Afghan women at university will study separately from men, the Taliban say

The new Taliban government says Afghanistan’s education system had changed since their last time in power. But women will only be allowed to study in gender-segregated classes and Islamic dress enforced.

Afghan women will be allowed to attend university as long as they study separately from men, the Taliban’s new higher education minister said on Sunday.

Women’s rights in Afghanistan were sharply curtailed under the Taliban’s 1996-2001 rule, though since returning to power last month, the hardline Islamists have claimed they will implement a less extreme rule.

But speaking to reporters about the new regime’s plans for the country’s education, Minister Abdul Baqi Haqqani was unapologetic about bringing an end to mixed education.”We have no problems in ending the mixed education system,” he said. “The people are Muslims and they will accept it.”

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Afghan women at university will study separately from men, the Taliban say

China Revises Law to Advance Innovation in Science, Technology

Chinese national lawmakers began deliberating a draft revision to the law on scientific and technological progress, as the country seeks to advance the quality and efficiency of its innovation in science and technology.

The draft was presented to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for its first reading. The lawmakers would add three chapters to the existing law which are “basic research,” “regional scientific and technological innovation” and “international scientific and technological cooperation”.

For more information, please click here.

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U.S. Invests $220M in Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a $220 million investment in 11 new NSF-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes. USDA-NIFA and other agencies and organisations have partnered with NSF to pursue transformational advances in a range of economic sectors and science and engineering fields — from food system security to next-generation edge networks.

In the tradition of USDA-NIFA investments, these new institutes leverage the scientific power of U.S. land-grant universities informed by a close partnership with farmers, producers, educators and innovators to provide sustainable crop production solutions and address these pressing societal challenges. These innovation centres will speed our ability to meet critical needs in the future agricultural workforce, providing equitable and fair market access, increasing nutrition security and providing tools for climate-smart agriculture.

Director of USDA-NIFA

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on U.S. Invests $220M in Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes

Australia’s manufacturing sector to be revived as a result of COVID-19

IBSA Group, a workforce skills program developer, in support of National Skills Week next week, reports that Australia’s manufacturing sector will be reignited as a result of COVID-19.

More job opportunities and skills-based apprenticeships are likely to be created, due to more companies manufacturing in Australia rather than abroad, IBSA Group CEO Sharon Robertson said.
“Governments are also committed to substantial funding to re-skill our workforce in response to these challenges, which is incredibly encouraging and exciting for Australia’s manufacturing and related industries,” Robertson said.

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Australia’s manufacturing sector to be revived as a result of COVID-19

Extra $3.2m to boost support for vocational education and training

A new funding model, backed by a $3.2 million investment, will help government schools to support their students into industry-endorsed Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Under the new arrangement, government schools will receive top-up funding of $300 for each student, or $600 for each eligible student with a School Card, enrolled in a VET qualification as part of a Flexible Industry Pathway (FIP).

The money will go directly to the school to support them with the implementation of the VET for School Students policy.

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Extra $3.2m to boost support for vocational education and training

Australian border closures blamed for $2.7bn ELICOS related loss

Border closures related to the pandemic in Australia will see the country’s economy AU$2.7 billion worse off due to losses in income that would usually be generated by the ELICOS sector, according to a new analysis.

English Australia’s Economic Impact research – prepared by Bonard – found that border closures resulted in a $1.2bn loss for the English language teaching sector in 2020, while the projected losses for future pathways in 2021 is around $1.5bn. The longer borders are closed, the larger the predicted losses for the sector will be, it warned.

“This new analysis clearly demonstrates how hard the sector was hit by the pandemic in 2020 and highlights the interconnectedness of English language study in Australia to all other sectors,” Brett Blacker, English Australia CEO explained.

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Australian border closures blamed for $2.7bn ELICOS related loss

Aged care facing impending shortage of 110,000 workers, report finds

Urgent action is needed to address a looming shortage of at least 110,000 aged care workers over the coming decade, including boosting pay and conditions and creating a new dedicated migration path to boost the labour force.

The stark warning is contained in a new report to be released by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (Ceda) on Tuesday. The report says unless the Morrison government takes action now, Australia’s aged care workforce shortage will balloon to more than 400,000 workers by 2050.

The report finds Australia has failed to prepare for “the human challenge at the centre of aged care” by building a workforce that is both big enough and well-equipped to meet community expectations.

Fore more information please click here.

September 21, 2021 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Aged care facing impending shortage of 110,000 workers, report finds

The changing career expectations of Australian teens

New analysis reveals the occupational aspirations of Australian girls have become more concentrated over time, while those of Australian boys have become less concentrated.

The latest issue of ACER’s Snapshots series examines data from the 2018 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) about Australian students’ occupational aspirations and the roles they expect to be engaged in when they are around 30 years of age.

Around 10,000 Australian 15-year-olds, or 75 per cent of the nationally representative sample of students that participated in PISA 2018, responded to the question, ‘What kind of job do you expect to have when you are about 30 years old?’ There were significant differences in occupational expectations between girls and boys.

For more information, please click here.

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How the Australian VET sector is changing

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released the latest data on Total VET Activity.

Looking at program enrolments (full qualifications, accredited courses and skillsets) in TAFEs and private providers the data shows that government funded enrolments in TAFE have been largely static at a national level for the last five years (although state-based data below shows some differences by jurisdiction). In the same period as TAFEs have responded to changes in government policy, funding and restructuring in different jurisdictions, there has been a notable decline in their domestic fee-for-service enrolments, and their international enrolments have been in decline from a low base.

For private providers there was a decline nationally in government-funded enrolments from 2016 – 2018 but a subsequent increase in the last two years. Domestic fee-for-service enrolments have dropped, albeit off a high level, and international student enrolments grew year-on-year including last year with the border closed.

For more information, please click here.

September 21, 2021 VET Industry News Comments Off on How the Australian VET sector is changing

The VET Sector News II- September 2021

How the Australian VET sector is changing

The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released the latest data on Total VET Activity.

Looking at program enrolments (full qualifications, accredited courses and skillsets) in TAFEs and private providers the data shows that government funded enrolments in TAFE have been largely static at a national level for the last five years (although state-based data below shows some differences by jurisdiction). In the same period as TAFEs have responded to changes in government policy, funding and restructuring in different jurisdictions, there has been a notable decline in their domestic fee-for-service enrolments, and their international enrolments have been in decline from a low base.

For private providers there was a decline nationally in government-funded enrolments from 2016 – 2018 but a subsequent increase in the last two years. Domestic fee-for-service enrolments have dropped, albeit off a high level, and international student enrolments grew year-on-year including last year with the border closed.

For more information, please click here.

The changing career expectations of Australian teens

New analysis reveals the occupational aspirations of Australian girls have become more concentrated over time, while those of Australian boys have become less concentrated.

The latest issue of ACER’s Snapshots series examines data from the 2018 OECD Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) about Australian students’ occupational aspirations and the roles they expect to be engaged in when they are around 30 years of age.

Around 10,000 Australian 15-year-olds, or 75 per cent of the nationally representative sample of students that participated in PISA 2018, responded to the question, ‘What kind of job do you expect to have when you are about 30 years old?’ There were significant differences in occupational expectations between girls and boys.

For more information, please click here.

