In this edition

• Skills and training should be a Coalition priority
• Queensland signs off on first dual sector university
• TAFE South Australia shines in state training awards
• John Dawkins to address conflict of interest claims
• Higher Education Standards Panel issues research communiqué
• 5th National Student Engagement Forum
• Knowledge management workshop
• Diary Dates

Skills and training should be a Coalition priority

TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) has joined with the group training network in congratulating the Coalition on its election win and urging that skills and training be afforded a high priority under a Coalition government.

In a joint statement, TDA and Group Training Australia said the portfolio required high level ministerial representation and experience, and also a period of stability.

“The sector has undergone a period of significant upheaval and also seen five ministers in four years,” the statement said.

The policy challenges include poor apprentice completion rates, duplication of apprentice support services, cuts to employer incentives, government investment in VET, Commonwealth/State relations, and a National Entitlement to Training which was agreed by the Commonwealth without financial modelling and quality criteria.

See the media release.

Queensland signs off on first dual sector university

Queensland’s first dual-sector university was officially established last week when the Minister for Education, Training and Employment John-Paul Langbroek signed the agreement to merge Central Queensland University (CQU) with the Central Queensland Institute of TAFE (CQ TAFE).

As part of the merger, responsibility for the TAFE’s six campuses at Mackay city, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Biloela, Yeppoon and Emerald and its three other centres of operation at Clermont, Barcaldine and the Trade Training Centre at Ooralea in Mackay will transfer to CQU.

CQ TAFE staff will transfer to the University with their current employment terms and conditions.

The Minister said school leavers and other prospective students considering study with the TAFE or University should continue to enrol through the normal processes.

CQU is expected to commence operating as a dual sector university from 1 July 2014.

See the Minister’s media release.

TAFE South Australia shines in state training awards

TAFE SA has excelled in the 2013 South Australian Training Awards, with links to six of the award winners. The awards include:

• SA Industry Collaboration Award – Food Tourism and Hospitality Industry Skills Advisory Council, Artisan Cheese Industry Partnership Program, Artisan Cheese Academy TAFE SA Regency Campus

• VET Trainer of the Year - Max Lorenzin, employed by TAFE SA.

• School-based Apprentice of the Year - Jadon Tree, Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician, trained by TAFE SA Regional.

• Trainee of the Year – Dianna Makotter, Certificate III Conservation and Land Management, trained by TAFE SA.

• Vocational Student of the Year - Lisa Cmrlec, Certificate III in Business Certificate III in Disability, Certificate III in Aged Care, trained by TAFE SA and KMC Community Service Training.

• Apprentice of the Year - Scott Phillips, Certificate III in Carpentry trained by TAFE SA.

TAFE SA was also a finalist in the Large Training Provider of the Year.

TAFE SA Chief Executive Jeff Gunningham said it was a superb outcome for TAFE SA and testament the commitment and hard work in delivering quality, valued vocational training and education.

Read more.

John Dawkins to address conflict of interest claims

Former Labor federal treasurer and senior VET figure, John Dawkins, has agreed to seek advice on potential conflict of interest claims following his appointment as chair of a new education company.

The company, Vocation, is due to be listed on the Australian Stock Exchange later this year.

Mr Dawkins chairs the National Skills Standards Council (NSSC) and the Australian Qualifications Framework.

Mr Dawkins is reported in the Australian Financial Review saying he has raised the matter with the NSSC but will write to the incoming federal minister to seek advice to ensure it is appropriate to continue in both roles.

Higher Education Standards Panel issues research communiqué

The Higher Education Standards Panel has issued its ninth Communiqué, in response to feedback from stakeholders on the proposed standards for Research, Research Training and Learning Outcomes that are part of the revision of the Higher Education Standards Framework.

The Panel received 71 responses to Call for Comment No. 2 with the majority of respondents indicating broad support for the draft standards.

See the Communiqué.

5th National Student Engagement Forum

The LH Martin Institute and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) are bringing a host of local and international speakers to three cities during October to discuss solutions to create an engaged student experience.

The 5th National Student Engagement Forum will focus on effective institutional practices for engaging students; successful academic and support partnerships; engaging students in the 21st Century; using technology in the classroom and beyond; and building effective campus-wide engagement practices. Presenters include:

• Alexander McCormick, Director, United States National Survey of Student Engagement, Center for Postsecondary Research, Indiana University Bloomington;
• Judy Ouimet, Assistant Vice-Provost, Indiana University;
• Amanda Achterberg, Associate Dean – Learning, Teaching and Students, Victoria University;
• Samuel Booth, Transitions and Engagement, University of New South Wales;
• Birgit Lohmann, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, University of the Sunshine Coast;
• Catherine Lou, General Member for Postgraduate Students, Council of International Students Australia;
• Karen Nelson, Director, Student Success and Retention, Queensland University of Technology;
• Matthew Rodney, Student Life and Learning, University of New South Wales;
• Gilly Salmon, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning Transformations), Swinburne University of Technology;
• Manju Sharma, Director – Institute for Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education, University of Sydney;
• Jade Tyrrell, President, National Union of Students.

See more.

Knowledge management workshop

Use it or lose it – Knowledge management strategies for the VET sector is a workshop organised by the Queensland VET Development Centre.

Based on the principle that an organisation’s most valuable resource is the knowledge of its people, it will examine how training providers capture and transfer this resource.

It is particularly relevant for middle and upper managers of Queensland registered training organisations (RTOs).

Click here for more information and registration.

Diary Dates

Knowledge management – use it or lose it Queensland VET Development Centre DATE: 23 October DETAILS: Click here for further information.

2013 Webinar series Queensland VET Development Centre DATE: August – November DETAILS: Click here for further information.

Love Apptually webinar series Queensland VET Development Centre DATE: 21August – 2 October DETAILS: Click here for further information.

2013 National VET Conference Velg Training DATE: 19-20 September, 2013 LOCATION: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre DETAILS: Click here for further information.

Australian Council for Adult Literacy Conference DATE: 30 September – 2 October LOCATION: University of Technology, Sydney DETAILS: Click here for further information.

Australian International Education Conference AEIC DATE: 8-11 October LOCATION: National Convention Centre, Canberra DETAILS: Click here for further information.

2013 AUSTAFE National Conference AUSTAFE DATE: 9-11 October LOCATION: Gold Coast Convention Centre, Queensland DETAILS: Click here for more information.

5th National Student Engagement Forum: Creating an engaged student experience LH Martin Institute and the Australian Council for Educational Research DATE: 21, 23 & 25 October LOCATION: Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane. DETAILS: Click here for more information.

EYEQ2013 Conference Queensland VET Development Centre DATE: 24-25 October LOCATION: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, Queensland. DETAILS: Click here for more information

2013 AAIR National Forum Australasian Association for Institutional Research DATE: 13-15 November LOCATION: Perth, Western Australia DETAILS: Click here for more information.

Risk Management for Tertiary Education Sector Australian Institute of Company Directors and Association for Tertiary Education Management DATE: 15 November LOCATION: Sydney, NSW DETAILS: Click here for more information.

conVerge¹³ – E-learning Conference eWorks DATE: 21-22 November LOCATION: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre DETAILS: Click here for more information.

Australian Training Awards Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education DATE: 22 November LOCATION: Perth DETAILS: Click here for further information.

AVETRA 17th Annual Conference Informing Changes in VET Policy and Practice: The Central Role of Research DATE: 22-24 April 2014 LOCATION: Outrigger, Surfers Paradise, Queensland DETAILS: Click here for further information.