Newsletter: 14 December 2009
- Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for 2010
- Consultations on international student strategy
- Chinese Ministry of Education endorses TAFE Institutes and universities
- International student numbers continue to grow
- New Disability Employment Services regime
- Labour force figures show small improvement
- Workforce development and planning workshops
- Diary Dates
Seasons Greetings and Best Wishes for 2010
On behalf of the TDA Board and Secretariat we hope all our readers have a safe, relaxing and reinvigorating break. We would like to thank you for your support and look forward to working with you in 2010.
Consultations on international student strategy
TDA has responded to COAG’s announcement of a new National Regulator for vocational education and training, and outlined its position on the interim report released by the Baird Review into international student regulation. Click here to view the media release.
This follows TDA’s participation in several inquiries, reviews, taskforces and consultations relating to international students including:
- Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) consultations focusing on visa processing and the transfer of marketing and promotion activities from Australian Education International (AEI) to Austrade
- Consultations relating to the strengthening of the AQTF
- Briefings from Bruce Baird on his interim report on the Review of the ESOS Act
Gavin Moodie has provided an overview of the Baird Review in recent article from The Australian. Click here to view the article.
Chinese Ministry of Education endorses TAFE Institutes and universities
The Chinese Ministry of Education has recently issued a number of alerts concerning the selection of Australian education institutions for study abroad.
The Ministry advised potential students to avoid ‘unstable and risky’ private providers and enroll only in accredited universities and TAFE colleges. The Ministry has also revised and re-issued its list of approved providers.
The Chinese Ministry emphasised that students should only choose Ministry of Education approved education agents rather than “non-Ministry of Education approved illegal agents”.
A summary of recent media coverage in China can be found on the AEI website here.
International student numbers continue to grow
Vocational education and training continues to record the highest number of international student enrolments and commencements of any sector according to the latest International Student Enrolment Data from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
Year-to-date figures for October show overall growth in international enrolments of 18% across all sectors. In the VET sector, there was 35% growth in enrolments and 28% growth in commencements. India and China remain the largest sources of international students to the Australian market.
For more click here.
New Disability Employment Services regime
Minister for Employment Participation, the Hon Mark Arbib MP has announced the successful organisations to operate Australian Government’s new $1.2 billion Disability Employment Services.
The new services will begin operation in March 2010 and are aimed at increasing the employment participation of people with a disability by providing increased support services.
For more information including the list of approved providers click here.
Labour force figures show small improvement
The jobless rate fell to 5.7% in November according to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures.
The figure was expected to rise during November however the result was boosted by a fall of 0.1% or 13,000 in the number of people who were unemployed. View the results here.
Workforce development and planning workshops
Workforce development and planning seminars will be held in Adelaide, Sydney and Brisbane in early 2010. The seminars by Workforce Blueprint are aimed at people developing a workforce plan within their own organisation, and people supporting and advising client organisations in workforce development and planning.
For more information click here.
Diary Dates
TAFE GOVERNANCE AND REGUALTIONS FORUM
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DATE: |
25-26 February 2010 |
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LOCATION: |
Hilton on the Park, Melbourne |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
SERVICE SKILLS AUSTRALIA
National Conference
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DATE: |
1-2 March 2010 |
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LOCATION: |
Sydney Convention and Exibition Centre |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
AVETRA
2010 Conference
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DATE: |
8-9 April 2010 |
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LOCATION: |
Holiday Inn, Surfers Paradise |
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DETAILS: |
Click here for more information |
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