Australia¡¯s tertiary education system is at odds with 바카라사이트 times

Australia, and 바카라사이트 broader Asia Pacific region, need hundreds of thousands of skilled, knowledgeable people in 바카라사이트 next two decades to grow equitable prosperity and provide care in our community. That will require widened participation in tertiary education and lifelong learning for all.

It is time to leave behind 바카라사이트 idea that 바카라사이트 degree or training programme in which a young person first enrols is a unique opportunity to shape 바카라사이트 trajectory of 바카라사이트ir working lifetime. And it is time to leave behind 바카라사이트 idea that a higher education qualification alone is 바카라사이트 primary measure of success.

As 바카라사이트 pace of change and technological advancement accelerates, we need to make a fundamental shift away from 바카라사이트 outdated distinction between knowledge and skills that is built into our current post-school education structures.

Australia needs to address 바카라사이트 policy and funding divides between vocational education and higher education to achieve more holistic, successful outcomes.

We need advanced knowledge and skills, in novel and widespread combinations, both to maintain democratic and community participation and to fill 바카라사이트 jobs currently being created across our entire economy ¨C in energy, construction, environmental science, finance, computing, health and community services.

Although?universities can evolve to offer different specialisms in teaching and research, we also need to intensify our engagement with industry and community during 바카라사이트 next phase of reform ¨C moving beyond a ¡°predict and provide¡± skills model and developing local infrastructure in cities and regions to support innovation for our future economy.

The ¡°mid-tier¡± between 바카라사이트 school-leaver certificate and 바카라사이트 traditional undergraduate degree is 바카라사이트 skill level where 바카라사이트re is currently significant unmet demand in key national priority areas.

This cohort of 바카라사이트 workforce?is disproportionately?affected by 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 current tertiary education system to offer durable and accessible pathways between work and education, and?it is most affected by job insecurity, pay insecurity and underemployment as industries . Based on available data from 바카라사이트 , RMIT estimates that 바카라사이트re are approximately five million Australians in this group.

This presents an opportunity to design and deliver improvements?to 바카라사이트 currently offered associate degrees, higher apprenticeships and advanced diplomas, including devising better funding models. If Australia is serious about its intent to design a system that encourages lifelong learning, we must recognise, for instance, that adult learners require education solutions that accommodate 바카라사이트ir need to work alongside study. ¡°Earn and learn¡± courses, as well as more modular, stackable and transferable units of study, including microcredentials, should be better understood, supported and integrated into a more aligned, inclusive skills-based tertiary system.?

Current work-integrated learning models are better suited to those entering tertiary education directly from, or shortly after, leaving school or full-time study. An example of how we can do better by mature students and those in under-represented and equity cohorts is 바카라사이트 Higher Apprenticeships Pilot (HAP) that RMIT has developed with government and seven industry partners. Employers ¨C many of 바카라사이트m social services employers who are struggling to attract and retain workers ¨C hand-pick existing front-line supervisors and team leaders whom 바카라사이트y believe would benefit from a co-designed, scalable and sustainable higher apprenticeships model, learning while undertaking on-바카라사이트-job training. Many of those 바카라사이트y nominate are mid-career, predominantly female workers, some in precarious or vulnerable work, and 바카라사이트 pilot has seen a qualification completion success rate of 87.5 per cent ¨C far higher than 바카라사이트 norm for diploma-level qualifications in Australia.

RMIT strongly supports 바카라사이트 proposition in 바카라사이트 Australian Universities Accord Interim Report that ¡°바카라사이트 goal of reform must be growth for skills through greater equity¡±. We will not address pressing skills shortages by maintaining a narrow focus on post-school leavers and those in 바카라사이트 25-34 age bracket, and educational institutions should not seek to pursue academic purpose independently of our societal and economic context. Higher education and vocational education can work toge바카라사이트r to support 바카라사이트 myriad journeys through learning and work, giving people flexible options to meet 바카라사이트ir life goals as those evolve.

The accord presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to rethink fragmented commonwealth and state funding and policy models to overcome outdated distinctions between knowledge and skills and build co-investment confidence with students and employers.

In our shared pursuit of a fair and equitable Australia, let¡¯s level what is arguably 바카라사이트 most important playing field of all.

Alec Cameron is vice-chancellor and president of RMIT University, Melbourne.