Newsletter 7 March 2011
- TDA to appear before a Senate Legislation Committee on national VET regulation
- TAFE responds to Productivity Review on the VET workforce
- MOU strengthens ties with Malaysia
- Training commencements show strong improvements
- NSW election – Labor promises TAFE facilities upgrades
- 120 years – congratulations to the Sydney Institute of TAFE
- Professional development opportunities available in the United Arab Emirates
- Workshops unravel market data for the international education sector
- NSW Training Awards nominations closing soon
- Get ready to nominate Victoria’s best in the State Training Awards
- Service Skills present report findings at industry breakfast
- Policy in the Pub back in 2011
- Victorian TAFE Association Conference – registrations open
- Diary Dates
TDA to appear before a Senate Legislation Committee on national VET regulation
The National VET Regulator (NVR) held a ‘Provider Roundtable’ consultation in Canberra on Friday, ahead of TDA’s scheduled appearance before a Senate Legislation Committee today, in Melbourne.
Adrian Marron, CEO, CIT Canberra, and Virginia Simmons, a former TAFE Director, and consultant to TDA, joined TDA executives Pam Caven and Martin Riordan at the meeting. They met with Kaye Schofield, Acting Chair of the NVR; John Smyth, Acting CEO, NVR; Dianne Orr, from the NVR Secretariat; and Mary-Ann Quagliata, from the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. Representatives from ACPET and ERTOA were also in attendance.
Issues raised included:
- The lack of any reference to the ‘Objects’, or purpose, of the Bill
- The lack of clarity about the future structure for inter-relationships between NVR and the Standards Council
- Inadequate information regarding the timing for the establishment of the Standards Council and the processes for the development of Standards
- The need for Provider Category Standards
- Uncertainty about the approach to risk management
TDA will circulate to members the outcomes of the Senate Legislation Committee Hearing.
TAFE responds to Productivity Review on the VET workforce
TDA has delivered a detailed submission to the Productivity Commission’s ongoing review of the VET workforce, and teaching. The submission was completed jointly with the Victorian TAFE Association (VTA).
Inadequacies in the delivery of the Certificate IV qualification for VET teachers are hampering quality, according to submission.
The response outlines TAFE’s belief that the Certificate IV Training and Assessment qualification is a good starting point for entry-level teachers, but that training should progress further to ensure the highest standard of teaching.
Another concern raised by TDA and the VTA is the need for greater funding to allow the VET workforce to undertake workforce development.
TDA and the VTA also agree that there is a need for data collection within the VET workforce to monitor and control quality, however they believe it is pre-emptive to begin this work until there is national agreement on the metrics and measurements of the data.
To read the full submission click here.
MOU strengthens education ties with Malaysia
The Australian Government has signed an MOU with Malaysia to strengthen ties between the two countries, particularly in education.
The MOU will facilitate further development of sister schools, teacher exchanges and teacher training. It will also support the growing number of Malaysian students studying in Australia, which reached 23,000 in 2010.
For more information, click here.
Training commencements show strong improvements
The number of apprentices and trainees grew 5% in September 2010, compared with September 2009, according to new figures from the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The number of people commencing a trade increased 22%, and the number of people commencing a non-trade increased 10% in the year to September 2010.
To a full report of the statistics, click here.
NSW election – Labor promises TAFE facilities upgrades
The NSW Labor Government has promised to train 3,000 new apprentices for skills shortage industries and will provide more than $300 million for TAFE campus upgrades if re-elected.
The announcements were made as part of the ‘Skills for Growth Package’, which will focus on industries including electrical, construction and IT. It is estimated the TAFE upgrades would support more than 700 jobs for the State.
Read more here.
120 years - Congratulations to the Sydney Institute of TAFE
The TAFE NSW – Sydney Institute has celebrated its 120thbirthday, and its long contribution to NSW education at an industry-strong event last week.
The Institute began with approximately 3,500 students and now boasts more than 76,000 per year. TDA congratulates TAFE NSW on reaching this outstanding milestone.
Professional development opportunities available in United Arab Emirates
The Australian Universities Quality Agency is currently searching for reviewers for two diploma programs modelled on TAFE programs, which will be delivered in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The two diploma programs focus on the environment, health and safety industry; and the tourism management industry.
This is an opportunity for those in the TAFE sector to extend their professional development. Reviewers will have both their time and travel expenses paid.
For more information, please contact Pam Caven, TDA.
Workshops unravel market data for the international education sector
The International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) is holding a workshop in Melbourne, on 20 April, titled, ‘Business intelligence in HE and VET: Using the data’.
The workshop will be directed at higher education and VET senior management and staff involved in the planning, business development and marketing, recruitment and development of programs for international students.
It aims to provide participants with useful data sources to help understand and forecast future trends in the international education sector.
For more information, click here.
