 |
VET News
Wednesday 28th August 2024
|
|
Hello and welcome to VET News,
I hope this VET News finds you well. There is a surprising amount of news in this release and lots of events approaching. If you have not booked in to attend the VELG Virtual VET Summit: Artificial Intelligence, there is still time to register. It commences next week.
Artificial Intelligence capabilities are really beginning to have an impact on our training industry such as the introduction of conversational human avatars to provide student admin support and using AI in the development of assessment and the marking of assessment tasks. We are really just at the beginning of a new technology that will weave its way into almost every aspect of our work. I am sure this summit will be valuable. You can find the details in the Upcoming Events section below.
The release of the Cap on International Student Numbers for 2025. The VET sector was allocated 95,000 and of course this will be shared among TAFEs and private providers. An interesting aspect of the Cap is that providers with a higher ratio of international students will receive a lower allocation. This is intended to encourage these providers to diversify their student base. This cap will hit many private providers hard, and they need to be moving now to optimise their operation and diversify their revenue. Many of these providers have been struggling for months with the difficulty in getting student visas approved anyway so this will simply be a continuation into 2025.
We are seeing a trend of CRICOS providers diversifying into domestic and offshore delivery and I suspect we will see this grow significantly now. Personally, I would encourage offshore delivery as something to be seriously considered.
ASQA announced many months ago that the Revised quality Standards will be released by the Minister in August 2024 and to come into full regulatory effect from 1 July 2025. Ok, we have two days to go and looking forward to it. I have had many clients sending me copies of unsolicited marketing from “consultants” advertising courses and products on the revised standards. I have looked over some of this material and it looks questionable. I would exercise caution on jumping into these programs and handing over your money until at least early next year. Hopefully ASQA will be putting out some guidance and will hold some PD activities so, just give it time and wait until you can engage in some learning with a reputable source. We are planning on putting out some webinars and some article on our site so you can also consider these.
Lastly, I am very happy to announce that one of our loved staff members Bree (Client Support Coordinator) has had a lovely baby girl named Halle. Mum and bub are happy and doing well and we will miss Bree while she enjoys some leave over the next few months. Congratulations Bree, Shane and family on the arrival of Halle!!!
Good training,
Joe Newbery
|
|
|
Compliance & Regulatory News
|
|
|
|
Extended transition period: CPC31511 Certificate III in Formwork/Falsework
Recently, ASQA approved an extended transition period for CPC31511 – Certificate III in Formwork/Falsework.
The extended period for training, assessment, and certification issuance for this qualification concludes on 30 June 2026.
During this extended transition period, new enrolments in this qualification are permitted, but all students must either complete the qualification or transfer to the replacement qualification by the transition end date.
This qualification will remain on the RTOs’ scope of registration until the end of the extended transition period.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update from the Ombudsman
ASQA has advised an update from the Overseas Students Ombudsman, informing that the most complaints they receive involve private providers failing to refund international student fees.
Are you confident that your practices and processes are fair, reasonable, and in the best interests of your students?
It’s crucial to always comply with the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018.
Contribute to delivering quality education for international students and help strengthen the reputation of Australia’s vocational education and training sector globally.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Cap on International Student Numbers 2025
Today the Government has announced that, subject to the passage of legislation before the Parliament, it will set a National Planning Level for new international student commencements of 270,000 for calendar year 2025. This number of students is said to be consistant with 2019 enrolment levels. The VET sector has been allocated 95,000 for VET international student commencements in 2025. You can access the Minister’s media release below.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Department of Home Affairs Provider Update
The latest Department of Home Affairs Provider Update is now available. This edition includes information on Student and Temporary Graduate visa statistics, recent changes to the student visa program, and more.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Student Outcomes Survey questionnaires
The Student Outcomes Survey (SOS) is an annual survey that gathers information on vocational education and training (VET) students’ reasons for undertaking training, their employment outcomes, satisfaction with the training, and further study achievements.
