News:

Coalition’s $624 million PPP double-dip more

Uni benefits improve with time more

Banking on growth in demand for Islamic finance courses more

Overseas medical students “wasted” more

NSW leads the pack with more of the same more

Stoush over Victorian TAFE boards more

Tampering with targets more

Three quarters of VET course enrolments not completed more

Policy coordination critical: international chiefs more

Offshore refuge? more

Sector lobbies independents: don’t wreck equity program more

Comment:

Putting pen to iPad more

What’s in a completion rate? more

International:

The time for Indonesia more

Bonus question for new apprenticeships panel

26 Jul 10 by John Ross | Print this story | Send this story to a friend

The new expert panel on apprenticeships will grapple with some thorny issues, including accelerated training, employer bonuses – and just how important are apprenticeships anyway?

The federal government is seeking expert advice on apprenticeship reform, amidst mixed signals on where the structured training system is headed. Education minister Simon Crean announced that a seven-person panel, headed by BAE Systems Australia chief executive Jim McDowell, would "examine training arrangements to improve outcomes for apprentices and industry". Crean said the Apprenticeships for the 21st century panel would report by the end of the year, with its work underpinned by a National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) study on the economic costs and benefits of the...