TAFE Meets Parliament 2014
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Assistant Education Minister, Sussan Ley |
The National Board of TAFE Directors Australia met Coalition Ministers, Shadow Ministers, MPs and a key Senate committee as part of TAFE Meets Canberra 2014.
Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane met with the Deputy Chair of TDA, Dianne Murray and CEO Martin Riordan to discuss TDA’s case for addressing red tape and compliance costs, and moving to a risk framework under new VET regulatory standards.
Meetings were held with Alan Tudge, the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, who invited TDA to address solutions to ‘closing the gap’ for indigenous communities in city, regional and remote locations.
Assistant Education Minister Sussan Ley was guest at the TDA’s dinner on Wednesday for the launch of the TAFE National Achievement Scholarships, which will include a VET in Schools category. (See article below).
The Minister announced a commitment to invigorate school trade training and said that she will be taking a proposal to the Standing Council on School Education and early Childhood in April.
See coverage of the Minister’s address in The Australian.
TAFE leaders met with the Senate Committee leading the Inquiry into TAFE.
Minister Ley launches VET in Schools scholarships
The Assistant Education Minister, Sussan Ley, formally launched the TAFE National Achievement Scholarships in Canberra last week, describing it as another important step in elevating the status of VET in Schools.
“I’m sure that those who receive the scholarships will become role models to help inspire more students across Australia to consider a vocational skills career,” the Minister told more than 70 guests at The Lobby restaurant.
Also attending was the Shadow Minister for Vocational Education, Sharon Bird.
The National Achievement Scholarships will contain a dedicated VET in Schools element. They are part of the newly-created TDA National Scholarships Foundation, and will supplement the ongoing Mick Young Scholarships for disadvantaged students in the TAFE sector.
See the Minister’s speech.
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Kaylene Harth, Director TAFE Reform, Brisbane Metropolitan Region, TAFE Queensland; John Hassed, Pro Vice Chancellor, VET, Charles Darwin University; Dianne Murray, Institute Director, TAFE NSW, Illawarra Institute. |
Mary Faraone, Chief Executive, Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and David Riordan, Institute Director of TAFE NSW, Sydney Institute. |
Jenny Lambert, Director Employment, Education and Training, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Martin Riordan, CEO of TDA, and Alex Maroya, National Traning Director of Master Builders Australia. |
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Stephe Conway, Chief Executive of TasTAFE; Sussan Ley MP, Assistant Minister for Education; and Dianne Murray, Institute Director, TAFE NSW, Illawarra Institute. |
David Windridge, CEO of MEGT; Jenny Dodd, Deputy CEO of Canberra Institute of Technology; Jim Barron, CEO of Group Training Australia; and Patricia Neden, CEO |
Malcolm White, Project Director of TDA National Scholarships Foundation, and Whitney Rousham, Director, Business Development of TAFE NSW, Western Sydney |
TDA forges closer links with China
TDA hosted a meeting with the Secretary General of the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), Dr Shao Wei and his colleagues. TDA’s relationship with CEAIE extends to 2005 with the first signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which was most recently renewed in 2012.
The meeting reviewed cooperation between the two sides to date, and projects to extend ties in the future, in particular in the area of teacher and student exchange programs.
Left to right: Dr Zu Yuanyuan, Associate Researcher of Academic and Information Exchange Department of CEAIE, Martin Riordan, CEO of TAFE Directors Australia, Dr Shao Wei, Secretary General CEAIE, Peter Holden, Director International Engagement and Business Development, Ms Feng Junying – Consul, Education Office, Consulate General (China), Ms. He Pei, Assistant Director of Academic and Information Exchange Department of CEAIE.
Nanjing delegation visits TDA
TDA met last week with representatives from the Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology as part of an exploration into closer partnership with the Australian TAFE system. Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology ranks as one of the top 10 leaders for VET for teacher quality and industry links.
The Institute has built relations with similar vocational education providers elsewhere around the world but none to date in Australia.