Morrison Government marks National Skills Week 2021 with highest funding for skills and training in Australian history

The Morrison Government has marked National Skills Week 2021 by reminding Australians of the incredible opportunities of a skilled career as hundreds of thousands make use of the skills and training pathways guaranteed through record levels of federal funding.

Given the massive demand for skilled workers it is also a great reminder that it is never too late to take up a new trade or to upskill through Australia’s world-class vocational education and training sector.

National Skills Week will see events and webinars held across the country aiming to help Australians unlock their potential and gain real skills for real careers.

For more information, please click here.

Aged care facing impending shortage of 110,000 workers, report finds

Urgent action is needed to address a looming shortage of at least 110,000 aged care workers over the coming decade, including boosting pay and conditions and creating a new dedicated migration path to boost the labour force.

The stark warning is contained in a new report to be released by the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (Ceda) on Tuesday. The report says unless the Morrison government takes action now, Australia’s aged care workforce shortage will balloon to more than 400,000 workers by 2050.

The report finds Australia has failed to prepare for “the human challenge at the centre of aged care” by building a workforce that is both big enough and well-equipped to meet community expectations.

Fore more information please click here.

Australian border closures blamed for $2.7bn ELICOS related loss

Border closures related to the pandemic in Australia will see the country’s economy AU$2.7 billion worse off due to losses in income that would usually be generated by the ELICOS sector, according to a new analysis.

For more information, please click here.

Extra $3.2m to boost support for vocational education and training

A new funding model, backed by a $3.2 million investment, will help government schools to support their students into industry-endorsed Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Under the new arrangement, government schools will receive top-up funding of $300 for each student, or $600 for each eligible student with a School Card, enrolled in a VET qualification as part of a Flexible Industry Pathway (FIP).

The money will go directly to the school to support them with the implementation of the VET for School Students policy.

For more information, please click here.

Australia’s manufacturing sector to be revived as a result of COVID-19

IBSA Group, a workforce skills program developer, in support of National Skills Week next week, reports that Australia’s manufacturing sector will be reignited as a result of COVID-19.

More job opportunities and skills-based apprenticeships are likely to be created, due to more companies manufacturing in Australia rather than abroad, IBSA Group CEO Sharon Robertson said.
“Governments are also committed to substantial funding to re-skill our workforce in response to these challenges, which is incredibly encouraging and exciting for Australia’s manufacturing and related industries,” Robertson said.

For more information, please click here.

U.S. Invests $220M in Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a $220 million investment in 11 new NSF-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes. USDA-NIFA and other agencies and organisations have partnered with NSF to pursue transformational advances in a range of economic sectors and science and engineering fields — from food system security to next-generation edge networks.

In the tradition of USDA-NIFA investments, these new institutes leverage the scientific power of U.S. land-grant universities informed by a close partnership with farmers, producers, educators and innovators to provide sustainable crop production solutions and address these pressing societal challenges. These innovation centres will speed our ability to meet critical needs in the future agricultural workforce, providing equitable and fair market access, increasing nutrition security and providing tools for climate-smart agriculture.

Director of USDA-NIFA

For more information, please click here.

China Revises Law to Advance Innovation in Science, Technology

Chinese national lawmakers began deliberating a draft revision to the law on scientific and technological progress, as the country seeks to advance the quality and efficiency of its innovation in science and technology.

The draft was presented to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for its first reading. The lawmakers would add three chapters to the existing law which are “basic research,” “regional scientific and technological innovation” and “international scientific and technological cooperation”.

For more information, please click here.

Afghan women at university will study separately from men, the Taliban say

The new Taliban government says Afghanistan’s education system had changed since their last time in power. But women will only be allowed to study in gender-segregated classes and Islamic dress enforced.

For more information, please click here.

Canada: students worry about unaffordable course withdrawal

International students enrolled at Canadian institutions have said they are unable to withdraw from their courses and get refunds due to college policies and visa processing delays.

For more information, please click here.

Internationals contribute £28.8bn to UK economy yearly

International students in the UK contribute £28.8 billion to the country’s coffers annually – an equivalent of every citizen being on average of £390 better off – new analysis has revealed.

For more information, please click here.

‘It’s so hard’: how the pandemic upended young people’s career paths

Remote learning and its detrimental effect on their study have forced many teenagers to rethink tertiary education.

For more information, please click here.

India urges Australia to address students’ difficulties due to travel restrictions

India on Saturday urged Australia to sympathetically address as soon as possible the difficulties being faced by Indian students due to the travel restrictions put in place by that country in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. The issue was taken up during deliberations when External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held the inaugural ‘two-plus-two’ dialogue here with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton.

For more information, please click here.

India, Australia concur that ‘Afghanistan must not become terror hub’

India and Australia on Saturday, September 11, 2021, and expressed concern over the situation in Afghanistan and hoped that its territory would not be used for terrorists’ activities and doesn’t become a safe haven for terrorists.

Speaking to the media after the first 2+2 dialogue between India’s external affairs minister S Jaishankar and defence minister Rajnath Singh with their Australian counterparts Marise Payne and Peter Dutton, Jaishankar said the two sides had a “very detailed exchange of views” and the India-Australian approach was very similar.

For more information, please click here.

Student wellbeing and online learning: Tips for students

Due to the current outbreak of the COVID-19 strain of the coronavirus many higher education providers have switched to online delivery of all or many of their courses. Some providers have a lot of experience in online teaching while others are new to the experience. The same is true for the students in higher education. At a time where many students have to get used to a new way of studying and learning, TEQSA would like to offer some resources to assist students in their adjustment to online learning.

For more information, please click here.

Providers: Check your delivery locations in asqanet are up-to-date

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date provider information is a requirement for training providers.

Accurate delivery location data is important to provide students with surety and understanding about how and where your courses can take place.

The information you provide in asqanet will be reflected on training.gov.au. If you haven’t already done so this year, please check and update your delivery locations in asqanet. This will ensure you meet your obligation to keep ASQA up-to-date under section 25 of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act (2011).

This includes checking that asqanet is showing accurate records for:

  • the physical address and postal address for the head office
  • the physical address of the organisation’s principal place of business
  • the physical address of the sites or campuses from which VET courses are delivered on a permanent basis (whether in Australia or offshore)
  • website address.

For more information, please click here.

Australia installs first space laser optical ground station in southern hemisphere

Recently, my colleagues and I swung a half-tonne telescope onto the roof of the physics building at the University of Western Australia. For a tense moment, my career hung from a crane hook.

The telescope is the first of its kind in the southern hemisphere and represents a new generation of space communications using lasers.

For more information, please click here.

Breaking the bamboo ceiling: Young Asian Australian women share their tips for success

While Asian Australians continue to be underrepresented in leadership positions, some young women have managed to break through the “bamboo ceiling”.

The ABC spoke to four finalists in the 2021 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian-Australians Awards — a nanotechnology engineer, a ballet dancer, a human rights lawyer and a telco executive — about the challenges they have faced in their careers.

The awards are an initiative of the Asian-Australian Leadership Summit, and the ABC is a media partner.

For more information, please click here.

The impact of COVID-19 on higher education and Vocational Education and Training

For more information, please visit

Higher Education: Click here.

Vocational education and training: Click here.

Viral email regarding ASQA’s current and past audit activities

If you follow Education Issues Australia on Twitter, or have LinkedIn, or Facebook accounts, you may have noticed a report developed by the @edissuesaus. The research identifies some serious and systemic problems with the current regulatory body. More information can be found by visiting this link.

