It’s all about needs, aspirations and pathways, not mythology

Why are TAFE providers offering more and more degree programs? The issue of TAFE providers offering degrees gained national media attention recently with negative reactions to the decision by Holmesglen Institute in Victoria to offer a nursing degree. While the controversy still rages, media attention has largely not focused on the fact that many TAFE providers are offering an increasing range of undergraduate degrees. A leader in this trend is the University of Ballarat which, in February 2007, began the process of introducing a suite of applied and vocational degrees to be delivered from its TAFE portfolio. The following programs are now offered: bachelor of applied management studies, bachelor of hospitality (management), bachelor of applied management studies (design), bachelor of applied public administration, bachelor of horticulture (amenity) and bachelor of horticulture (operations). Vice-chancellor Professor David Battersby points out that his organisation is not alone. “In Victoria, Box Hill Institute, Holmesglen, William Angliss and Northern Metropolitan Institute of TAFE are among those offering degrees.” In introducing vocational degrees, Battersby was influenced by the British Columbia Institute of Technology which is now being emulated by other institutes of technology throughout Canada. “Their focus on applied learning from certificate through to masters qualifications is very innovative. They have unique pathways and nested qualifications in the vocational and applied learning areas spanning the trades and apprenticeships through to the more established academic areas.” Battersby is very clear about his university’s motivation in going down a similar path. “For us it is about the pathways. The national situation is that 7 million Australians aged 15-64 have no post-school qualification and there is a projected shortfall of 240,000 employees with VET – that is, applied and vocational – qualifications. The COAG solution is to halve the proportion of 20 to 64 year olds without certificate III or higher qualifications and to double the number of diploma and advanced diploma completions by 2020. “This is where our programs fit. The applied and vocational degrees provide a logical and neat fit for those progressing from certificate III and certificate IV on to diplomas and advanced diplomas.” There are other compelling reasons for the University of Ballarat to offer such degrees, says Battersby. “The applied and vocational degrees are responding to need and demand, and have a niche in the market. There is also tremendous enthusiasm to offer these programs from our TAFE staff, and the initiative has strong endorsement from the university council.” With the approval of the Commonwealth, the university is now able to provide Commonwealth Supported Places for students in the final year of the degree program. “From an equity perspective, students can complete a diploma or advanced diploma under the TAFE fee regime and not incur the burden of deferred HECS until the final year of their degree,” Battersby says. One example of a nested qualification is in business studies. A student can undertake a certificate IV in business, a diploma of business management and then advanced diploma of business management, all of which are nested within the bachelor of applied management studies. Student appeal The university is pitching these degrees at a range of student markets. “We find they are attractive to a very large number of certificate, diploma and advanced diploma graduates who have not progressed their qualifications beyond these credentials but are now willing to do so because of our applied and vocational degree focus at bachelor’s level. “Vocational degrees also appeal to students coming to tertiary education who want a series of exit points along the way in terms of getting a degree, but who can opt in and out of education without penalty. They appeal to those that want to be able to be in the workforce in minimum time but continue with their studies through flexible delivery.” Ballarat is careful to meet all of the AQF requirements for these degree programs. A single academic board accredits all of the university’s formal award programs, which are all subjected to the same rigorous scrutiny.” Battersby is passionate about the way these applied or vocational degrees enhance the interface between higher education and VET. “Students have different learning needs and aspirations. Some feel comfortable within the applied and vocational learning environment of TAFE while others feel at ease in a higher education learning environment. We are able to provide choice as well as pathways – 17 per cent of our higher education students come to their programs having studied in TAFE or in VET. Needs, not mythology “We are on about flexibility and meeting student needs and aspirations, not about making value judgements that somehow higher education is the superior learning environment for students or that TAFE is for those who can’t cope in university. “We focus on the students and meeting their needs and aspirations, and not on some mythology about one form of tertiary education being more valued than another.” The university is now considering masters degrees that are based on nested qualifications. “We are not seeking to be revolutionary,” says Battersby. “Already comparable Canadian, New Zealand and UK institutions are offering applied and vocational masters degrees which build on their certificate, diploma and degree programs.” These initiatives at the University of Ballarat raise the question of whether dual sector universities have an advantage over other VET providers in offering applied or vocational degrees. Battersby prefers to call it a versatility, not an advantage. “We classify ourselves as a multi-sector university in that we offer opportunities for students to come to university full-time in Years 11 and 12 and then pathways to certificate, diploma, advanced diploma, degree and postgraduate qualifications as appropriate and which meet their needs. This gives us a certain versatility and agility which other universities do not have, nor do they seek. “The key issue for us at the University of Ballarat is that we serve a regional community and therefore provide a one-stop shop in terms of tertiary education provision. We are very true to our mission in this regard, which is to continue to lead the way nationally as a multi-sector university.” Contact d.battersby@ballarat.edu.au Dr John Mitchell is a VET strategist. Contact johnm@jma.com.au and see www.jma.com.au