The survey targets students who completed nationally recognized VET programs delivered by registered training organizations (RTOs) in Australia during the previous calendar year. To ensure relevance, three different questionnaires are administered based on the type of training completed:
- A brief (2-minute) “pulse” questionnaire for students currently continuing their training
- A short (5 to 10-minute) questionnaire for students who undertook short training courses
- A full (10-minute) questionnaire for those who completed a Certificate II or higher qualification.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Skills system needs rebalancing
Australia’s post-school education system needs greater balance and stronger connections between VET and higher education, according to Jobs and Skills Australia Commissioner, Professor Barney Glover AO.
Professor Glover emphasised the national importance of rebalancing Australia’s training system, citing a lack of symmetry between the sectors.
“There is a critical need for better alignment between our tertiary education sectors,” Professor Glover stated.
Recent Census data reveals that the proportion of the population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher as their highest qualification increased by 31% between 2016 and 2021, while those with certificates I to IV saw an increase of only 11%.
In the next 10 years, 90% of job growth will require post-secondary education, with nearly half of those jobs needing university qualifications and 44% requiring a VET qualification. Increasingly, more jobs will demand both VET and higher education credentials.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
New ‘No Frills’ 2024 podcast
Join host Steve Davis in the latest Vocational Voices podcast, where he interviews a diverse group of presenters from the 33rd National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills.’
This series highlights how VET partnerships are shaping adynamic workforce, featuring insights from seven experts on a wide array of topics. From examining VET in Ukraine and envisioning its future in Australia, to improving inclusivity for disadvantaged learners, creating culturally relevant employment pathways for Indigenous students, and advocating for safety and inclusion for women in the construction industry, the podcast offers an in-depth look at the evolving world of vocational education and training.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atlas has launched: A comprehensive tool for labour market data
The Jobs and Skills Atlas, a new labour market data tool, has officially launched after a year in beta during which stakeholders and the public were invited to provide feedback.
As the first public tool of its kind, it allows users to access labour market data for specific regions across Australia and directly compare it with data from other regions, states, or the nation as a whole.
With a user-friendly interface that integrates various key JSA labour market datasets, the Atlas offers a comprehensive overview of labour market data at national, state, and regional levels.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Latest webinar recording
Presented by NCVER’s Phil Loveder, this webinar explored the crucial role of skills anticipation systems in identifying the need for new qualifications and competencies (NQC). The session highlighted NCVER’s collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and showcased examples of how Australia and other countries are effectively addressing the challenges of equipping training systems to meet the demands of current and emerging jobs in the new economy.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reports, Articles, Papers and Research
|
|
|
|
VET delivery in regional, rural and remote Australia
Queensland Parliament, 2024
Delivering high-quality vocational education and training (VET) is especially crucial in regional, rural, and remote areas of Queensland. Providing access to VET in these regions can make higher education more attainable for Queenslanders living outside major cities, while also enabling local communities to develop their own solutions to critical skills shortages.
This report highlights that Queensland has made progress in improving completion rates, but individuals living in regional, rural, and remote areas of the state are still less likely to complete their VET qualifications.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
VET in Schools 2023 Statistical report
NCVER has recently published the “VET in Schools 2023” report, which offers data on vocational education and training (VET) pursued by school students as part of their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE). This includes training that is nationally recognised or provided by schools or other training providers.
In 2023, compared with 2022, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia increased by 3.8%.
Across a five-year period, 2019 to 2023, the number of VET in Schools students in Australia increased by 7.0%.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
European guidelines for describing qualifications
Working papers series Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2024.
This paper recommends that improving the accessibility, transparency, and comparability of qualifications can enhance the mobility of workers and learners, support lifelong learning, and facilitate career management by bridging different qualifications and experiences.
Consistently structuring short descriptions of qualifications and their learning outcomes improves their accessibility and usability in digital environments. These concise descriptions provide learners, employers, education and training providers, and others with quick access to information on learning outcomes, complementing more detailed national descriptions.