A copy of this has also been presented to the senate as well. Since 2017-18, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has closed more than 1100 RTOs. According to ASQA’s response to a Question on Notice, over this period, the cancellation rate has reduced from 54 percent of decisions to only 5 percent in 2020-21, a significant decrease from the previous year.

How can a regulator move from having cancellations account for 54 percent of all decisions to only 5 percent of all decisions while making no changes to the policy?

We’re still waiting for responses to a few important questions, such as:

  • Why has ASQA failed to provide any information about Recognition of Prior Learning, which is used to qualify its auditors, to anyone who has asked?
  • As to why ASQA is refusing to provide information on how many Auditors have been employed who do not possess both requisite qualifications as specified by the Standards for VET Regulators?
  • Approximately how many RTOs have been renewed without audit since the current ASQA Chief Executive Officer began working for the regulator?

For more information, please click here.

September 19, 2021 VET Industry News Comments Off on The VET Sector News II- September 2021

The VET Sector News- September 2021

ASQA approves extended transition period for Early Childhood Education & Care qualifications from the CHC Community Services training package until 20 January 2023

ASQA has recently approved an extended transition period for the following Early Childhood Education & Care qualifications. The extended training, assessment and certification issuance period for this qualification ends on 20 January 2023.

CHC30113 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care

CHC50113 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care

CHC50213 Diploma of School Aged Education and Care

CHC30213 Certificate III in Education Support

CHC40213 Certificate IV in Education Support

The qualifications will remain on the RTOs scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period unless the RTO chooses to withdraw it from scope prior.

For more information, Click here.

Strategic deliverables from ASQA’s Corporate Plan 2021-22

For the next four years, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has published its Corporate Plan 2021-22, which outlines the organisation’s strategic direction in the field of vocational education and training (VET).

As Saxon Rice, ASQA’s Chief Executive Officer, put it, the plan outlines the agency’s commitment to best-practice regulation of Australia’s vocational education and training industry.

For more information, Click here.

The online delivery of VET during COVID-19: part 1

This report, the first of two reports for this project, explores the vocational education and training (VET) sector’s response to COVID-19 through the increasing use of online training and assessment. The overall objective of this two-report study is to investigate the immediate response to COVID-19

For more information, Click here. 

Australian border closures blamed for $2.7bn ELICOS related loss

Border closures related to the pandemic in Australia will see the country’s economy AU$2.7 billion worse off due to losses in income that would usually be generated by the ELICOS sector, according to a new analysis.

For more information, Click here.

Extra $3.2m to boost support for vocational education and training

A new funding model, backed by a $3.2 million investment, will help government schools to support their students into industry-endorsed Vocational Education and Training (VET).

Under the new arrangement, government schools will receive top-up funding of $300 for each student, or $600 for each eligible student with a School Card, enrolled in a VET qualification as part of a Flexible Industry Pathway (FIP).

The money will go directly to the school to support them with the implementation of the VET for School Students policy.

For more information, Click here.

Australia’s manufacturing sector to be revived as a result of COVID-19

IBSA Group, a workforce skills program developer, in support of National Skills Week next week, reports that Australia’s manufacturing sector will be reignited as a result of COVID-19.

More job opportunities and skills-based apprenticeships are likely to be created, due to more companies manufacturing in Australia rather than abroad, IBSA Group CEO Sharon Robertson said.

“Governments are also committed to substantial funding to re-skill our workforce in response to these challenges, which is incredibly encouraging and exciting for Australia’s manufacturing and related industries,” Robertson said.

For more information, Click here.

U.S. Invests $220M in Artificial Intelligence Research Institutes

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a $220 million investment in 11 new NSF-led Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research Institutes. USDA-NIFA and other agencies and organisations have partnered with NSF to pursue transformational advances in a range of economic sectors and science and engineering fields — from food system security to next-generation edge networks.

In the tradition of USDA-NIFA investments, these new institutes leverage the scientific power of U.S. land-grant universities informed by a close partnership with farmers, producers, educators and innovators to provide sustainable crop production solutions and address these pressing societal challenges. These innovation centres will speed our ability to meet critical needs in the future agricultural workforce, providing equitable and fair market access, increasing nutrition security and providing tools for climate-smart agriculture.

Director of USDA-NIFA

For more information, Click here.

China Revises Law to Advance Innovation in Science, Technology

Chinese national lawmakers began deliberating a draft revision to the law on scientific and technological progress, as the country seeks to advance the quality and efficiency of its innovation in science and technology.

The draft was presented to the ongoing session of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress for its first reading. The lawmakers would add three chapters to the existing law which are “basic research,” “regional scientific and technological innovation” and “international scientific and technological cooperation”.

For more information, Click here.

September 3, 2021 VET Industry News Comments Off on The VET Sector News- September 2021

The VET Sector News- August 2021

Australia is facing a severe labour crunch

As the world recuperates from the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic, labour shortage has crippled many advanced economies. To deal with this, Australia has released a Priority Migration Skilled Occupation List (PMSOL) – a list of skilled occupations that the Australian government has assessed will be needed to fill critical skills needed to support Australia’s economic recovery.

For more information, Click here.

COVID-19 information letting down international students, non-English speakers

Many international students and temporary visa holders are struggling to grapple with information about the COVID-19 vaccine situation here in the ACT.

Chinese student Dahlia is a recent graduate from the Australian National University (ANU) who currently works in a department store while on a student-dependent visa. She says that many non-English speakers like her are relying on news from China about what is happening in Australia regarding vaccines.

For more information, Click here.

6 Must-Have Workplace Learning Strategies For The Hybrid Workplace

The workplace of the future is hybrid. It implies a blend of in-office and remote employees, some of whom may even rotationally work in an office and remotely. This hybrid model implies that team members are geographically dispersed, even potentially spanning multiple time zones.

This presents a host of challenges, many of which can be resolved with an effective hybrid workplace learning strategy and roadmap.

Truly, the hybrid workplace existed before COVID forced most knowledge workers to engage remotely. The response to the pandemic-triggered remote operations proved that many organizations were ready to face the inherent technical and operational challenges. Now that a hybrid workforce is the recognized reality, many organizations have realized its potential to increase productivity, retain and entice top talent, as well as enhance workflows.

For more information, Click here.

Australia in talks to simplify visa process, waive fees for students

International students in Australia universities could be looking at a future with cheaper and simpler visa processes, as the country works towards resuscitating its international education sector. The Australian Financial Review reports that the Morrison government has been given a roadmap to recovery that includes prioritising students from low-risk countries, simplifying the visa process and waiving fees, regulatory relief for some providers and a marketing campaign to reassure international students they are still welcome to study in Australia.

For more information, Click here.

Why Australian universities must offer students a better deal now

Governments and Australian universities are planning for the recovery of the international student market once Australia can start easing border closures that have had huge impacts on universities and the economy. The situation is becoming increasingly urgent: a new ANU-commissioned analysis shows an alarming fall in international student demand for Australian universities. It’s less than two-thirds of what it was before the pandemic.

For more information, Click here.

