Learning for Jobs: OECD Review of Australian VET system
RESOURCE | Marie Cozens for TAFE NSW
Systems of vocational education and training (VET) in member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) are now under intensive scrutiny to determine if they can deliver the skills required for supporting economic growth. The findings of a 2008 OECD review of Australia’s VET system, titled Learning for Jobs has been newly released.
The OECD review stems from an acknowledgement by OECD member countries in 2005 that VET as part of initial education has been neglected. Past focus for reform and research has been primarily on school and tertiary education. They agreed to make VET a priority for OECD work on education.
Other OECD countries are also being assessed to see if they can deliver the skills required in our global economy. The purpose of the review is to assist countries increase their responsiveness to labour market requirements. In 2010 the final comparative report will be published.
Strengths identified
The report found the Australian VET system has many strengths including:
- strong engagement of employers,
- a well established national qualification system,
- extensive VET data and research.
- The system is flexible and allows for a fair degree of local autonomy and experimentation.
Challenges identified
At the same time there are a number of challenges, including:
- a lack of clarity and potentially duplication in the respective roles of Commonwealth, states and territories in planning and delivering VET
- a lack of clear and simple rules for entitlement to funding
- difficulties in providing a reliable foundation in skills forecasts
- some gaps in the data base
- somewhat complicated and cumbersome training packages and
- an ageing teacher and trainer workforce.
Report recommendations
Among the review’s recommendations were:
- Agree on common principles for VET funding and provision and achieve as much administrative consistency as possible. Quantify costs and benefits arising from duplication of responsibilities and from local variation.
- Encourage student choice of providers.
- Ensure that a range of provision is available to all and that information about providers to users is of good quality.
- Encourage part-time work of trainers in VET providers.
- Develop innovative strategies to sustain the number and skills of the VET teacher and trainer labour force.
- Replace Training Packages by simple and much briefer statements of skills standards.
Where to from here?
The OECD is conducting country VET policy reviews in a number of countries. The final report on the study’s findings will be published in 2010.
View background information and the full report on the oecd website.