Early rewards go to training sector in Australia skills talks

Perceptions that universities are bit players in Australia¡¯s highly anticipated Jobs and Skills Summit may have been bolstered by 바카라사이트 prime minister, who made vocational education 바카라사이트 subject of 바카라사이트 forum¡¯s first announcement.

Opening 바카라사이트 summit in Canberra, Anthony Albanese said 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s leaders had agreed to?bankroll an?extra 180,000 free vocational college places in a?¡°billion-dollar training blitz¡±.

The places will be made available at 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s publicly owned training colleges, or TAFEs. Costs will be shared by 바카라사이트 federal, state and territory governments after 바카라사이트ir leaders struck a deal during a 31?August meeting of 바카라사이트 prime minister, state premiers and territory chief ministers.

This did not stop 바카라사이트 TAFE representative body from hailing 바카라사이트 announcement as 바카라사이트 ¡°first major outcome¡± of 바카라사이트 summit. TAFE Directors Australia CEO Jenny Dodd said it was ¡°a?tremendous vote of confidence in 바카라사이트 power of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s TAFE system to drive 바카라사이트 skills revolution¡±.

¡°TAFE institutes across Australia will continue to deliver 바카라사이트 majority of 바카라사이트 high value and often more complex qualifications that will be central to enhancing productivity and social outcomes,¡± she said.

The Australian Education Union (AEU), which represents TAFE teachers, said 바카라사이트 new commitment came on top of 바카라사이트 Labor Party¡¯s to underwrite 465,000 fee-free TAFE places.

¡°TAFE is 바카라사이트 best place to ensure 바카라사이트 workers we need gain 바카라사이트 skills and knowledge required to fill workforce gaps,¡± AEU federal president Correna Haythorpe said.

While universities have highlighted workforce gaps in professions that require degrees, such as engineering and teaching, 바카라사이트 summit appears more focused on jobs requiring vocational certificates and diplomas. An issues paper released ahead of 바카라사이트 summit referred to ¡°training¡± more than a dozen times but harboured just one mention of ¡°higher education¡±.

The body representing universities said it welcomed 바카라사이트 extra TAFE places ¡°to ensure 바카라사이트 workforce has 바카라사이트 skilled people it needs¡±.?

¡°Australia needs strong, well-functioning sectors in both higher education and vocational education,¡± said Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson, who is participating at 바카라사이트 forum.?

¡°As we embark on day one of 바카라사이트 Jobs and Skills Summit, we look forward to working with colleagues in 바카라사이트 TAFE sector ¨C as well as government, businesses and unions ¨C to help set 바카라사이트 workforce up for 바카라사이트 future.¡±

Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia chief executive Troy Williams also welcomed 바카라사이트 commitment to fund additional training places. ¡°But directing funding exclusively towards TAFE doesn¡¯t always produce 바카라사이트 best results for students, employers or taxpayers,¡± he said.

Big federal-state training commitments do not always have happy endings in Australia. The previous Labor government¡¯s Productivity Places Programme, launched in 2008 with a commitment of up to A$2.1?billion (?1.2?billion), was supposed to underwrite some 700,000 vocational training places. But 바카라사이트 scheme was mismanaged and eventually scrapped halfway through its five-year tenure.

john.ross@ws-2000.com