Newsletter: 27 October 2008

    GOLD for TAFEs in AQTF 2007 Excellence Criteria pilot

    TDA congratulates the TAFE Institutes who achieved a gold rating in the AQTF 2007 Excellence Criteria pilot:

    Overall, sixteen registered training organisations participated and, of the six TAFE Institutes in the pilot, all were awarded gold.

    The Criteria allows registered training organisations to continue improving the quality of their training and assessment and to gain recognition of their performance.

    For more information click here.

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    Showcase opportunity at DEEWR's Big Skills Conference

    TDA invites TAFE Institutes, Institutes of Technology, Universities and other training providers to submit an expression of interest to showcase student achievement and skill development through a range of interactive activities at DEEWR's Big Skills Conference.

    The conference will be held 2-5 March 2009 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre and will feature a range of fun activities, skill demonstrations and displays of student work aimed at highlighting Australia's high quality vocational education and training.

    Please email your Expression of Interest to researchservices@tda.edu.au by Friday 31 October 2008.

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    TDA contributes to PNG and Pacific economic stability inquiry

    TDA has made a submission to a Senate Inquiry into the main economic and security challenges facing Papua New Guinea and the Island States of the Southwest Pacific.

    The submission suggests that education, and in particular skills and training, are central to overcoming economic and security challenges and that the Australian TAFE network is a viable partner in this work.

    Please see attached submission.

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    NCVER Training Statistics Pocket Guide

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released its 2008 Pocket guide of Australian training and vocational statistics.

    The guide provides key data on the VET system including students and courses, apprentices and trainees training activity, graduates, financial operations and employers' use and views of the VET system.

    To view the guide click here.

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    Subsidy to attend US career and training conference in US

    TDA has received a contribution of $3,000 from Australian Education International towards the cost of attendance at the upcoming Association of Career and Technical Education (ACTE) conference to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina US, 4-6 December 2008.

    The ACTE is the largest national education association dedicated to the advancement of education that prepares youth and adults for careers.

    The International Vocational Education and Training Association will also meet just prior to the ACTE event.

    For members active in the US and who are interested in representing TDA at this event (noting all other costs to be covered by the institute) please contact Rebecca Biazos rebeccabiazos@bigpond.com no later than Friday 31 October 2008.

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    Invitation to contribute to research impact study

    Australian Vocational Education and Training Research Association (AVETRA) has extended an invitation to its members and those in the VET sector to contribute to a research impact study being conducted by Griffith University.

    The researchers would like anyone in the VET sector that can provide examples of the impact of their VET research to contact them.

    For more information and to view the invitation click here.

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    New report - Expanding Education Abroad at US Community Colleges

    The Institute of International Education has published the third paper in a series focusing on education abroad within the community college sector.

    During the TDA Member visit to the US earlier this year, partnerships between community colleges and Australian TAFE institutes for mobility were investigated.

    This new report finds that only three per cent of students studying abroad are from community colleges. Recent workshops conducted by John Sunnyguard on the US Study Abroad market and Australia have highlighted that Australian TAFE institutes may be well placed to work more closely with US Community Colleges to make mobility work.

    For a copy of the report click here.

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    Monash wins international student research grant

    Dr Ly Tran from Monash University has secured Australian Research Council funding for her four year research project into 'International Students in the Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector: Study Purposes, Learning Practices and Institutional Responses'.

    The project will assist the development of policies and strategies to address the complex needs of the international student population and the capacity of the VET sector to internationalise the curriculum.

    It will also identify the competitive features of the VET sector in the global education industry.

    Institutes that are interested in being a part of the research project and or keeping abreast of its outcomes should contact Dr Ly Tran on ly.tran@buseco.monash.edu.au, or Rebecca Biazos on rebeccabiazos@bigpond.com or 0407 550 180.

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    Diary Dates

    MANUFACTURING SKILLS AUSTRALIA
    Manufacturing - Skilling for the Future
    DATE: 29 October 2008
    LOCATION: Dockside (Balcony 1), Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Harbour, Sydney
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    ADULT LEARNING AUSTRALIA
    48TH Annual National Conference
    DATE: 30 October - 1 November 2008
    LOCATION: The Esplanade Hotel
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    IDEA 2008
    A series of events focusing on technology and education
    DATE: 12 - 13 November - see website for individual events
    LOCATION: Melbourne Convention Centre
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    LEARNING TECHNOLOGIES 2008
    DATE: 5-7 November 2008
    LOCATION: Sunshine Coast Mooloolaba TAFE, QLD
    DETAILS: The conference will investigate new and emerging earning technologies and their use, and address these issues under the theme of Learning Connections. Learning Technologies 2008 is about learning, creating and making connections in knowledge construction.
    For more information or to register, click here.

    REFRAMING THE FUTURE
    Engaging VET Practitioners
    DATE: 17-18 November 2008
    LOCATION: Crown Promenade, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    COMMUNITY SERVICES & HEALTH INDUSTRY COUNCIL
    Supporting the Health Profession - The next wave of workers
    DATE: 26 November 2008
    LOCATION: The Sebel, Albert Park, Melbourne
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    THE ASSOCIATION FOR ACTIVE EDUCATIONAL RESEARCHERS (AARE)
    AARE 2008 International Education Conference
    DATE: 30 November - 4 December 2008
    LOCATION: Brisbane
    DETAILS: For more information, click here.

    PRINCIPLE MEDIA LTD
    Learning Technologies Conference
    DATE: 28-29 January 2009
    LOCATION: London, UK
    DETAILS: For more information click here.

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