Big Skills Conference
I hope you have all registered for the Big Skills Conference which will be held between 2-5 March this year in Sydney. Currently we have over 1 000 delegates registered so it is shaping up to be an excellent way of gaining new skills, contributing your ideas and developing new networks.
The Big Skills Conference is the first major conference on skills and training hosted at the Federal level in recent times, and it has the support of many organisations and individuals involved in tertiary education and training. It is timely to reinvigorate further education and identify how skills and training can help address the big challenges of productivity, participation and social inclusion.
So if you have not registered, there is still time to do so. Just click on the following link deewr.gov.au/skillsconference2009 which will take you to our information page or you can email skillsconference2009@deewr.gov.au for more information.
Keeping vocational education skills current
Successfully Maintaining Training and Assessment Currency in Vocational Education is the theme of the 2009 VELG National Conference.
Hosted by the Voc Ed Learning Group (VELG), the two-day conference takes place on 13 and 14 August at the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.
The AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) Essential Standards for Registration states all trainers and assessors of vocational education and training (VET) qualifications must continue to develop their training and assessment competencies.
VELG Director Michelle Weaver said this was essential to ensure VET practitioners from registered training organisations (RTOs) have the skills and knowledge required to continuously improve the training and assessment they provide.
“The structure of the 2009 conference will assist delegates with maintaining their training and assessment currency as well as fully brief them on how to operate a successful RTO in Australia,” she said.
This year, the conference will be divided into elective sessions designed for two distinctive groups: RTO Managers and RTO Trainers and Assessors.
The conference will also provide delegates with superior networking opportunities and some of Australia’s finest presenters.
For more information or to register for the 2009 VELG National Conference visit: velg.com.au
NCVER Research on Toast Poaching ideas from abroad: Lessons in VET from the UK & Europe Monday 2 March 2009
Breakfast presentation by Roger Harris and Robin Shreeve
Australia can be proud of its vocational education and training (VET) system, which gives learners a wide range of educational choices. But we can also learn from other countries, particularly with talk of a new 'tertiary sector' promoting stronger links between VET and higher education.
Two renowned speakers—Roger Harris and Robin Shreeve—will talk about lessons from the UK and Europe, and how they can contribute to our thinking in Australia at a one-off event in Adelaide hosted by NCVER.
Ideas include developing easier pathways between VET and higher education, making recognition of formal and informal learning a practical reality, and enabling VET to help the disadvantaged. Other important issues focus on providing informed career guidance for students, and improving the status of VET teachers in our society.
This event will be on interest to those in policy, research, adult education, industry skills development and career guidance.
For more information and to register, please visit
http://www.ncver.edu.au/NCVER_engine.php/events/researchontoast/forum.html
$7 million ways to embed e-learning
Registered training organisations (RTOs), business and industry can apply for more than $7 million in funding opportunities to embed e-learning in the vocational education and training (VET) system.
The national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), is now inviting applications from organisations that can undertake the following activities:
- Implement innovative e-learning solutions for business and learners with support from E-learning Innovations funding available in each state and territory ($5.3m nationally). Applications from RTOs close 5 March. For more information and application guidelines, visit: flexiblelearning.net.au/innovations
- Embed e-learning in industry-led workforce development ($375 000 for new industry sectors and $250 000 for ongoing industry sectors). Applications close 1 April for Industry Integration of E-learning funding grants. For more information and application guidelines, visit: industry.flexiblelearning.net.au
- Conduct trials into emerging technologies and tools that may impact on the VET sector. A maximum of $100 000 is available for up to six trials in 2009. Applications for these E-standards for Training funding grants open 27 February and close 31 March. For more information, visit: flexiblelearning.net.au/e-standards
For more information about the Framework, its products, resources and support networks, contact: (07) 3307 4700, email:
enquiries@flexiblelearning.net.au or visit
flexiblelearning.net.auManager 2020 Principles and Innovation Systems Qualifications
Precision Consultancy has been contracted by Innovation and Business Skills Australia (IBSA) to conduct two interlinked projects around management and innovation. We invite you to participate in the projects, e.g. by responding to a discussion paper, being available for consultation, and/or providing feedback on any draft products developed (e.g. units of competency).
One part of the project will investigate the incorporation of the Manager 2020 principles into all IBSA management qualifications, and establish a qualification framework that may consolidate qualifications across IBSA Training Packages.
Another part of the project will explore the proposed development and endorsement of qualifications, skill sets and units of competency on innovation, to be incorporated into the BSB07 Business Services Training Package, as a key component of the implementation of IBSA’s Blueprint for Action on Innovation.
Further information about this project can be found on IBSA’s website, ibsa.org.au. If you are interested in being involved in the project consultation, please contact Michelle Wong, michelle@precisionconsultancy.com.au, or telephone (03) 9606 0118.
Reducing the risk
Voc Ed Learning Group (VELG) is running a new workshop across Australia for 2009 looking into common risks associated with operating a registered training organisation (RTO) and strategies to overcome them.
Running the Risk and Winning the Race – Getting your RTO into better shape will look at defining risk in the context of the AQTF (Australian Quality Training Framework) Essential Standards for Registration.
A series of case studies will help participants determine risks associated with regulatory compliance, modes of delivery, multi-site operation, training packages and growth management.
At the end of the workshop, participants will be able to identify typical risks, apply risk management tools and techniques and build a workable risk management strategy – all in the context of their own RTO.
VELG Director Michelle Weaver said risk was a consideration for all RTOs and a key component of their management system.
“AQTF auditors take into account a range of risk factors when decisions are made on the frequency, type and breadth of external audit to be conducted. This workshop will help to ensure those risks are low.”
Workshops are being held in Adelaide (17 March), Brisbane (18 & 19 March), Canberra (16 March), Melbourne (16 & 17 March), Perth (18 March) and Sydney (23 & 24 March).
The cost is $279 for VELG members and $330 for non-members. For more information visit: velg.com.au
The role of higher-level VET diplomas
With declining numbers of students completing vocational diplomas and employers’ fickle attitude to hiring these graduates, a new paper examines the role of higher-level VET qualifications.
The paper, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), set out to examine the supply and demand for diplomas.
Tom Karmel, Managing Director, NCVER and author of the paper said the analysis was undertaken following projections of significant shortfalls in skilled people for associate professional jobs and attempts to increase the uptake for higher-level VET qualifications.
“There are clear returns for people with diploma and advance diploma qualifications, particularly in industries where jobs mandate these qualifications, such as health,” says Dr Karmel.
“But, the overall picture is mixed. On average, these graduates fare better in the labour market than those with lower-level qualifications. However, they face stiff competition from university graduates or those with experience.
“And, many students do not use these qualifications for gaining jobs at the associate professional and professional areas.
“Many young people use diplomas as a stepping stone to obtaining degrees and older workers use them to improve their level of skills for their current jobs.
“This led us to pose the question about the role of VET diplomas.
“In looking forward, the challenge is to ensure the position of these higher-level VET qualifications is consolidated.
“Building up articulation arrangements with degrees where appropriate is important, as is improving the attractiveness of diplomas and advanced diplomas in the eyes of employers.”
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