The Federal Government has launched its VET International Engagement Strategy 2025.
Minister for Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, Senator Michaelia Cash, said the strategy will ensure the Australian VET sector continues to play a significant role in contributing to the development of a highly skilled workforce.
“Enhancing Australia’s role as a global leader in vocational education and training is a priority for the government,” Senator Cash said.
“By supporting international VET students in Australia and building the capacity of partner countries to develop training systems aligned with industry needs, we will open up market opportunities for Australian training providers while ensuring local employers can access the skilled workers they need, when they need them.”
The strategy was developed in partnership with key VET stakeholders, including providers and industry peak bodies.
Implementing the strategy will be a collaborative effort between the sector, industry and government, with an implementation plan to be developed in 2020. A working group drawn from the sector will work with Expert Members of the Council for International Education.
Students will also get a post-secondary education that better serves their needs with stronger alignment between the higher education and VET sectors.
The Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), headed by Professor Peter Noonan, has recommended that senior secondary students can study subjects at school that count towards a vocational training qualification or university degree.
Other recommendations include recognition of microcredentials to allow providers to offer short, highly-targeted courses and for VET and higher education to have clear and flexible entry and exit points, as well as pathways within and between, to allow students to mix and match the subjects they study to meet their education requirements.
The federal government has accepted all recommendations of the review.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan said the government was providing flexibility to the qualifications system to meet student and employer demand.
“We are providing structure and clarity to vocational education and higher education to reflect the real world,” Tehan said.
“We want to make it easier for Australians to move between vocational training and higher education and to earn microcredential qualifications that will improve their productivity.
“These reforms will cut red tape and improve the operation and quality of education in Australia.”