TAFE mergers underway in Victoria
Two of Gippsland’s major higher education and training providers, Advance TAFE and GippsTAFE, will merge under a new entity, Federation Training.
The two institutes, which cover 14 campuses across the Gippsland region, will merge from May 1.
There is a plan for a second stage in 2016 that would see Federation Training integrated with FedUni, formerly the University of Ballarat.
To support the integration of the two TAFE institutes and FedUni, the Victorian Government has provided $40 million from its $200 million TAFE Structural Adjustment Fund.
See more.
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Higher education records broken at TAFE NSW
A record number of students recently graduated with higher education degrees from TAFE NSW at a ceremony at NSW Parliament House on April 2.
A total of 27 graduates from Sydney TAFE’s Design Centre Enmore and Northern Sydney Institute graduated with a Bachelor of Design (Interior Design), a Bachelor of 3D Art and Animation, an Associate Degree in 3D Art and Animation or a Bachelor of Information Technology (Network Security).
Enrolments in TAFE NSW higher education degrees have grown from 23 in 2011 to 772 in 2014. This year, TAFE NSW is offering eight degree programs to students.
See more.
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Gonski to reflect on Gonski
The head of the 2011 ‘Gonski’ Review of School Funding, Dr David Gonski AM will look back at the exercise at a presentation hosted by the Australian College of Educators in Melbourne, May 21.
His presentation is titled: ‘Thoughts of a reviewer of school funding, two years on’.
The presentation will mark the Australian College of Educator’s inaugural Jean Blackburn Oration, hosted in partnership with the Melbourne Graduate School of Education.
The lecture will be held Wednesday 21st May 2014, 6–7pm at Wilson Hall, the University of Melbourne, Wilson Avenue, Parkville.
The lecture is free but places are limited and registrations will close when fully booked.
Register here.
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Last chance to register for thought leaders seminars
The VET Development Centre and TDA jointly welcome Professor Thomas Bailey from Teachers College, Columbia University, New York.
Over two seminars – one in Sydney and one in Melbourne – Professor Bailey will discuss low completion rates at Community Colleges in the US, as well as their cause, implications, and policies and practices to address them.
Sydney
Date: Monday 28 April
Venue: Novotel Sydney Central , 169 – 179 Thomas St, Sydney
Melbourne
Date: Tuesday 29 April
Venue: Rydges Melbourne, Level 1, 186 Exhibition St, Melbourne
The seminars are free but registration is essential by COB today.
To register, contact the VET Development Centre, (03) 9250 6011 or email: [email protected]
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Student mobility grants open
Applications are now open for the 2015 round of the Department of Education’s student mobility programs, including VET Outbound and AsiaBound VET.
The programs provide grants to Australian students to undertake a study experience overseas as part of their course.
Grants are available for higher education and vocational education and training students to undertake short-term study or semester-long experiences around the world.
The student exchange programs also provide grants to support incoming exchange students to help Australian higher education providers strengthen institutional links. Around 5,400 students are being supported through these programs in 2014 and it is expected that a similar number will be supported in 2015.
The closing date June 16.
See more about the program.
The program operates in addition to the government’s New Colombo Plan Mobility Program currently in its pilot phase. Information about the New Colombo Plan is available at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.
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Challenger corporate responsibility program
Challenger Institute of Technology student Vivien Ramos at the temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Challenger Institute has committed to local and global community engagement with the launch of its Corporate Social Responsibility program Challenger Cares.
“A range of new initiatives have been launched including scholarships assisting Challenger staff to volunteer abroad and the establishment of international projects in Cambodia and India,” Challenger President and Chief Executive Officer Liz Harris said.
As part of the program, Information Technology student Vivien Ramos travelled to Cambodia to help underprivileged children and young people improve their academic and employment prospects.
See more about the program.
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Beijing World Congress update
The World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics (WFCP) has issued updated arrangements for the World Congress in Beijing, October 24-26.
See Issue 3 of the WFCP 2014 Congress Newsletter.
See the Preliminary Schedule for the Youth Forum.
See the Brochure for the Exhibition.
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Applications open for WA training awards
The 2014 West Australian Training Awards were launched last week by Workforce Development Minister Kim Hames.
The awards recognise outstanding achievements by apprentices, trainees and vocational students, as well as the contribution of trainers, training organisations and employers.
There are 14 categories including WA Apprentice of the Year, WA Trainer of the Year, WA Training Initiative and WA Employer of the Year.
Award winners will be announced at a presentation in September and will share in prizes totalling more than $90,000.
Applications close 5pm, Friday May 9.
See here for more information.
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Diary Dates
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.
Thought Leaders
VET Development Centre and TAFE Directors Australia
DATE: 28 April (Sydney) and 29 April (Melbourne) 2014
LOCATION: Novotel Sydney Central & Rydges Melbourne
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.
Australian Council for Educational Research
National Adult Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Conference 2014
DATE: 1-2 May 2014
LOCATION: Rendezvous Grand Hotel, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here.
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: Click here.
Victorian TAFE Association
2014 State Conference
DATE: 17-18 July 2014
LOCATION: Holmesglen, Moorabbin Campus, Melbourne, Victoria
DETAILS: Click here.
TDA National Conference 2014
TAFE Directors Australia
DATE: 1-2 September 2014
LOCATION: Sheraton on the Park, Sydney, NSW
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
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.
VETnetwork Australia 2014
Biennial National Conference
DATE: 17-19 September 2014
LOCATION: Darwin Convention Centre
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: Click here for more information.