Newsletter 21 June 2010

     

    TDA National Conference 13-14 Sept 2010

    John Dawkins to lead Quality Council

    Former Federal Minister, Mr John Dawkins AO has been appointed as the Chair of the National Quality Council, which oversees approvals on Training Packages and key quality indicators across the VET sector.

    Mr Dawkins served as a Minister in portfolios including Treasury, Finance, Trade, Employment, and, Education and Training during his time in Parliament. His most recent role was as Chair of the Australian Qualifications Framework.
     

    TDA congratulates Mr Dawkins on his new role and looks forward to working with him in the future.

    To view the announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, click here.

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    Further news on Education Investment Fund grants  

    The Federal Government last week released news on Victorian grants under the Education Investment Fund. It also announced a top-up of $200 million to the EIF Fund, following several years of depleted funding because of Budget deficits.

    Box Hill Institute of TAFE will receive funding to build a new technology hub to teach graduates how to incorporate green skills into trade professions.  

    Also approved was a proposal by Swinburne University of Technology to build a new Advanced Manufacturing Centre to improve tertiary education pathways in the manufacturing and engineering fields.

    For more information click here.

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    TDA survey on VET workforce

    TDA invites members to complete a survey in response to the Productivity Commission’s study into the VET workforce.

    As outlined in a previous newsletter, the Productivity Commission has been asked to undertake the study by the Federal Government. View the Commission’s issues paper here.

    TDA will be making a submission to the Commission by 30 July, and asks members to arrange for a sample of staff from each Institution to complete the survey to aid the submission. Click here to view a letter to members from TDA.

    Click here for the survey form.

    Please send responses to Pam Caven by COB Friday 2 July.

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    Green Skills plan presented to Ministerial Council 

    The Green Skills Agreement Implementation Plan was presented to members of the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) at its latest meeting in Perth. Click here to view the plan. 

    The plan focuses on the VET sector, for the period 2010-2011. It comprises the actions that will be taken to prepare the sector, employers and workers for the transition to a low carbon economy. 

    The Queensland segment of the Implementation Group will now work with the Federal Government to prepare an evaluation and reporting framework during 2011.

    Click here to view the MCTEE Communiqué.

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    Call for responses to new paper on dual-sector universities

    Dual-sector universities will play a key role in achieving education targets in the future, but will need to become more cohesive, according to a new discussion paper released by Ballarat University in association with Swinburne University of Technology.

    The paper was commissioned by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) and aims to identify the challenges within the sector.

    To view the discussion paper click here. Responses are due by 6 August.

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    Tender opportunity – Job Ready Program 

    The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is establishing a list of Registered Training Organisations that can provide professional development services to participants in the Job Ready Program.

    The Job Ready Program is an employment-based skills assessment for people with trade skills who are Australian citizens, residents (both temporary and permanent) and potential migrants to Australia. 

    A request for proposals is now available on the AusTender website(DEEWR RFT PRN25113) and the tender closes 13 July.

    Information sessions will be held in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne as follows:

    RSVP by COB 23 June to Lee-Lin Kiely on (02) 6240 8088.

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    Student data requirements explained

    The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has posted information on its website about the new student data requirements.

    Under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) 2010, all Registered Training Organisations are required to have a student record management system that meets the industry standard (Australian Vocational Education and Training Management Information Statistical Standard or ‘AVETMISS’).

    For more information click here.

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    New global newsletter update

    The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) has released its June Newsletter which includes an update from peak bodies from around the world including TAFE Directors Australia.

    Members are reminded that the World Congress 2010 will this year be staged in the United Kingdom, to coincide with the UK Colleges Conference (14/15 November, Birmingham). For information check out www.wfcp.org

    To view the newsletter click here.

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    Diary Dates

    NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH (NCVER)
    19th National 'No Frills' Research Conference
    DATE: 7-9 July 2010
    LOCATION: Central Institute of Technology, East Perth Campus, Perth
    DETAILS: Click here for more information

     

    VOC ED LEARNING GROUP
    Investing in VET = Succeeding in VET
    DATE: 5-6 August 2010
    LOCATION: Sydney Convention Centre
    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

     

    AAIR ANNUAL FORUM
    2Has 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

     

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