations open
Members are invited to attend a one-day forum, ‘What’s happened to TAFE and VET teachers? - putting vocational teaching back on the agenda in the emerging tertiary environment’ which is jointly sponsored by the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Education Union.
The forum will be held 22 October, at William Angliss Institute, Melbourne. To register, please click here.
Victorian Training Awards – to be held after TDA Conference in Melbourne
For those interested members, the Victorian Training Awards will be held just after the TDA Conference, 14 September in Melbourne.
The awards recognise excellence in vocational education and training by students, teachers, employers, training providers and industry.
For more information about the event click here.
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, Innovationa and Workplace Culture
DATE: 14-15 October 2010
LOCATION: Citigate Central, Sydney
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
Has institutional research come of age in Australiasia?
DATE: November 2010
LOCATION: Birmingham, UK
DETAILS: www.wfcp.org
AUSTRALIAN TRAINING MARKETSING 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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