This article examines apprenticeships and traineeships undertaken at a VET diploma level by cross reference to diplomas financed under the VET Student Loans (VSL) Approved Courses list. The purpose is to examine which courses so listed have in the recent ...

A Murdoch University professor has criticised schools for encouraging students to choose between a VET or university pathway. Barry Down, a VET and student engagement specialist, says this dichotomy has become unrealistic. “The reality is that society requires smart workers and citizens with ...

Examples of good teaching in the VET sector are largely borne out of personal commitment, rather than systematic professional development. That was one of the findings of thesis work by Flinders University PhD graduate Anne Dening. Dening, who has more ...

The American TV show Community, which aired between 2009 and 2015, humourised the experiences of community college students. The usual stereotypes – a single mother, a former drug addict, a film student – featured, yet the show gave them a depth ...

You don’t necessarily expect to hear Nietzsche quoted at a vocational education and training conference, but No Frills surprised attendees. Held in Sydney on 15–17 August, the NCVER’s annual ‘do was given a philosophical bent by keynote speaker Dr Lene ...

Despite having worked at several of them, Judith Sloan is sceptical of universities. The conservative economist and contributing economics editor at The Australian recently told an audience that she “doesn’t trust” universities, and thinks “they’re prepared to let standards slip to put bums ...

In an Australian first, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has released an interactive timeline of Australia’s VET policies, programs and initiatives over the past two decades. The 20-year-snapshot of the nation’s vocational training history was developed to ...

New reports suggest the VET sector may be reviewed and overhauled within the next 12 months. Recommendations to review the sector were published as part of Innovation and Science Australia’s latest report: Australia 2030: Prosperity Through Innovation. The report has ...

When Jacinda Ardern became New Zealand’s Prime Minister in October last year, many were surprised because of her youth, inexperience and femininity. Staunchly Labour, she moved quickly to enact her ‘progressive, anti-capitalist’ agenda. Among her reforms was making all forms of higher education ...

2018 is barely a week old, and already there’s debate concerning the tertiary education sector: this time, over the results of the 2017 Employer Satisfaction Survey. On the one hand, Universities Australia (UA) found the survey of recent graduates and their employers heartening. They pointed ...