Tudge handed recovery road map to reverse overseas student crisis

The Morrison government has been handed a road map to recovery for the $40 billion international student sector that includes giving priority to students from low-risk countries, simplifying the visa process and waiving fees, regulatory relief for some providers and a marketing campaign to reassure students they are still welcome.

he plan, which has been with Education Minister Alan Tudge for more than a week, comes as the government faces increasing rancour over the lack of a national plan to regain dwindling enrolments among international students.

For more information, Click here.

Australia plots international education restart from the bunker

Representative groups put preparatory work in place as latest infections undermine plans to reboot arrivals.

For more information, Click here.

Free building and businesses courses for reskilling during lockdown

TAFE NSW will offer 10 new fee-free courses in mental health, digital security, business administration and construction to help people re-skill during the pandemic.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said the fee-free training in areas of employment growth was designed to help support the community through the lockdown.

“Whether you are in lockdown in Greater Sydney, or in a regional community, I urge NSW residents to take advantage of the free training options available that will help build the skills needed to get a head-start in a post-COVID economy,” Mr Lee said.

For more information, Click here.

SD73’s insurance provider for international students suffers cybersecurity breach

KAMLOOPS — School District No. 73 (SD73, Kamloops-Thompson) said it was notified that guard me, the travel and medical insurance provider for its international student program, experienced a cybersecurity breach incident.

Personal information that may be impacted by this incident includes identity information, contact information, and other information provided to support submitted claims.

For more information, Click here.

Immigration update: Australian states open skilled visa nomination programs for 2021-2022

Australian jurisdictions receive quotas from the federal government each year, based on which the states and territories nominate skilled and business migrants for the Skilled Nom­inated visa Subclass 190 and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 491.

For more information, Click here.

News Corp and Google launch journalism academy in Australia

News Corp Australia and Google have launched an education program to equip news professionals with the skills for storytelling based on the “commercial realities” of today’s media industry.

The academy, which begins in early 2022, will accept 750 local and regional Australian news professionals over the next three years.

The training will focus on skills such as digital journalism, video and audio production, data journalism, audience measurement, reader revenue, digital business models and marketing.

For more information, Click here.

NSW leading the nation in skilling Australians

More than 100,000 people in NSW have taken up fee free courses since the joint Federal-State JobTrainer initiative was first introduced in October last year.

Minister for Skills and Tertiary Education Geoff Lee said NSW was now leading the nation in equipping people with skills after more than half of Australia’s JobTrainer enrolments hailed from NSW.

For more information, Click here.

Australia pioneers ‘stacking’ of micro-credentials into degrees

Comparison websites on the way as admissions centres reinvent their services amid emerging needs and demographic change.

For more information, Click here.

Nearly 100,000 international students leave Australia as borders remain closed

Federal government data indicates Australia has lost more than 100,000 international students over the past financial year. Each student lost can cost the economy nearly $60,000 in terms of tuition fees and overall economic contribution, as per estimates of the International Education Association.

Dilpreet Singh, a former student in Sydney, is amongst hundreds of international students who have resolved to never return to Australia.

The second-year undergraduate told SBS Punjabi that his university’s push to online studies coupled with the government’s “dilly-dallying” towards providing a timeline for the return of overseas students, had compelled him to look at other education destinations like Canada.

For more information, Click here.

Another pilot plan for international student return to Australia delayed

The Greater Sydney lockdown will push back any plans for international student return to Australia until August 28, at least. This lockdown was extended for four weeks on July 27 in view of the rising cases brought about by the notorious Delta variant. It will inevitably pause the New South Wales (NSW) pilot plan, which would enable 250 international students to come to Sydney per fortnight.

The Greater Sydney area includes the Blue Mountains, Central Coast, Wollongong and Shellharbour. The lockdown has most recently been extended to Newcastle and the Hunter region after 262 new active cases in NSW on August 5, including five deaths. It will last for one week, at least.

For more information, Click here.

Survey details learner engagement satisfaction drops in Australia

The overall quality of education experiences of international students at education providers in Australia fell in 2020, particularly among Chinese and Malaysian undergraduates, a survey has revealed.

Surveying more than 87,000 offshore and onshore international students between July and October 2020, the 2020 International Student Experience Survey showed overall education experience remained largely stable among respondents in vocational education and training, with 84% rating positively in both 2019 and 2020.

For more information, Click here.

Post-COVID-19: Connecting Young People to Jobs of the Future

The pandemic has brought devastating effects on young people especially on their livelihood opportunities and employment prospects. Recent ILO data shows that youth employment fell by 8.7 per cent in 2020 compared with 3.7 per cent for adults. Meanwhile, the world of work continues to rapidly transform. Nearly 50 per cent of companies expect that by 2020, automation will lead to some reduction in their full-time workforce, and more than half of all employees will require significant reskilling and upskilling.

For more information, Click here.

The pandemic has carved $13.6 billion from Australia’s education sector as international student numbers fall

Closed international borders and limited online study options have reportedly carved $13.6 billion from Australia’s overseas education exports since 2019.

Citing the Australian Bureau of Statistics, The Australian reports the annual value of tertiary education exports, accounting for tuition, accommodation, and related travel expenses, fell from $40.3 billion over the 2019 calendar year to $26.7 billion in the 12 months to June 2021.

For more information, Click here.

JobTrainer mops up unmet demand for training, puts people into jobs

She’s a bit ashamed to admit it, but COVID-19 has been good to Patricia Pattison. The former taxi driver from Townsville, Qld, is among the 200,000 Australians who have undertaken a training course under the 2020 JobTrainer initiative.

In need of a life change after the death of her husband four years ago, Mrs Pattison moved to Sydney to be closer to her two sons, took a leap of faith and half way through last year enrolled in a certificate IV in aged care with TAFE NSW.

For more information, Click here.

OECD Conference | Disrupted futures: International lessons on how schools can best equip students for their working lives

As countries turn their attention from handling a healthcare emergency to dealing with its economic consequences, concern rises over youth unemployment. Even before the pandemic, young people in many countries were facing difficulties in their transitions into work. During the pandemic, young people commonly found themselves disproportionately affected by lay-offs and recruitment freezes. Now, with the world coming out of the crisis, young people find themselves particularly vulnerable in the search for work.

This OECD conference focuses on what schools can do to prepare young people for their transitions through education into ultimate employment.

For more information, Click here.

August 8, 2021 VET Industry News Comments Off on The VET Sector News- August 2021

We hear loud & clear message from business-VET sector is not meeting your workforce needs-PM Scott

Strong comments regarding the Australian VET system were made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison in his speech to the Business Council of Australia (BCA).

“We hear loud and clear the message from the business – that our Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector is not meeting your workforce needs.

I’m not going to throw more money into a system that is not working, we are going to fix the system so we can invest better in it.

Informed by the outstanding report delivered by Steven Joyce, Commonwealth and state and territory governments are working constructively, they are working together to develop and implement our reform road-map. And Minister Cash will be meeting with her state and territory counterparts this Friday to advance that agenda.”

We would also like to share the comments of our VET industry leaders on this report: 

“Nothing will change if the money is thrown at the same groups who caused, and continue to cause, the problems that the VET system experiences today.

I am certain that, had they known how to create and maintain a world-leading VET system, the groups with the most sway over our system would have done so by now. The evidence before us shows, however, that either there was no desire to do so, or there was no idea how to.

