Central Queensland University launches Cairns campus
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| Professor Scott Bowman, Martin Riordan and Professor Helen Huntly, Head of School of Industry, Vocational Education and Education Access. |
Central Queensland University (CQU) has launched a Cairns CBD higher education campus, the latest of 18 campus locations spreading from Perth to Cairns, with headquarters in Rockhampton.
CQU completed a dual sector merger with Central Queensland TAFE last year, with $74 million in structural adjustment funding from the federal government, and approval by the Queensland government.
Professor Scott Bowman, Vice Chancellor of CQU, hosted the campus launch, with the opening conducted by Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey AC, with Chancellor Rennie Fritschy, Queensland Treasurer Curtis Pitt, Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning, and the state member for Cairns Rob Pyne.
Joann Pyne, General Manager TAFE Queensland North, and Martin Riordan, CEO TDA, also attended. Martin Riordan was a guest speaker at the CQU Senior Leadership conference, which was held to coincide with the campus launch.
The CQU Cairns campus will extend higher education courses, while TAFE operations will continue at major CQU campus locations at Rockhampton and Bundaberg.
Federal opposition says ASQA “not fit for purpose” and slams “rushed” VET FEE-HELP audit report
The federal opposition says the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is not ‘fit for purpose’, and has slammed what it says was the rushed release of a partly completed audit report into VET FEE-HELP that included two TAFE institutes.
The audit centres on 16 registered training organisations (RTOs) that were the subject of extensive complaints, as well as group of five RTOs, including Sunraysia Institute and Holmesglen, that were included as part of a “control group”.
Shadow Higher Education Minister, Senator Kim Carr said the release of the report 24 hours ahead of Senate Estimates had left some RTOs under a cloud.
“I cannot quite fathom this, you indicate some colleges for which you have not completed your work, and they are identified,” Senator Carr said.
“You have five where the work is completed, and I suggest to you adverse findings are pending, and they are not named,” he said.
ASQA found Sunraysia fully compliant, while the audit of Holmesglen and four private colleges was still to be finalised.
Holmesglen received no complaints prior to the audit, and Chief Executive Mary Faraone said she expected no adverse findings.
“We’re just waiting for the report,” Ms Faraone told The Australian.
See the ASQA report, ‘Targeted audits of VET FEE-HELP providers’.
See the transcript of the Senate Estimates hearing.
ASQA to work closely with Singapore’s regulator
The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will work more closely with the regulator in Singapore following the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the Singapore government agency (CPE).
The Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, Hon. Luke Hartsuyker said the MoU would provide the foundation for the two regulators to work together to ensure those undertaking formal Australian vocational qualifications in Singapore would receive high quality training and assessment.
CPE was established in December 2009 to regulate Singapore’s private education industry.
The Chief Executive of CPE, Brandon Lee, said the two organisations would exchange information and share good practices and research in regulation and quality assurance, as well as initiate staff development exchanges.
Sydney TAFE wins multicultural marketing award
Sydney TAFE’s ‘Going Global’ program has won the 2015 Australian Multicultural Marketing Award (AMMA) in the education category.
The national awards recognise multicultural marketing campaigns that are innovative and successful.
Going Global is Sydney TAFE’s popular international study tour initiative, which has taken students across the globe from New York to LA, Germany to Denmark, Indonesia, India and China.
Congratulations to all those at Sydney TAFE who helped make the study tours such a success.
TAFE on the judging panel for Honda’s best invention competition
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| Michael Sanders (left) with engineering students, Tranh van Tran and Stephen Pichard. |
Michael Sanders from Melbourne’s Holmesglen Institute has been selected to represent TAFE on the judging panel for the ‘Best Powered by Honda invention’.
Michael is a Senior Educator in engineering, with significant experience in mechanical engineering, metal fabrication, innovative product design and manufacturing.
Much of his experience was gained from running his own engineering manufacturing business, working in various engineering and construction companies and a long-time interest in classic car restoration.
The competition, run by Honda Australia, is open to students from TAFE and universities and members of the public who are required to design an innovative product powered by a Honda engine.
The competition closes next January.
See more information.
Industry veteran joins the board of TasTAFE
The General Manager of Bell Bay Aluminium, Ray Mostogl, has been appointed to the Board of TasTAFE.
The Acting Minister for Education and Training, Vanessa Goodwin, said Mr Mostogl brings an in-depth understanding of the needs of industry as an employer and active member of various industry groups.
He is the president of the Tasmanian Minerals and Energy Council and a Director of the Launceston Chamber of Commerce. He was awarded CEO Magazine Australia’s Manufacturing Executive of the Year in 2014
Mr Mostogl fills the vacancy created when former board chair Kathryn Thomas resigned in January due to her Global Learning role with IBM. Nick Burrows will continue as interim chair.
Have your say: how can the AVETMIS standard be streamlined?
The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) is reviewing the AVETMIS Standard for VET Providers and is seeking feedback.
The purpose of the review is to streamline data collection requirements while ensuring the AVETMIS Standard meets legislative and national reporting requirements.
You can have your say here. The survey closes this Friday.
NCVER will communicate the changes to the Standard in late 2016. The changes will come into effect from January 2018.
Diary Dates
OCTOBERVET
Webinar – Practitioner research: why it is useful in VET and how it is used and analysed
DATE: 26 October 2015
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
2015 Australian Training Awards
DATE: 19 November 2015
LOCATION: Hobart
DETAILS: www.australiantrainingawards.gov.au
NCVER Research Forum
VET’s role in re-skilling displaced workers
DATE: 19 November 2015
LOCATION: Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Victoria
DETAILS: Find out more.
HERDSA (Higher Education Research and Development Society of Australasia)
The Shape of Higher Education
DATE: 4-7 July 2016
LOCATION: Fremantle
DETAILS: More information