Letter to the editor of The Australian
10 June 2004
Connecting work and learning (Graduates ‘failing the uni of life’, June 10) is the essence of vocational education and training (VET). The 1.8 million Australians undertaking VET with TAFE colleges, private training providers, and in their workplaces know this, as do the employers who invested $3.7 billion in it in 2001-02. And it’s getting better.
The VET system has agreed that “employability skills”, including communication and interpersonal skills sought by Harvey Norman founder Gerry Harvey, will be critical components of all VET qualifications. This will allow VET graduates to improve the satisfaction rate they get now, where almost 70 per cent of employers saying they’re satisfied that VET is giving graduates the skills employers need.
David Hind
Chair
ANTA Board