It is beyond comprehension that anybody, armed with the skills and desire to do so, would deliberately ignore the massive opportunities we have had in the past to once more be at the forefront of global VET. But that our system is amongst the worst suggests that it was not the strength to do so that was – and remains – missing, but the ability. It is incomprehensible, therefore, that they would receive any more taxpayers money to keep us near the bottom.

Sadly, I feel that this is exactly what will happen.”

“ASQA is responsible for the failure of the VET system in Australia”

“How on earth can a small business take on apprentices and trainees with all the complexity involved these days?

Navigating through entitlements, superannuation, the different types of leave, insurance, pay rates, compliance etc could take hours and hours of research and when you are under the pump trying to keep your business afloat, I can imagine it would be a nightmare – and that’s even before you manage your own business affairs – such as BAS, your own records and requirements and getting work in the door.

It’s not a case now of just paying someone a wage and that’s it. All employers have to be HR experts, Superannuation experts, Payroll experts, Insurance experts, Compliance experts. For many people, it’s all just too hard.”

We as an industry representative and stakeholders are seeking answers to the following questions: 

  1. If our VET system is not meeting the needs of the learners or industry then who is it serving? A few Government bureaucrats who keep creating chaos and complete disorder in the industry.

  2. Are there deliberate efforts by these bureaucrats to derail the VET system? What is the background of these bureaucrats working in the vocational education and training sector?

  3. What initiatives are the Government implementing to change the unpredictable, inconsistent and highly toxic culture of our current vocational education and training regulator?

  4. Why has a regulator been allowed to destroy hundreds of Australian businesses by using unqualified and inexperienced auditors?

May 9, 2020 News, VET Industry News, VET Sector Comments Off on We hear loud & clear message from business-VET sector is not meeting your workforce needs-PM Scott

Understanding the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2019

In 2017, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, the Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, commissioned a review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVETR Act) and its associated legislative framework. The review was part of the Australian Government’s commitment to ensure the quality of the national vocational education and training (VET) sector into the future.

Professor Valerie Braithwaite from Australian National University conducted the review to determine the legislative capacity of the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) to efficiently and effectively regulate the sector, evaluate if ASQA’s functions and powers are consistent with best regulatory practice and assess the ability of the system to meet industry and student needs. Professor Braithwaite was also asked to investigate reforms that could improve outcomes for students.

The review report is available here.

Another expert review of Australia’s vocational education and training sector was conducted by  the Honourable Steven Joyce.

The review report is available here.

The National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2019, suggested by the minister and VET stakeholders, is the result of the recommendations of Professor Valerie Braithwaite and Steven Joyce. We did our research and have identified that this bill is highly influenced by the Australian Skills Quality Authority’s submission to the Review of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011. The copy of the ASQA’s submission is available via the following link here: 

This bill was introduced and read for the first time in the senate on 4th Dec 2019. The second reading debate occurred on the 5th February 2020. No proposed amendments have been suggested and/or made in the Amendment bill in the first or second debate. The bill is now almost ready to be introduced to the second house and the final text of the bill will be passed with or without any amendments by both the House of Representatives and the Senate which is presented to the Governor-General for assent. 

It is important to understand this bill as it will be bringing a number of substantial changes to ASQA’s regulation of the vocational education and training sector. 

It remains unclear how the proposed amendments will help the Australian Government and training and education sector to have a more transparent and balanced regulator that builds quality and capacity in the VET sector.

The suggested amendments are in relation to: 

Training organisation’s registration requirements, 

It appears under the amendment act the entry into the training market will be stringent. The total number of RTOs are already reasonably stable in recent years but these new changes will significantly reduce the number of organisations applying to become a registered training organisation (RTO). The proposed reform numbers one and two of ASQA’s submission are considered in full to make this change. 

The organisations will be required to demonstrate a genuine purpose of a commitment to providing high-quality VET and capability to do so to be a training organisation. The training organisation will also be responsible to demonstrate the establishment of a sustainable business model, with a focus on ensuring adequate resources are readily available for the proposed scope of registration. 

Conditions and decision timings relating to National VET Regulator (NVR) registered training organisations (NVR RTOs); 

The amendment bill includes information about the period for which the condition will be imposed and how organisations should be notified. 

Notification requirements for NVR RTOs in relation to changes to the operation of an NVR RTO or events likely to significantly affect an NVR RTO’s ability to comply with the VET Quality Framework; 

The stringent notification requirements are suggested to be made mandatory. The legislation enforces a policy of continuous disclosure on an RTO, notifying ASQA when there are likely to be significant changes to an RTO or when an event occurs that is likely to significantly affect an organisation’s ability to be compliant.    

Reviewable decisions made by the delegate of the NVR; 

Section 203 includes information about the reviewable decisions made by the delegate of the NVR. 

Compliance standards and conditions for accredited courses; 

There are a number of compliance standards and conditions suggested for accredited courses. Such as section 47: 

A person in respect of whom a VET accredited course is accredited must: 

  • comply with the conditions set out in sections 47A, 47B and 47C; and 
  • comply with any conditions imposed on the accreditation of the VET accredited course under subsection 48(1).

 

Preparation and publication of audit reports by the NVR; 

ASQA will be required to publish audit reports to its own website. The format and timings of publication of these reports are not clear yet. The amendment bill states the following after section 17A: 

17A Requirements for audits conducted in relation to applications for registration

        1. The National VET Regulator must prepare a report of an audit conducted under subsection 17(3) in relation to an application for registration.

        2. The report must: 

          • (a)  be in a form (if any) approved by the Minister; and

          • (b)  comply with the requirements (if any) prescribed by the audit report rules for the purposes of this paragraph.

        3. The report must not include personal information , unless the personal information is the name of: 

          • (a)  the applicant; or 

          • (b)  an N VR registered training organisation.

        4. The National VET Regulator must comply with the requirements (if any) prescribed by the audit report rules relating to the publication of the report.

 

Electronic sharing and publication of information authorised by the NVR; 

The proposed changes suggest that no personal information should be made available through publication of the audit reports or electronic sharing. This change is to meet the requirements of the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (or APPs). For more information, please refer here.

The other changes include the following: 

  • information that the NVR is required to enter on the National Register; 
  • the NVR’s powers to request documents in electronic form, use of enforceable undertakings and to allow for regulatory decisions to be stayed while under reconsideration; 
  • cancellation of VET qualifications and statements of attainment; 
  • the minister’s powers to issue directions to, and determine certain fees charged by, the NVR; 
  • certain offence provisions relating to the delivery of a VET course; 
  • processes for the appointment of acting Commissioners, the Deputy Chief Commissioner and the Chief Commissioner of the NVR; and the NVR’s annual operational and corporate plans; and to make a number of technical amendments; and National Vocational Education and Training Regulator (Transitional Provisions) Act 2011 to provide for transitional arrangements.

 

For more information regarding the changes and how they will affect you, contact us at info@caqa.com.au.

February 20, 2020 ASQA, News, VET Industry News Comments Off on Understanding the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment Bill 2019

The VET Sector News- February 2020

Coronavirus travel ban sees Chinese students miss start of university, Australia’s tertiary education sector scrambling

More than 100,000 Chinese students will not be able to start their university and TAFE classes in Australia because of the travel ban put in place to curb the spread of coronavirus.

On Saturday, the Federal Government banned anyone arriving from, or transiting through, mainland China from coming to Australia.

With most university classes due to start next week, the ban has thrown Australia’s higher education sector into chaos. 

For more Information, please visit here.

