Vocational Voices

VET’s role in transforming the future

Join host Steve Davis for some handpicked highlights from three panel discussions at the 31st National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills’ held in July 2022.

The conference theme was VET's role in transforming the future. Topics covered in the lively discussion include why business leaders are turning to education and training for the solutions; the future skill needs of service-based industries; upskilling and reskilling and the impact of COVID-19 on employers and their training choices; strengthening skills pathways to work for disadvantaged youth; quality VET delivery; and VET course pathways.

Speakers are Ms Megan Lilly, Australian Industry Group; Ms Silvia Munoz, SkillsIQ; Mr Ian White, NCVER; Ms Kira Clarke, Brotherhood of St Laurence; Mr Hugh Guthrie, Lusid Pty Ltd and Mr Damian Oliver, National Skills Commission.

 

VET and higher education: should we push for integration?

Both vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE) offer the skills, knowledge and qualifications needed to equip students to progress their career and lifelong learning. 

But given the difficulty and huge costs associated in integrating VET and HE, how do we harness the best of both sectors and maximise their benefits to students, employers and industry?

Megan Lilly, Executive Director of Ai Group’s Centre for Education & Training and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER talk to Steve Davis about why greater connectedness and fluidity between the sectors might be better than integration.  

The discussion draws from The best of both worlds? Integrating VET and higher education, published by NCVER on 25 November 2021.

VET In Schools and the shadow of ATAR

Participation in higher education by school leavers has increased significantly in the last decade. VET participation has lagged by comparison. Are students headed for university accorded higher status at school than those who prefer to pursue a trade apprenticeship or traineeship?

While the general outcomes for students who participate in VET in Schools is good, choosing the right VET course or VET pathway is critical, as some pathways are undoubtedly better than others in terms of employment outcomes.

Professor Peter Shergold AC, who chaired a major review for Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers of Education on senior secondary school pathways (Looking to the Future), and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER talk to Steve Davis about whether people are overestimating the impact of ATAR on a student’s future career prospects, and the proliferation of pathways that can be followed to find a future career.

The discussion draws from VET for secondary school students: insights and outcomes, published by NCVER on 14 October 2021.

Best of 2021: highlights from Season 6

Steve Davis, Simon Walker, Linda Simon, Martin Powell, Kira Clarke, Joanne Waugh, Bryan Palmer, Professor John Buchanan, Megan Lilly, Dr Kaye Bowman, Michael Hartman, Dr Martha Kinsman, Professor Stephen Billett 9 December 2021 (45 mins)

In 2021, we invited expert vocational voices from the VET sector to share their views, stories, experiences and insights on a range of hot topics.

‘Best of 2021’ is a roundup of interesting snippets and research findings from across the four podcast episodes we released during the year. Full of short and sharp insights from each of our guest speakers, we cover off some of the best bits of Season 6.

Past informing the future

Steve Davis interviews a collection of presenters from three panel discussions at the 30th National VET Research Conference 'No Frills', held on 7-9 July 2021.

Topics covered in the lively discussion include future-focused education and training delivered with, and in, industry; the 'futures' of work; understanding employers' training choices; and what is a VET system fit for the future?

Speakers are Professor John Buchanan, The University of Sydney; Ms Megan Lilly, Australian Industry Group; Dr Kaye Bowman, Callan Consulting Group; Mr Michael Hartman, Skills Impact; Dr Martha Kinsman, Australian National University; and Professor Stephen Billett, Griffith University.

 

The role of micro-credentials in VET

Short-course training, often referred to as 'micro-credentials', is seen as an increasingly important form of training, particularly as governments respond to the social and economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Steve Davis talks to Bryan Palmer, Private Consultant and author of An analysis of micro-credentials in VET, and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER about the different interpretations and definitions of a micro-credential, why so many students pursue enrolments in subjects not part of a nationally recognised program, and why a majority of activity in this space is privately funded.

The discussion largely draws from An analysis of micro-credentials in VET, published by NCVER on 3 June 2021.

VET's role in youth unemployment recovery

Youth unemployment post-COVID is an all-hands-on-deck challenge. For young people who have lost work or have been looking for work, post-COVID recovery is going to be a fraught time if Australia doesn't take a well-structured pathway to recovery. 

Join Steve Davis as he talks to Kira Clarke, Senior Research Fellow at the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Jo Waugh, Senior Research Officer, NCVER and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER about the role the VET sector can and should play in the process. They discuss why vocational pathways in schools, work-based training, and career guidance are critical to youth employability, especially for disadvantaged people. 

The discussion refers to research What VET can offer to COVID-19 youth unemployment recovery, published by NCVER on 13 May 2021.

Quality of VET teaching: perceptions and realities

Should we be concerned about the quality of VET teaching? Recent research suggests there are key issues affecting the quality of VET teaching that need to be addressed. These include entry level requirements, limited career pathways, workforce casualisation, and lack of support for professional development.

Steve Davis talks to NCVER Managing Director, Simon Walker, Educationalist and Researcher, Linda Simon and VET Development Centre CEO, Martin Powell about what helps build capability and quality in VET teaching.

Best of 2020: highlights from Seasons 4 & 5

In 2020, we invited expert vocational voices from the VET sector to share their views, stories, experiences and insights on a range of hot topics.

‘Best of 2020’ is a roundup of interesting snippets and research findings from across the eight podcast episodes we released during the year. Full of short and sharp insights from each of our guest speakers, we cover off some of the best bits of Seasons 4 and 5.

The transcripts and recordings of all eight podcast episodes we've drawn from can be found on the NCVER Portal.

Rationalising VET qualifications: support for a clustered model

Are there too many underutilised qualifications in the Australian VET system? Are some qualifications past their expiration date? 
 
One method of reducing qualifications involves grouping them into vocational clusters so individuals can train for several jobs at once. This approach also creates greater transferability of skills in the labour market. 
 
Do we have the appetite for such transformative change? Is there a role for good quality training that may sit outside the formal national training system?

Steve Davis talks to Professor John Buchanan, Business School, University of Sydney, David Morgan, CEO, Artibus Innovation and Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER about the notion of ‘clustering’ qualifications into vocational streams for a range of occupations and how it could be achieved.