NSW Training Awards applications closing soon
Applications for the 2011 NSW Training Awards close 25 March. The Awards celebrate and reward the commitment and achievements of students, trainers, teachers, training organisations and employers.
This year there are two new categories, the VET Trainer/Teacher of the Year Award, and the Industry Collaboration Award.
The presentation event will be held on 15 September in the Ballroom, Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. For more information on eligibility, application forms, past winners and the presentation event, click here.
Get ready to nominate Victoria’s best in the State Training Awards
Nominations for the 2011 Victorian Training Awards will open 1 April. The awards recognise excellence and innovation, and celebrate the valuable contribution that apprentices, students, teachers, employers, and training providers make to ensure Victoria has a strong skills base.
In 2011, awards will be presented in 14 categories with prizes of up to $10,000 awarded to winners in most categories.
All finalists and their friends and families will be invited to attend the 2011 Victorian Training Awards Presentation Dinner at Crown Palladium in Melbourne, on 1 September.
To find out more visit www.skills.vic.gov.au.
Service Skills present report findings at industry breakfast event
Service Skills Australia will present the final findings of its ‘Evaluation Frameworks for VET’ project at a breakfast event in Sydney, 17 March.
The project commenced in 2010 in direct response to industry concerns about measures of success for VET and its effect on the service industries.
The findings of the project will be presented by John Mitchell of John Mitchell & Associates and will be followed by a Q&A session.
The event will be held at the Four Points Sheraton, Sussex St Sydney, at 7:30am. For more information, or to attend, please contact Yuen Nirmala by 11 March.
Policy in the Pub back in 2011
The first Policy in the Pub events for 2011 in both Melbourne and Sydney will focus on the key issues and constraints impacting on the international education sector.
The Melbourne event will be held tonight at the Honey Bar, South Melbourne and speakers will include John Ross, education Journalist, Campus Review, and Chris Evanson, Managing Director, International Education Services Ltd (IES).
The Sydney event will be held 28 March at the Woolloomooloo Bay Hotel and will feature speakers including David Riordan, Director, TAFE NSW Sydney Institute, John Ross., and Claire Field, CEO, ACPET.
For more information or to book for either events, click here.
Victorian TAFE Association Conference – registration open
The Victorian TAFE Association is holding its annual State Conference at the Hilton on the Park in East Melbourne, May 3-4, with registrations open today.
The Conference is titled ‘Gaining an edge: Outcomes, Equity and Innovation’, and TDA is pleased to be a Bronze Sponsor of the event.
For more information, click here.
Diary Dates
QUEENSLAND TRAINING AWARDS
Closing date for nominations
DATE: 25 March, 2011
DETAILS: Click here for more information
NZ VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING RESEARCH FORUM
TAFE Governance and Regulations Forum
DATE: 27-28 April, 2011
LOCATION: Rutherford House, Wellington
DETAILS: Click here for more information
VICTORIAN TAFE ASSOCIATION
Gaining the Edge – Outcomes, Equity and Innovation
DATE: 3-4 May, 2011
LOCATION: Hilton on the Park, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information
VELG
2011 Queensland VET Symposium
DATE: 12-13 May, 2011
LOCATION: Hilton, Brisbane
DETAILS: Click here for more information
NATIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL EDUCATION RESEARCH
No Frills
DATE: 13-15 July, 2011
LOCATION: North Coast TAFE, Coffs Harbour
DETAILS: Click here for more information
NSW TRAINING AWARDS
Nominations closing date
DATE: 25 March, 2011
DETAILS: Click here for more information
CRITERION CONFERENCES
Interconnected Tertiary Education - Stronger pathways across Higher Education & VET for increased participation
DATE: 30-31 March, 2011|
LOCATION: Mercure, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information
INFORMA EDUCATION
The 9th Annual Higher Education Summit
DATE: 27-29 April, 2011
LOCATION:Sofitel, Brisbane
DETAILS: Click here for more information
AVETRA
Research in VET: Janus – Reflecting Back, Projecting Forward
DATE: 28-29 April, 2011
LOCATION: Rendezvous Hotel, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information
VELG TRAINING
2011 National VET Conference
DATE: 4-5 August, 2011
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information
SKILLSDMC
2011 National Conference
DATE: 10 August, 2011
LOCATION:Four Season’s Hotel, Sydney
DETAILS: Click here for more information
AUSTRALIAN INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
2011 Conference
DATE: 11-14 October, 2011
LOCATION: Adelaide Convention Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information
AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE TRAINING FRAMEWORK
ePortfolios Australia Conference 2011
DATE: 17-18 October, 2011
LOCATION: Perth
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
GROUP TRAINING AUSTRALIA
Looking ahead - Group Training National Conference
DATE: 19-21 October, 2011
LOCATION: Grand Hyatt, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information
To subscribe or unsubscribe to the TDA Newsletter click here.