SA Govt invests in vocational education and training

More young South Australians are in training and on the pathway to new jobs due in part to strong investment and reforms in South Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system.

The latest data from the Productivity Commission’s annual Report on Government Services (ROGS) reports that the Marshall Liberal Government delivered the highest boost to skills training and funding in the nation in percentage terms in VET in 2018, boosted non-government training providers, and delivered improved employment outcomes for students.

Highlights for South Australia include:

  • An additional $54.3 million in State Government recurrent funding, or a 38.1 percent increase in 2018.
  • Non-government providers were supported by an additional $11 million or a 28 percent increase from 2017, the largest increase in the nation in percentage terms.
  • 5 percent of government funded VET graduates aged 20 to 64 improved their employment status after training in 2019 -above the national figure of 64.7 per cent.

 

For more Information, please visit here.

ACT has highest student participation and employment

The ACT has the highest participation in education across early childhood, tertiary, vocational and graduate training, according to the 2020 Report on Government Services, enabling Canberrans to secure good jobs and valuable skills.

“The ACT is the knowledge capital of the nation and these results show the ACT Government’s is successfully supporting Canberra students to reach their full potential,” said Chief Minister and Minister for Tertiary Education Andrew Barr.

Vocational education and training

“For the sixth year in a row, the ACT had the highest number of government-funded vocational education and training students participating in courses at Certificate III to Diploma level or above,” said Minister for Tertiary Education Andrew Barr.

“We also continue to have the nation’s highest number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students employed and/or undertaking further study after completing a course.

“The ACT Government remains committed to investing in high-quality vocational education and training programs.”

“We are investing in a new state-of-the art ICT campus to be built in Woden. CIT Woden will provide a modern, purpose built campus that’s expected to bring an extra 6,500 students to the Woden town centre each year to support local business and industry.”

For more Information, please visit here.

Report on Government Services 2020

The Australian, State and Territory governments’ recurrent expenditure (including user cost of capital) on VET totalled $6.0 billion in 2018 — a real decrease of 4.0 per cent from 2017.

Nationally in 2018:

  • an estimated 4.1 million students participated in total VET, and around 1.1 million students participated in government‑funded VET
  • there were 3830  registered VET training organisations delivering nationally recognised training in Australia. Around 1747 government funded VET providers delivered nationally recognised, locally developed and non-nationally recognised training, at 30 485 locations in Australia
  • around 722 200 qualifications were completed by total VET students aged 15—64 years — equivalent to 44.1 qualifications per 1000 people. Around 346 800 qualifications were completed by government-funded VET students aged 15—64 years — equivalent to 21.2 qualifications per 1000 people.

Nationally in 2019:

  • 88.6 per cent of all government-funded 2018 VET graduates were satisfied with the overall quality of their training
  • 67.0 percent of 20—64 year old total VET graduates from 2018 improved their employment status after training.

The VET system aims to deliver a productive and highly skilled workforce through enabling all working age Australians to develop and use the skills required to effectively participate in the labour market and contribute to Australia’s economic future. To achieve this, the Australian, State and Territory governments aim to create a national training system that:

  • is accessible to all working age Australians
  • meets the needs of students, employers and industries
  • is high quality.

 

Governments aim for a national training system that meets these objectives in an equitable and efficient manner.

For more Information, please visit here.

‘Energising Tasmania’ agreement signed

The Australian and Tasmanian Governments have signed an agreement that will support thousands of Tasmanians through the delivery of fee-free training to develop a skilled workforce for the renewable energy and related sectors.

The Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, the Hon Michaelia Cash, said the $17 million Energising Tasmania project will equip Tasmanians with the skills to support the Battery of the Nation initiative.

“The Morrison Government is removing the barriers that inhibit people in Tasmania from taking up further skilling through the vocational education and training (VET) sector such as upfront costs of training,” Minister Cash said.

“In addition, we are supporting Tasmania to establish a local industry advisory group, build capacity in the training market and undertake dedicated workforce planning activities – all aimed at building the skills needed for the critically important Battery of the Nation initiative.

“The advisory group will engage with employers and registered training organisations to support the development of the workforce needed for the renewable energy and related sectors more broadly.”

Assistant Minister for Vocational Education, Training and Apprenticeships, the Hon Steve Irons MP, said Energising Tasmania will support the delivery of high-quality training in priority areas.

“Energising Tasmania will deliver up to 2,500 fully subsidised training places, including traineeships, apprenticeships and pre-apprenticeships, in areas of identified skills need, Assistant Minister Irons said.

Assistance of up to $1,000 per learner will also be available to cover costs associated with training, such as books and materials, and student amenity fees.

Energising Tasmania is part of the Australian Government’s $585 million Delivering Skills for Today and Tomorrow package.

For more Information, please visit here.

Malaysian university seeks partner for short-term study abroad program in Australia

A Malaysian public research university seeks an Australian university partner for a study abroad program for undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts.

For more Information, please visit here.

Singapore’s first undergraduate health degree in speech and language therapy

Australian universities will now face intense competition for allied health enrolments as a Singapore institute launches the market’s first degree program in speech and language therapy. Australia has long been a top destination for Singaporean students seeking speech therapy qualifications.

For more Information, please visit here.

Mitchell Institute releases new report and sounds VET funding alarm

The Mitchell Institute recently shared the results from the Australian Investment in Education: Vocational Education and Training report, showing that funding for vocational education and training (VET) is at its lowest level in more than a decade, leaving Australia at risk of failing to properly provide high-quality training for the estimated 45 per cent of new jobs needing VET qualifications in the next five years.

The findings will be of particular interest to the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector in light of publicised workforce shortages which fall at a time when state governments are rolling out initiatives which will require more qualified educators to meet initiative demands. 

Every state and territory government, the report found, had cut VET funding over the past decade, with overall funding falling to 15 per cent below levels in 2006. New South Wales has experienced one of the largest declines, report authors said, with a decline in recurrent funding of 21 per cent in real terms compared to 2006, while Victoria has seen its funding almost halve since 2012.

Mitchell Institute Education Policy Fellow Peter Hurley warned that the funding crisis was “making it especially difficult for quality VET providers to sustain high course standards”.

Ensuring a quality education for VET students, and meeting the growing demand for skilled workers is only possible, Mr Hurley said, when governments increase funding for VET courses. 

For more Information, please visit here.

VET Student Loan Caps Lifted

The Australian Government has announced that the VET Student Loan limits have been increased for a number of courses, with the changes scheduled to come into effect from today, 29 January 2020. More than one hundred courses have seen the VET Student Loan cap increase, reflecting advocacy undertaken by ITECA and other stakeholders to ensure students have access to loans that more closely reflect the cost of delivery.

For more Information, please visit here. 

Coronavirus advice for RTOs

The Department of Health has released updated advice to RTOs in relation to the coronavirus outbreak.

If a student or staff member has travelled to Hubei Province, China, within the past 14 days, isolation is recommended for 14 days after leaving Hubei Province.

If a student or staff member has been in close contact with a confirmed case of novel coronavirus, isolation is recommended for 14 days after last contact with the confirmed case. Students and staff in these circumstances should not attend college and must avoid contact with other students and staff.

If a student or staff member travelled to mainland China in general but not Hubei Province, the Department does not currently recommend self-isolation. The development of cases outside of Hubei Province is being closely monitored and this advice will be updated if necessary.