The publication offers recommendations on the formal aspects (such as length and format) and content (including scope, complexity, and context) of these descriptions. It also provides practical resources, such as lists of action verbs and qualifiers, to help clearly articulate the learning outcomes of qualifications.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Occupation Shortage Report
June 2024
Published 19th August 2024
The Occupation Shortage Report (OSR), previously known as the Skills Shortage Quarterly Report, provides analysis of occupation shortage pressures based on data from Jobs and Skills Australia’s Survey of Employers who Recently Advertised.
The Occupation Shortage Report offers insights into occupations facing shortage pressures.
Key highlights from the June report include:
- Fill rates increased by 1.7 percentage points to 66.2%.
- Metropolitan fill rates are higher than those in regional areas.
- Fill rates for Skill Level 3 occupations exceeded 50% for the first time since the September quarter of 2021.
- Technicians and Trades Workers have the lowest fill rates among major groups at 51.9%.
- From 2014 to 2023, Managers and Professionals have experienced above average and increasing hourly earnings over time.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Virtual VET Summit: Artificial Intelligence
3rd September 2024 9am – 4.15pm (AEST QLD)
This online via Zoom webinar has been tailor-made for professionals in the VET sector, offering a deep dive into the current and future impacts of AI within Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
This virtual event is designed for CEOs/GMs, Senior Managers/Leaders, Operational staff, Curriculum Developers/L&D personnel, Training Coordinators, and Trainers/Assessors.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
International Conference on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (ICTVET2024)
25 – 27 September 2024
The University of South Africa (UNISA) is hosting its inaugural hybrid international conference on technical and vocational education and training (ICTVET2024). This conference is being organised in close partnership with the South African Public Colleges Organisation (SAPCO), which represents 50 public TVET colleges in South Africa, and is supported by UNESCO-UNEVOC and other partners. The theme of the conference is “Advancing TVET for a Digitalized World, Youth Skilling, Employability, and Sustainable Development (National, Regional, Continental, and International).”
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
WoCTVET2024: 9th World Conference on TVET in Johor, Malaysia (hybrid)
14 – 16 October 2024
The World Conference on TVET (WoCTVET) is an official program of the Faculty of Technical and Vocational Education (FPTV) at University Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM). Held biennially since 2008, this year’s conference is organised by UTHM Malaysia in collaboration with the Malaysia Research Institute for Vocational Education & Training (MyRIVET). The theme for this year’s conference is “Sustainable Social and Economic Development through TVET.”
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Community Colleges Australia (CCA) Annual Conference
21 – 23 October 2024
“Creative Resilience: Adapting and thriving in an uncertain world”.
CCA invites you to delve into a world of unprecedented challenges and opportunities. From the existential threat of the climate crisis to the promising potential of decarbonizing our economy, and from the global surge in nationalist populism to the emergence of a new internationalism in youth and social justice movements, the landscape is rapidly changing. We also face a critical need for foundational skills resourcing, even as the rise of Artificial Intelligence opens up new possibilities in digital and emerging economies.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
AIEC 2024
22 – 25 October 2024
The 2024 program will encompass sessions addressing crucial topics in today’s international education landscape, covering key interest areas, expert panels, and interactive session formats fostering learning and discussion. Attendees can also look forward to abundant networking opportunities through Brain dates and social events.
Under the theme “the human element,” this year’s conference invites educators, researchers, policymakers, and thought leaders to delve into the complex dynamics of human interactions within the rapidly evolving digital era of international education.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2024 National VET Conference
31st October – 1st November 2024
The National VET conference is being held in Brisbane from 31st October till 1st November 2024. The Velg Training’s 17th National VET Conference, the largest national gathering of VET professionals in the country, provides attendees the opportunity to engage in a variety of plenary and elective sessions.
Click here to find out more
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
