Newsletter: 21 January 2008
PRIME MINISTER ANNOUNCES SKILLS AUSTRALIA 'FAST TRACK'
The Hon Prime Minister Kevin Rudd MP has announced the decision to 'fast-track' the Skills Australia election commitment by creating 20,000 additional training places by April.
The additional training places will be the first of 450,000 places promised over the next four years in an effort to increase productivity and fight inflation.
The industries most likely to see additional places will be mining, construction, health and community services, and personal and other services.
The Prime Minister also announced the statutory body Skills Australia will be established within the first few weeks of Federal Parliament resuming.
To view the Prime Minister's announcement click
here.
TAFE HIGHLY VALUED BY EMPLOYERS - NCVER RESEARCH
Annual employer data shows some 85% of employers are satisfied with training from TAFE as a way of meeting skills needs according to the 2007 National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) publication:
Survey of employers' use and views of the VET system.
The survey also found that over 80% of large employers (those with 100 employees or more) reported having some or a lot of difficulty recruiting skilled employees in the past 12 months.
To view a summary of the results click here.
ALSO FROM NCVER…
The recently released NCVER report: Higher-level vocational education and training qualifications: Their importance in today's training market
investigated higher-level VET qualifications across six sectors including disability services, nursing, engineering, electronics/electrotechnology, multimedia and design. The report found:
- Higher-level VET qualifications are required to meet employer's needs, but employers don't necessary favour graduates with higher-level qualifications.
- Courses need to appear more credible to employers by teaching problem solving skills and providing work experience
- The role and value of the associate degree is not widely known
REFERENCE GROUP FORMED TO STREAMLINE NTIS WEBSITE
The National Training Information Service (NTIS) has formed the NTIS End User Reference Group, made up of various industry stakeholders, to improve the efficiency of its current website. TDA is represented by Madeleine Hayne, Administrative Co-ordinator of CMM Business Industries.
The group has been consulting on various prototypes and all comments are due at the end of January. The new website is estimated to be completed toward the end of 2008. TDA will provide updates on the progression of the project throughout the year.
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ASIA PACIFIC PROFESSIONAL LEADERS IN EDUCATION (APPLE) CONFERENCE - CALL FOR PAPERS EXTENDED
The 4th QS Asia Pacific Professional Leaders in Education (QS APPLE) Conference will be held in Seoul, Korea from 9-11 July 2008.
TAFE Directors Australia is seeking expressions of interest from TAFE members to take part in a collaborative program associated with the event. Opportunities for involvement include delivery of presentations as part of the technical and vocational education stream, trade show exhibition, general attendance at the event and a business matching program with Korean and UK colleges attending the event.
In 2007, the event attracted senior officials from across the Asia Pacific. Whilst the conference has a university focus, organisers are keen to work with peak bodies such as TDA to support strong business proposals to leverage VET sector partnerships from the event. More details on the conference are at
www.qsapple.org. To request a more detailed proposal for TAFE Directors involvement in the program email
rebeccabiazos@bigpond.com
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WORLD FEDERATION OF COLLEGES AND POLYTECHNICS
Institutes are reminded of the opportunity to join the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP). At the upcoming World Congress to be held in New York from 19-22 February 2008 the Australian TAFE system will be well represented as we continue to influence and contribute to the global agenda for vocational education and training. The theme for the congress 2008 is global partnerships.
TAFE institutes are invited to consider membership of the WFCP. The WFCP not only provides an international voice for sector, membership also provides a global access to an invaluable network of colleges. Annual membership fees are US$500. Click here for a membership flyer or for more information visit
http://www.wfcp.org/index.php.
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IBSA - SEEKING COMMENT
Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) is seeking comment on its Blueprint for Action on Innovation project document.
The project will investigate what enables people to manage and implement innovation in the workforce. To view the document
click
here. Please send any feedback to Andrew Lindhjem
andrew@v3rc.com.au by 1 February 2008.
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DIARY DATES
AUSTRALIAN ASSOCIATION OF CAREER COUNSELLORS
National Career Conference: 'Career Landscape: From Island to Global'
AUSTRALIAN VOCATIONAL & TRAINING RESEARCH ASSOCIATION
Annual Conference 2008: 'VET in Context'
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