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Focus on VET skills
Business Council releases plan for a world‐class training system that prizes vocational skills.
By Kirstie Chlopicki
Vocational education needs to be recognised as a valuable career choice rather than as a second-class alternative to university studies, experts say. The value of TAFE courses has been brought to the forefront with the release of a report from the Business Council of Australia( BCA).
Australia’ s National Apprentice Employment Network welcomed the new planning document, which recognises the importance of students choosing vocational education.
National executive officer Lauren Tiltman said the report, Future‐Proof: Protecting Australians through Education and Skills, set out a model of education that valued vocational training and created adaptable, work-ready graduates.
“ For too long the VET system has been viewed as an alternative to university, and this is creating a generation who are being funnelled into ill-suited university courses and career paths,” Tiltman said.
“ It is time we recognised the need for a world-class training system that prizes the skills acquired through vocational education, apprenticeships and traineeships.
“ The findings reflect the emerging reality about work and skills development – that young people will have multiple careers and employers, and will be expected to upskill and reskill many times.
“ The fact is that in many occupations, work is being transformed, and tertiary qualifications will become outdated and require constant renewal.”
Tiltman said the report made note of increased efforts to broaden school curriculums to cater to the needs of different learners and incorporate VET in Schools programs.
“ However, these initiatives have often been seen as add-ons or optional, rather than the core business of schooling,” she said.
“ This will take a landmark shift in attitudes, supported by government and stakeholders to raise the priority on new approaches to education and training that support a highly skilled country.”
TAFE Directors Australia( TDA) has also welcomed the plan, which it says will help Australia maintain a competitive advantage in education.
“ However, we risk being overtaken by countries with more adventurous and forward-looking education policies, unless all governments come together and take this report seriously,” chief executive Craig Robertson said.
“ TAFEs strongly support the increased focus on vocational education and training as a key economic lever; they assist
We risk being overtaken by countries with more adventurous and forward-looking education policies.
Australians to acquire the skills they’ ll need to navigate the world of work and enterprise.
“ This is the core mission of TAFEs, but it seems to be lost in policy discourse.
“ Proposed reforms to higher education fly in the face of the BCA’ s recommendations. TDA has been advocating for some time for a coherent approach to tertiary education as the only way to solve the distortions in funding and regulation across the sectors.”
Robertson said TAFEs provided the ideal platform for students to pursue their career objectives, but needed greater autonomy.
“ Governments should consider TAFEs as quality alternatives for senior school education,” he said.
“ Too many young people leave school disillusioned about their ability to contribute in the labour market. An applied learning environment in a TAFE setting should be given serious consideration under this plan.
“ Our young people deserve the respect of being offered genuine opportunities in education and training. TAFEs look forward to working with BCA and governments on progressing these issues.” n
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