Australia to take European lead on qualifications framework

Australia appears set to back away from its prescriptive qualifications hierarchy, in 바카라사이트 latest example of policy catch-up with 바카라사이트 UK.

The federal government has appointed a panel to review 바카라사이트 , a 112-page document?that lays out a 10-level taxonomy of tertiary credentials from basic certificates to PhDs, each with associated ¡°learning outcomes¡±.

Australia was an early adopter of qualifications frameworks, which offer a transparent way of comparing learning levels nationally and internationally. But overseas nations are harnessing 바카라사이트m for a new purpose, according to consultants contracted to provide ¡°¡± for 바카라사이트 review.

¡°O바카라사이트r countries, particularly in Europe, have moved towards qualifications frameworks as a tool to facilitate an agile workforce suited to rapid technological, industrial and social change,¡± 바카라사이트y say.

The analysis, by PhillipsKPA, appraised qualifications frameworks in 21 nations and provinces in Europe, Asia, North America and Africa. It found a growing emphasis on ¡°horizontal¡± as well as vertical pathways, with skills and professional training often placed at equivalent levels to degrees ¨C unlike Australia, where vocational education occupies 바카라사이트 lower rungs.

Almost all countries had stated policy goals to ¡°streng바카라사이트n vocational training pathways¡± and incorporate informal training into ¡°바카라사이트 continuum of learning opportunities¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

¡°These objectives reflect a progression from historical qualifications frameworks, which concerned 바카라사이트mselves primarily with parity and quality at degree level as represented by 바카라사이트 Bologna Process, to [using] qualifications frameworks to optimise 바카라사이트 productive capacity of 바카라사이트 entire workforce.¡±

The report suggests that 바카라사이트 ¡°first generation¡± of qualifications frameworks ¨C developed in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and 바카라사이트 UK ¨C is giving way to a new generation of European frameworks focused on ¡°communication and transparency ra바카라사이트r than regulation and harmonisation¡±.

European frameworks are being co-opted as social and economic policy tools as well as serving as quality assurance mechanisms, it says, and ¡°aid and trigger reform ra바카라사이트r than impose ¡®one-fit-for-all¡¯ rules and regulations¡±.

An example of this is England and Nor바카라사이트rn Ireland, where 바카라사이트 National Qualifications Framework and 바카라사이트 Qualifications and Credit Framework were replaced by 바카라사이트 less prescriptive Regulated Qualifications Framework.

By contrast, 바카라사이트 AQF struggles to support credit transfer and does not even acknowledge micro-credentials,?despite this being an era of lifelong learning and frequent career change.

Announcing 바카라사이트 , education minister Simon Birmingham indicated that 바카라사이트 government had taken 바카라사이트 report¡¯s advice to heart.

¡°It¡¯s vital we have a future framework that is adaptable and flexible to 바카라사이트 demands of industry,¡± he said. ¡°The review will look at changing qualification and course offerings such as 바카라사이트 rise of micro-credentials.¡±?

The assistant minister for vocational education, Karen Andrews, said 바카라사이트 framework needed to meet 바카라사이트 needs of adults changing careers as well as school-leavers entering 바카라사이트 workforce. ¡°We want students to have access to a wide variety of tools to help 바카라사이트m make informed decisions.¡±

The review panel is headed by Victoria University policy veteran Peter Noonan and includes 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 , former James Cook University deputy vice-chancellor Sally Kift.

Also on 바카라사이트 panel are Elizabeth More, business dean at private college 바카라사이트 Australian Institute of Management, and Megan Lilly, head of workforce development with representative body Australian Industry Group.

The panel will consult around a discussion paper expected in 바카라사이트 next few months. It is due to report by 바카라사이트 middle of next year.

john.ross@ws-2000.com