For more Information, please visit here.

Five things RTOs need to know in 2020

Every ASQA registered provider needs to stay on top of the basics of registration.

Here is how you can keep track of some of your key obligations this year.

For more Information, please visit here.

The new ASQA website 

If you’ve visited asqa.gov.au before, you will probably notice that the page layout looks a little different. Here are some changes to be aware of:

  • Simplified main menu labelling and added  ‘Students’ tab.
  • Relocated information about making a complaint under the ‘About’ heading.
  • Both the Users’ guide to the Standards for RTOs 2015 and Users’ guide to the Standards for VET Accredited Courses can be accessed from any page on the site, via links in the top left of the page header. In addition, the Users’ guide to the Standards for RTOs 2015 can now be browsed by either subject chapter or standard—whichever you prefer.
  • The FAQs are now grouped by popular topics. You can now also browse FAQs alphabetically by topic.
  • Search results can now be filtered by content type.
  • An Upcoming events page, it’s now easier to find out details of the next webinar or presentation.
  • Edited website content to be easier to read and reorganised information to follow logical user pathways.

 

For more Information, please visit here.

Australian visas exploited by “criminal people smuggling syndicates”

In her speech to the annual John Curtin Lecture, Labor’s immigration spokesperson, Kristina Keneally, spoke about the surge in bridging visas under the Coalition’s term in office, which has been fuelled by “criminal people smuggling syndicates… running a work scam”:

For more Information, please visit here.

These are the 15 most in-demand skills in Australia right now, according to LinkedIn

Whether you’re looking to get a new gig, a promotion or a pay rise, what you can do for an employer will always be the most important thing you can bring to the table.

“Learning not only helps Australians build skills and improve in their roles, it has a strong correlation to a change in mindset, boost confidence and open doors to new opportunities,” LinkedIn Learning Asia-Pacific senior director Jason Laufer said in a release.

It’s in this vein that LinkedIn has revealed the 15 most sought-after skills in the country right now, and made some of its own courses free for the rest of January.

“By sharing insights about the most valuable skills in the workplace today, our goal is to help more professionals own their careers, cultivating the essential soft skills and most current hard skills.”

For more Information, please visit here.

February 20, 2020 News, VET Industry News Comments Off on The VET Sector News- February 2020

SA Govt invests in vocational education and training

https://www.vetsector.com/post/sa-govt-invests-in-vocational-education-and-training

February 18, 2020 News, VET Industry News, VET Sector Comments Off on SA Govt invests in vocational education and training

The VET Sector News II – December 2019

Apprentice and trainee commencements down in June 2019 quarter 
The latest release of national apprentice and trainee data show commencements were down 3.3% to 33 295 in the June 2019 quarter, when compared with the same quarter in 2018.
Apprentices and trainees 2019 — June quarter, published by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER), provides a national picture of apprenticeship and traineeship activity and includes both quarterly and annual figures that can be broken down by state and territory.
Trade commencements were down 19.7% to 11 980, with the biggest decrease seen in construction trades workers, down 39.8%, when compared with the June quarter 2018.
Non-trade commencements increased by 9.3% to 21 310 over the same period, with the biggest increases seen in carers and aides, up 19.1%, and sales assistants and salespersons, up 16.8%.
There was a modest increase in completions in the June 2019 quarter, up 1.3% when compared with the same quarter last year.
Overall there were 272 920 apprentices and trainees in-training as at 30 June 2019, down 1.4% from 30 June 2018.
For more Information, please visit here. 
ASQA’s approach to managing complaints
On Monday 2 December, ASQA will be launching asqaconnect—a new online portal to receive complaints, or reports alleging provider non-compliance, from all members of the community.
ASQA will no longer investigate and substantiate individual complaints received.
This means, ASQA will not act on individual complaints. Instead, we look at the provider’s pattern of behaviour identified throughout complaints and use this information to inform our decisions on when and if further regulatory scrutiny of a provider is required.
ASQA does not have any consumer protection powers, and cannot act as an advocate for individual students or resolve disputes between students and providers.
Reports about your personal experiences with, or observations of, providers are vital inputs to effective regulation. The information you provide contributes to ASQA’s knowledge of a provider’s behaviour and practice. ASQA uses this information to help protect the quality and reputation of the vocational education and training (VET) and English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS) sectors.
For more Information, please visit here. 
Webinar recording available–proposed changes to ASQA fees and charges 2020-21
ASQA hosted a webinar on Tuesday 3 December on proposed changes to ASQA fees and charges 2020-21 as part of its consultation with the vocational education and training (VET) sector.
The recording and slides from the webinar are now available online.

For more information, refer to ASQA’s Fees and charges proposal 2020-21 consultation paper (PDF) and asqa.gov.au/costrecovery.
Asqanet release—what you need to know?
The latest version of asqanet has launched this morning.
ASQA has also launched asqaconnect—a new online portal to receive complaints alleging provider non-compliance.
This asqanet release will provide services for:

  • third party arrangements—providers are now able to create and cease third party arrangements via asqanet
  • delivery locations—asqanet is now better able to differentiate between VET & CRICOS locations
  • business names—will be sourced directly from the Australian Business Register (ABR)
  • asqaconnect—ASQA’s new online portal for complainants
  • portal user verification—asqanet users will no longer need to respond to secret questions and answers. A verification code will be sent to their registered email.

For more information, please visit here.
AVETMISS reporting: 2019 annual activity due by 28 February 2020
The VET national provider collection is an annual collection of AVETMISS data from all RTOs.
The collection window for direct reporting of 2019 AVETMISS feefor-service activity to NCVER opens at 8:45am (ACT) on 2 January 2020 and closes at 5pm (ACT) on 28 February 2020. 
Please check deadlines if you are reporting fee-for-service activity via a state training authority (STA), as their deadlines may be earlier.
We encourage you to validate your data and fix errors prior to the end of the year so that you can submit when the window opens. 
Reminder: data needs to be reported accurately as at 31 December 2019 and needs to include all activity for the full calendar year (1 January — 31 December 2019)
For more information, please visit here.
AUSkey is Changing
Why AUSkey is being decommissioned?
AUSkey has not kept pace with changes in technology and does not meet the future needs of most businesses. You can find more detail on the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) website at AUSkey decommissioning.
What is replacing AUSkey?
AUSkey is being replaced by a new whole of government digital identity service – myGovID and Relationship Authorisation Manager (RAM).
Together, these services offer an easy, secure and more flexible authentication and authorisation solution.
Put simply:

See AUSkey is Changing factsheet and ATO video – Your new key to business is here, for a general overview.
For more information, please visit here.
There is huge potential in Australia’s education relationship with India
Just over a year ago in his landmark India economic strategy, the former head of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Peter Varghese, said the relationship between the two countries had the potential to become one of the defining partnerships of the future of the Asia-Pacific region.
He then pointed to one sector above all others as the key to ­solidifying that partnership as well as lifting Australia’s trade and investment ties with India: ­education.
Both countries are now turning their minds to how they can strengthen the education relationship, which already benefits from natural synergies, combining the quality and expertise of Australia’s institutions with the growing demand for quality education in India.
For more information, please visit here. 
Education minister Dan Tehan restores ‘university college’ category 
The federal government has given way to sector pressure and reinstated the university college category for higher education institutions.
Education Minister Dan Tehan said on Tuesday that “in response to stakeholder feedback” on the recent review of provider category standards, the government would retain the name university college for institutions just below university level, instead of calling them national institutes of higher education.
The national institutes were to have a measure of self-accrediting authority status and the option to apply for university status.
For more information, please refer here.

