VET & TAFE
university HEP is prohibitive. Meanwhile, the strengths of TAFE in providing quality, cost-effective models of delivery in areas of skill demand were noted to the Kemp-Norton inquiry. Enrolments that have been largely driven by industry demand for work-ready degree graduates will grow, based on our review of trends.
Further, in 2012, TAFE provided a significant proportion of total commencements in the fields of management( 21 per cent), creative arts( 19 per cent), engineering( 16 per cent) information technology( 10 per cent), architecture( 9 per cent) early childhood teaching and nursing. Many of these are areas of skills shortage across Australia. This delivery by TAFEs in niche areas of industry specialisation will complement higher education that universities provide, and undoubtedly we may also see price differences intensify across university Go8, innovation and largely teaching universities, private colleges and TAFEs with their own specialist courses.
TDA does have reservations about how the extension of demand-driven funding to sub-bachelor higher-education qualifications will work out, especially the impact on highly skilled VET diplomas and advanced diplomas. The Kemp-Norton Review acknowledges concerns TDA raised regarding evidence of some universities migrating away from VET diplomas towards more profitable higher-education diplomas and similar qualifications, such as associate degrees.
Significant cost differentials exist between VET sub-bachelor qualifications and their equivalents in higher education; it is often more expensive to study at TAFE, depending on the state or territory.
Further adding to the migration from VET diplomas has been the general community perception – which funding reforms should
help address – that a non-university qualification is second rate to its university equivalent. Students who have graduated with a degree in TAFE do not buy the perception. Case studies by TDA in 2013 describe how TAFE has supported new careers that would not have evolved had the students not undertaken higher education at TAFE.
“ People at work still say to me, did you do a degree at TAFE?” the subject of one case study said.“ I say to them that TAFE higher education is a great alternative to university. I don’ t believe I could have studied the bachelor without the Certificate IV. The progressive path really suited me. No one in my family has done a higher education qualification before.”
The sleeper in the Budget may be how Pyne follows through on the Kemp-Norton Review’ s recommendation for a special provider category in the Higher Education Standards Framework, 2011( Threshold Standards). TDA is keen to see progress in the review of provider standards, chaired by emeritus professor Alan Robson. TDA argues this will be an opportunity to examine how we can better recognise the important role that TAFEs and other non-university providers play and uphold the status of their qualifications. It will also help streamline regulation and quality processes.
Australia operates in an international market. The Budget Papers Outlook reaffirmed that international education, now ranked fourth in export earners, is expected to grow. Holding back tertiary reforms would be a significant set-back for students and an impediment to industries urgently seeking graduates with higher technological and knowledge skills for their workforce. ■
Martin Riordan is CEO of TAFE Directors Australia.
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The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a government-funded tertiary institution in Hong Kong. It offers programmes at various levels including Doctorate, Master’ s, and Bachelor’ s degrees. It has a full-time academic staff strength of around 1,250. The total consolidated expenditure budget of the University is about HK $ 5 billion per year.
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING The Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering is seeking a highly motivated individual with a PhD related to Transportation Engineering, Traffic Management, or Pavement Engineering. The Department enjoys high reputation in conducting application oriented research and has well established connections with industry partners and government agencies in Hong Kong. The new appointee will further add to existing research strengths in transportation engineering and traffic management, such as land use and transportation planning, intelligent transportation systems, traffic engineering and management, pavement engineering and management.
The Department offers academic programmes at various levels, including MPhil degree and PhD degree, in the disciplines of Construction and Transportation Engineering, Environmental Engineering Science, Geotechnical Engineering, Hydraulic Engineering, and Structural Engineering. The Department currently has about 40 faculty members and 36 technical and administrative personnel, and is committed to the international standards of excellence in teaching and research. Please visit the website at http:// www. cee. polyu. edu. hk for more information about the Department.
Professor / Associate Professor in Transportation Engineering The appointee will be required to( a) teach relevant subjects at various levels;( b) supervise student projects and theses;( c) initiate, lead and participate in research activities; and( d) undertake relevant administrative duties such as being the leader of academic unit, and the leader of undergraduate and / or postgraduate programmes. Appointee at Professor level will be expected to provide academic leadership in his / her area of expertise.
Applicants should( a) have a PhD degree in Transportation Engineering, Traffic Management, Pavement Engineering or a related discipline;( b) have a track record of and expertise in traffic management and transportation engineering;( c) have outstanding achievements in research and scholarship as well as an excellent reputation as a leading scholar;( d) have strong commitment to excellence in teaching and research; and( e) be able to demonstrate effective classroom teaching skills and have good interpersonal skills.
Preference will be given to those with experience in interdisciplinary collaboration in fields such as Mathematics, Economics, Geography, Social, Computer Sciences and other engineering disciplines.
Remuneration and Conditions of Service A highly competitive remuneration package will be offered. An appropriate term will be provided for the appointment at Associate Professor and Professor levels. Applicants should state their current and expected salary in the application.
Application Please submit application form via email to hrstaff @ polyu. edu. hk; by fax at( 852) 2364 2166; or by mail to Human Resources Office, 13 / F, Li Ka Shing Tower, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. If you would like to provide a separate curriculum vitae, please still complete the application form which will help speed up the recruitment process. Application forms can be obtained via the above channels or downloaded from http:// www. polyu. edu. hk / hro / job. htm. Recruitment will continue until the position is filled. Details of the University’ s Personal Information Collection Statement for recruitment can be found at http:// www. polyu. edu. hk / hro / jobpics. htm.
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