“ BALANCING TERTIARY EDUCATION”

1. “BALANCING TERTIARY EDUCATION” TAFE – Australia’s Great Public Asset TDA – Its Role 4 Issues: Capability Autonomy Upper Secondary Skilling Higher Level Skills

2. The Issue - Capability • Always difficult – claim and counter claim • Simple equity based proposition What We Want: • TAFE Endowment Fund same as Universities • Used for depreciation on buildings and equipment – ad hoc grants • Emphasis on IT infrastructure and related services – renewal onshore and widening reach offshore

3. The Issue - Funding Why Do We Want It? • Equitable – TAFE as important as Universities • Improved infrastructure (esp. IT) will lead to expanded access to VET • Improve access will lead to a better skilled Australia and sustained economic growth and social cohesion.

4. The Issue - Higher Level Qualifications and Skilling • What We Want: • TAFE Institutions offering degrees • HECs places extended to TAFE undergraduate degrees • Amendment of HE protocols to create permanent University Colleges.

5. The Issue - Higher Level Qualifications & Skilling Why We Want It? TAFE student population the most diverse of all TAFE students accessing higher education -- through TAFE can alter socio – economic structure of Australian Higher Education Australia needs applied degrees Higher education serves clients, lifts status and mix of programs in TAFE

6. The Issue – Skill Development Upper Secondary Level What We Want: • Increased school retention rates • Student wanting to undertake skills training • Vocational Centres in TAFE Institutions

7. Characteristics of Vocational Centres • Bright vibrant location • Separate but use TAFE facilities • Well funded • General and vocational education • Literacy and numeracy – fundamental skill • Pastoral care and counselling • Social partnerships • Applied learning • Builds esteem

8. The Issue - Skill Development Upper Secondary Level Why We Want It? • Australia needs skilled community, and skilled workforce • Young people who choose vocational education over academic education deserve the same opportunities • Could improve apprenticeship retention rates • Effective use of the TAFE infrastructure fund

9. The Issue - Autonomy What We Want: • A streamlining of management arrangements for TAFE Institutes • The creation of semi autonomous TAFE Institutes characterised by: • Board Governance • All staff including Director employed by the Institute Board • Self determination and accountability within a policy context of government owned Institutions

10. The Issue – Autonomy Why We Want It? • More responsive and agile Institutions • Effective use of infrastructure funds would need Institutes to manage their own assets • More accountability

11. The TDA Position --Balancing Tertiary Education What We Want: • Steps to create a fairer and more balanced tertiary education • Better responds to needs of students, school, industry and community • Lift government success dealing with workplace participation • Adoption of these strategies can assist in tying into the future skills needs of Australia • Advocacy to create dynamic contemporary VET system with TAFE Institutes as its centrepiece