December 17, 2019 News, VET Industry News, VET Sector Comments Off on The VET Sector News II – December 2019

Satisfaction with vocational education and training remains high

New data from over 170 000 vocational education and training (VET) students shows that satisfaction with VET remains high, according to a new report by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The annual National Student Outcomes Survey is Australia’s largest survey of VET students and provides information on employment outcomes and training satisfaction for students who completed nationally recognised VET delivered by registered training organisations in Australia in 2018.
Of the VET students who responded to the survey, 122 536 were graduates and 48 369 were subject completers, defined as those who completed at least one subject and then left the VET system without obtaining a qualification.
The data shows that satisfaction remains high in general for both groups, with 88.1% of graduates and 91.4% of subject completers satisfied with the overall quality of their training.
For VET graduates, 83.9% achieved their main reason for undertaking training, with 85.1% training for employment-related reasons, 11.3% for personal development reasons and 3.6% for further study reasons.
Employment outcomes for VET graduates were also good, with 65.8% having an improved employment status after training, and 46.8% of those who were not employed before training in employment after.
More generally, 85.6% of graduates were employed or enrolled in further study after training and the median annual income for VET graduates employed full-time after training was $59 100.
“Results from this year’s survey also show that students who completed a qualification at certificate III or higher had better employment outcomes than those who started but didn’t complete a qualification at the same level,” said Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER.
“The difference was greatest for those enrolled in a diploma or higher level qualification, where 67.8% of graduates had an improved employment status after training compared with 50.8% of students who enrolled in a qualification at this level but didn’t complete it.”
The main reasons given for not completing a qualification were training-related (31.7%), personal (22.4%), and because they got what they wanted from training (22.4%). The main training-related reason was ‘training was not as expected’ (13.3%).
The full report VET Student Outcomes 2019 and more information about the survey is available on our Portal.
A more in-depth view of training satisfaction and employment outcomes for apprentices and trainees will be provided in the report Apprentice and trainee experience and destinations 2019, to be released later this month.
Reference: NCVER Media Release 

December 17, 2019 News, VET Industry News, VET Sector Comments Off on Satisfaction with vocational education and training remains high

VET International Engagement Strategy 2025 launched


The Morrison Government has reaffirmed its commitment to ensure Australian VET sector continues to play a significant role in contributing to the development of a highly skilled workforce by lodging Vocational Education and Training International Engagement Strategy 2025. Australia’s first National Strategy for International Education 2025 enables Australia’s international education sector to be more innovative, future-focused and globally engaged.
It further strengthens our international reputation for high quality education and training, drives collaboration in education and research, and increases opportunities for Australian providers and communities. Consistent with the National Strategy for International Education 2025, the Australian International Education 2025 Roadmap, and the Australia Global Alumni Engagement Strategy 2016–2020, implementation will be a collaborative effort between the sector, industry and government.
The Vocational Education and Training International Engagement Strategy 2025 seeks to deliver on the international potential of Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector and its important role in meeting the rapidly changing global skills needs of businesses, employees, students and countries around the world. The strategy builds on the sector’s strengths and achievements to further enhance Australia’s competitive advantages in the provision of training and skills development globally.
The National Strategy is based on three broad pillars:

  • strengthening the fundamentals of Australia’s education, training and research system and our regulatory, quality assurance and consumer protection arrangements
  • transformative partnerships between people, institutions and governments, at home and abroad
  • competing globally by responding to global education and skills needs and taking advantage of emerging opportunities.

The main action areas are: 

  • Action 1:  Ensure consistent Australian Government promotion, branding and messaging
  • Action 2:  Encourage greater community support for onshore international VET students
  • Action 3:  Build strategic linkages with bilateral partners, multilateral forums and international agencies responsible for skills development
  • Action 4:  Increase market access opportunities offshore
  • Action 5:  Encourage and promote more open models of training and products for delivery
  • Action 6:  Promote Australia’s VET frameworks and systems internationally to create opportunities for Australian VET providers
  • Action 7:  Promote international collaboration to improve labour market data collection, to identify and address changes in international skills demand
  • Action 8:  Encourage greater business-to-business engagement, including leveraging Austrade networks and Australia’s VET alumni
  • Action 9:  Strengthen the foundations of international VET delivery to appropriately skill the global workforce
  • Action 10:  Provide VET students, graduates and staff with opportunities to prosper in the global economy.

Measures of success are measured through the following strategic objectives: 

  • more international students from a diverse range of countries continue to access Australian VET both in Australia and overseas
  • more countries refer to the Australian VET system as a benchmark to inform the development of domestic industry-responsive training systems, leading to stronger bilateral, regional and multilateral partnerships
  • Australian VET qualifications continue to be widely recognised and valued by employers and governments internationally
  • the Australian VET system continues to produce graduates with the appropriate skills and knowledge to compete in a global labour market
  • international VET students continue to be satisfied with the quality of their VET study experience in Australia
  • international demand for Australian expertise on VET system design and governance reform, including bespoke training courses that meet firm-specific skills needs, continues to grow.

For more Information, please visit here.

December 17, 2019 News, VET Industry News, VET Sector Comments Off on VET International Engagement Strategy 2025 launched

2019 Australian Training Awards winners announced

The Australian Training Awards are the peak national awards for the VET sector recognising individuals, businesses and registered training organisations for their contribution to skilling Australia.

On 21 November the awards were presented and the winners are: 

Lifetime Achievement Award — Wayne Collyer

Wayne Collyer was Managing Director at Polytechnic West (now South Metropolitan TAFE) from 2004 until his retirement in February 2013. In the ten years previous, he was Managing Director of Central West College of TAFE (now Central Regional TAFE).

Throughout his career Mr Collyer achieved significant results for VET in Western Australia, through his considerable expertise in developing future VET leaders and providing leadership to state and national policy committees. Nationally, Mr Collyer has contributed to the development and continuous improvement of a world class Australian VET sector through his long commitment and executive membership of TAFE Directors Australia Board.  Over his more than 40 years as an educator, 36 of them dedicated to VET, Mr Collyer has made a difference to the future of hundreds of thousands of students and has been an instrumental builder of the education and training sector to the benefit of thousands more students into the future.

Other winners and finalists were: 

Registered Training Organisation Category 

1. Small Training Provider of the Year Award

Winner

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta – New South Wales

Finalists

Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services – Western Australia

Wisdom Learning – Australian Capital Territory

2. Large Training Provider of the Year Award

Winner

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE – Victoria

Finalists

Charles Darwin University – Northern Territory

Canberra Institute of Technology – Australian Capital Territory

3. International Training Provider of the Year Award

Winner

TAFE Queensland – Queensland

Finalists

Melbourne Polytechnic – Victoria

4. School Pathways to VET Award

Winner

Circular Head Christian School – Tasmania

Finalists

St James College – Queensland

Tasmanian Secondary Colleges RTO – Tasmania

For detailed list of winners and finalists, please visit here. 

 

December 4, 2019 News, Others, VET Industry News Comments Off on 2019 Australian Training Awards winners announced
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