Training gets a lift on MySkills website
The MySkills website which provides a national directory or training organisations and courses has been updated with information for vocational educational and training (VET) students.
The update includes:
- courses linked to skills in demand in each state and territory
- student satisfaction and employment outcomes for the 230 most popular courses
- a VET FEE-HELP loan calculator
- identification of sanctioned training providers
- a modernised, tablet-optimised homepage design
The Assistant Minister for Education and Training Senator Simon Birmingham sais the new features would allow students to search and compare VET courses and training providers.
“With more than 4,500 training providers delivering more than 65,000 courses across Australia, MySkillsprovides a one-stop-shop for students on the valuable careers pathways that VET training opens up,” Senator Birmingham said.
See MySkills.
Time for donors and graduates to give to TAFE
It is time for TAFEs to strongly assert their need for significant support from philanthropists and graduates, in much the same way as universities solicit and use funds to benefit students and the community, according to Malcolm White, Acting CEO of TDA.
In an opinion piece in today’s Sydney Morning Herald, Mr White says that unlike universities and schools, there is not a strong tradition whereby TAFE graduates acknowledge publically, in voice or financial support, the institutions that were pivotal to their success.
“Yet the evidence of personal student success in vocational education is as strong as in higher education,” he says.
“Money donated to universities is applied to scholarships, infrastructure, research and support of academic excellence. It comes from former students and the public through donations and bequests, from corporations and private or public ancillary foundations.
“No TAFE institute in Australia receives even a fraction of this level of philanthropic support, and this needs to change.
“Governments provide funding for many of TAFE’s services and infrastructure, yet the need exceeds the funding.
“The need for alumni, the public, industry, employers and philanthropic trusts to support TAFE is just as great as for universities, and the value delivered will be just as high.”
See the op-ed in Sydney Morning Herald.
Earlybird registration for TDA national conference in Hobart closes this Thursday 16 July
TDA members registering before 16 July can save $418 on a full registration including the Welcome Reception at MONA and the “Taste of Tasmania’ Conference Dinner. Non-members will save $110 by registering before midnight AEST on Thursday 16 July.
To register now visit www.tda.edu.au and click on the conference banner.
Hotel Bookings are also selling fast!
Due to a very large conference on immediately before the TDA Conference, hotel rooms are extremely limited on Wednesday 9 September. Early bookings are ESSENTIAL if you wish to stay at the Hotel Grand Chancellor or one of the surrounding hotels such as the Woolstore Apartments and Zero Davey.
If you wish to arrive a day early on Tuesday 8 September, limited rooms are available at a very small number of hotels and these will sell out soon. Hotel bookings can be made when registering for the conference.
TDA’s international manager back from UNESCO
TDA welcomes back International Manager, Jessica Davis, from her secondment to UNESCO-UNEVOC’s International Centre for Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Bonn, Germany.
Jess was the lucky recipient of a 2015 Australian Government Endeavour Executive Fellowship, which supported her to undertake this professional development experience.
During her secondment, Jess worked on a range of projects and activities to support TDA’s role as a UNEVOC Cluster Coordinating Centre in the Asia and Pacific Region.
Jess’ program focussed on generating greater engagement with UNEVOC Centres in the Pacific Islands cluster through targeted research in the areas of Green Skills and through exploring possibilities for capacity development programmes in the region.
Jess had the opportunity to meet with representatives from German UNEVOC Centres, including BIBB and GIZ, and also travelled to Paris to meet with TVET specialists from UNESCO headquarters.
TDA members are welcome to contact Jess to discuss opportunities to work with the UNEVOC network, particularly in the Pacific region.
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Jessica Davis, at far left, with an Egyptian TVET delegation and UNEVOC head office staff.
Consultation open on international education legislation
The federal government has released exposure drafts of the Bills that will streamline international education.
The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015, and the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015 are available for consultation.
The proposed improvements to the ESOS framework include:
- reducing complexity by streamlining quality assurance processes
- reducing reporting requirements
The Minister for Education and Training, Christopher Pyne said the proposals in the Bills simplify and streamline the regulation of international education and follow extensive consultations with stakeholders.
The closing date for submissions is Friday 7 August.
See more.
Queensland budget to boost training funding
The Queensland government will inject $750 million into the VET sector in this week’s state budget.
Foreshadowing the package, the government announced measures including:
- $243 million for apprenticeships and traineeships under User Choice
- $231.6 million for the Certificate 3 Guarantee
- $60 million for the Higher Level Skills program for more advanced training in priority areas, including construction, business, hospitality, retail, aged care, security and transport and distribution
- $160 million to support the “rebuilding” the TAFE system.
South Australian Premier says VET should be handed to the Commonwealth
The South Australian government has proposed handing responsibility for VET to the Commonwealth under a wide-ranging reform proposal for federal-state relations.
Speaking at the National Press Club, Premier Jay Weatherill outlined a plan to hand all work-related training to the Commonwealth.
“It essentially involves the States and Territories handling the education of people from birth to the end of secondary schooling, and the Federal Government dealing with everything beyond – including higher education and vocational education and training,” he said.
“Put another way, it would be a new demarcation of responsibilities – the States responsible for the development and education of people, and the Commonwealth responsible for their work and welfare.”
Diary Dates
Victorian TAFE Association
2015 State Conference – Leading Transformational Change
DATE: 16-17 July 2015
LOCATION: RACV Club, Melbourne
DETAILS: Click here for more information.
2015 ACODE Learning Technologies Leadership Institute
DATE: 17-21 August 2015
LOCATION: Mantra at Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast, Queensland
DETAILS: More information
TAFE Managers Association 2015
DATE: 21 August 2015
LOCATION: Luna Park, Sydney
DETAILS: More information coming soon.
VET Development Centre
Teaching and Learning Conference
DATE: 3-4 September 2015
LOCATION: RACV Torquay Resort, Victoria
DETAILS: More information.
TDA National Conference
DATE: 9-11 September 2015
LOCATION: Hotel Grand Chancellor, Hobart
DETAILS: More information.
National VET Conference
Velg Training
DATE: 17-18 September 2015
LOCATION: Adelaide Convention Centre
DETAILS: More information.
Australian International Education Conference 2015
International education: global, responsible, sustainable
DATE: 6 – 9 October 2015
LOCATION: Adelaide Convention Centre
DETAILS: More information.
2015 Australasian Genomic Technologies Association (AGTA) Conference
DATE: 11 – 14 October 2015
LOCATION: Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley, NSW.
DETAILS: More information.
2015 AUSTAFE National Conference
Bringing TAFE and VET to the Nation’s Capital
DATE: 28 – 30 October 2015
LOCATION: Canberra
DETAILS: Contact National President