TDA will be pursuing the relationship and inviting TDA members to contribute to the engagement.
From left to right: Wang Hongjun, Deputy Dean Mechnical Engineering School; Ms Zhang Xiaoyu, Deputy Director Institute Office; Ms Duan Huijun, International Education Office; Dr You Jiangou, Director of Board of Directors of Nanjing Institute of Industry Technology; Martin Riordan, CEO of TDA; Peter Holden, Director International and Business Development of TDA; Jessica Davis, International Manager of TDA; and Li Lianguo, Director International Cooperation & Exchange Office.
Melbourne & Sydney Lecture Series with US community college leader – ‘Managing Completions’
The VET Development Centre and TAFE Directors Australia are jointly hosting the esteemed US academic, Professor Thomas Bailey, from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.
A key theme of the Lecture series will be the US agenda on completions, and supporting improvements.
At two thought leaders seminars in Sydney and Melbourne in April he will deliver an address: an Analysis of Low Completion at Community Colleges in the United States: Implications, Causes, and Solutions.
Community colleges enroll close to half of undergraduates in the US. While they have been extremely successful at opening post-secondary education to a wide range of students, they have been less successful at getting those students to graduation.
See the flyer.
New resources on inclusive practice in training
The Queensland Department of Education, Training and Employment has developed a set of online resources to help Queensland training providers adopt inclusive practices in their training.
The resources support Inclusive learning: A way forward, the Queensland Government’s plan for providing greater access to, participation in, and outcomes from vocational education and training for learners with diverse needs.
The resources include:
- Overviews to build awareness of Inclusive learning: A way forward in registered training organisations.
- Training modules that are designed to develop understanding and encourage implementation of the principles and actions outlined in Inclusive learning: A way forward.
See more.
Diary Dates
VET Development Centre – The VET BLOG
For relevant news and articles about the VET sector
DETAILS: Click here.
Future Schools
EduTECH
DATE: 12-14 March 2014
LOCATION: Australian Technology Park, Sydney
DETAILS: Click here for further information.
NCVER Research Forum
Realising our potential: widening participation through education and training
DATE: 3 April 2014
LOCATION: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for further information.
Transport and Logistics Industry Skills Council Awards for Excellence
DATE: 10 April 2014
LOCATION: The Langham Hotel, Melbourne
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.
VET Summit
Velg Training
DATE and LOCATION:
29 April 2014 – Hilton Hotel in Brisbane
5 May 2014 – Hilton on the Park in Melbourne
12 May 2014 – Sheraton on the Park in Sydney
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Edu TECH
National Congress and Expo
DATE: 3-5 June 2014
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for information.
Office for Learning and Teaching
National Conference
DATE: 10-11 June 2014
LOCATION: Dockside Pavilion, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
DETAILS: See more.
‘No Frills’ – 23rd National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference
DATE: 9-11 July 2014
LOCATION: Holmesglen, Moorabbin Campus, Melbourne, Victoria
DETAILS: Coming soon.
Victorian TAFE Association
2014 State Conference
DATE: 17-18 July 2014
LOCATION: Holmesglen, Moorabbin Campus, Melbourne, Victoria
DETAILS: Coming soon.
TDA National Conference 2014
TAFE Directors Australia
DATE: 1-2 September 2014
LOCATION: Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
DETAILS: Coming soon.
National VET Conference
Velg Training
DATE: 11-12 September 2014
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Teaching & Learning Conference 2014
VET Development Centre
DATE: 4-5 September 2014
LOCATION: RACV Club Torquay, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Australian International Education Conference
Inventing the Future
DATE: 7-10 October 2014
LOCATION: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition
DATE: 18, 19 & 20 September 2014
LOCATION: Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
Group Training Australia
2014 National Conference
DATE: 12-14 November 2014
LOCATION: Grand Chancellor Hotel, Hobart
DETAILS: Coming soon.
