Integrating Academic Learning & Skills Training into the World of

Work

Tjerk Dusseldorp, Worldskills International

Allan Ballagh, RMIT University

The Power of Skills• In the global conversation there is a consensus

that ‘Skills’ are a key to achieving our economic and social goals, and to achieving a sustainable future for nations and individuals

• Most agree that deep collaboration between the education, training and industry sectors is a critical feature of transformative skills systems

• What this means in practice is different in different contexts

Integrating Academic Learning & Skills Training into the World of Work

• There are many models, many challenges of a pedagogical and operational nature, many issues to discuss.

• The distinctive nature of RMIT as a global university of technology and design, and our the orientation towards education and research, builds on RMIT’s founding brief….

RMIT: an historical perspective

•1887 - Working Men's College founded•WW2 - College used to train and support war effort•1960 - Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology•1992 - RMIT granted University status (dual sector) •2000 - RMIT International University Vietnam

RMIT is Australia’s Largest Dual-Sector University

Offering qualifications pathways from Certificate through to PhD:•71,311 students

•50,496 Higher Education

•20,815 VET*

•11,146 international students in Melbourne

•16,350 students studying in other countries

•2,764 Australian HE students studying off-campus

* 60% of VET load is AQF 5/6 (diplomas and advanced diplomas)VET includes 540 year 11 and 12 studentsVET includes 3200 apprentices and trainees

(2009 data from Stats and Reporting)

RMIT’s Strategic Themes:

A University of Technology and Design

1. Global in attitude, action and presence

2. Urban in orientation and creativity

3. Connected through partnerships with professions, industries and organisations

Inclusive of both VET and HE

Strategies for integrating vocational skills training with the world of work

• Worbased learning is a driving principle of the competency based Australian VET system

• Quality assurance under the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) sets minimum standards of training and assessment and sets the ‘rules of engagement’

• Success is dependent on deep partnerships between learner, workplace and training provider; clear agreed outcomes and obligations; and clear protocols for working together

‘Your industry our vocation: active partnerships with industry’

Please refer to the hard copy publication

Partners in the fieldBusiness TAFE School and Group Training Association of Victoria

• RMIT University has collaborated with GTAV to develop the Certificate IV in Business for Group Training Field Officers.

• The Group Training Association of Victoria (GTAV) represents more than 20 group training organisations whose field officers are the critical link connecting over 9000 Victorian apprentices and trainees to their 5000 host employers and training providers.

The business of gamingBusiness TAFE School and New Enterprise Incentive Scheme

• The Business TAFE School at RMIT University manages the delivery of the New Enterprise Incentives Scheme (NEIS). The NEIS program is funded by the Commonwealth Government and supports unemployed people with the ideas and the drive to set up sustainable small businesses.

• Each year, RMIT helps establish about 200 small businesses, and around 170 continue to trade successfully after 15 months.

From concept to storeSchool of Fashion and Textiles and Young Essentials Project

• The Young Essentials Project (YEP) gives students the chance to work with organisations in the fashion industry to develop detailed product portfolios.

• Students work in small groups to develop product portfolios. They are allocated roles and responsibilities, from CEO to buyer to marketing manager.

• Companies involved in YEP use the market intelligence students collect. Some student product lines make it to stores.

A valued partner in community servicesSchool of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning and Villa Maria and Sunnyfield

Independence

• RMIT’s School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning has collaborated with industry partners Villa Maria and Sunnyfield Independence to provide quality training tailored to suit their needs.

• Almost 40 Villa Maria staff have completed the Diploma of Management with RMIT since the partnership began.

Providing the edge in facilities management

School of Engineering (TAFE) and Transfield Services

• RMIT partnered with Transfield Services to develop the Certificate IV in Property Services (Operations). Selected employees completed the Cert IV Each of them enrolled in the Diploma in Property Services in 2010.

• RMIT convenes a Facilities Management Stakeholder Group comprising industry representatives who validate the training content, advise on delivery models, and join RMIT in evaluation and improvement.

Building rapport with frontline managersBusiness TAFE School and TNT Express

• RMIT has collaborated with TNT Express to develop the Diploma of Logistics program for frontline managers.

• A delivery model includes on-site training at TNT Express depots around Australia, assessment based on work projects, and company managers as mentors.

Skills to power a sustainable industrySchool of Engineering (TAFE) and Suzlon Energy Australia

• Suzlon Energy Australia is an innovation leader in renewable energy, supplying turbines, constructing windfarms and providing plant maintenance. They have been contracted to deliver nine wind plants in Australia, and more are planned.

• RMIT began working with Suzlon Energy Australian in 2008 to create a training solution that would also serve as a recruitment strategy.

Outstanding training for army medicsSchool of Life and Physical Sciences and Army School of Health

• In 2008 RMIT began working with the Army School of Health about how to create a shorter but still comprehensive medic training qualification.

• By February 2009, RMIT began delivering the first part of the new, 18 month training course for Army Medical Technicians, completing a Certificate IV in Defence Health and a Certificate IV in Nursing which secures registration as an enrolled nurse.

VET professionals of the futureSchool of Education together with VET and Industry Partners

• The Cert IV in Training and Assessment is the entry level qualification into VET teaching (both TAFE and private training providers). VET professionals must also have current industry experience.

• The Cert IV in Training and Assessment is delivered in a range of flexible modes to meet client needs.

• RMIT prefers its own TAFE teachers to hold the Diploma in VET Practice, and be able to demonstrate ongoing industry and discipline currency.

Strategies to integrate academic learning with the world of work (1)

• RMIT University qualifications (both HE and VET) are vocational and professional in design and orientation.

• We promote the integration of academic, professional and vocational learning through engagement with technology and work, and we value learning through doing.

Note: the revised Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) defines a qualifications architecture based on Knowledge, Skills and Application. It applies to both VET and HE qualifications

Strategies to integrate academic learning with the world of work (2)

• Minimum component of Work Integrated Learning (WIL) in ALL qualifications (For credit)

• Various WIL models: - cooperative education, internships, work placements, industry projects, …

• Practical orientation to Research and Innovation - industry partnered; problem oriented; ‘Work Integrated Research’

• RIIERP (RMIT International Industry Education and Research Program): 167 global industry partners, over 1000 placements since inception; first three VET placements through RIIERP in 2011

Strategies to integrate vocational and professional learning with the world of work

• Dual Awards

• Skills electives for degree students

• Higher education electives for TAFE (VET) students

• Integrated pathways, incorporating Associate Degrees

21

RMIT Integrated Engineering Pathways

Diploma, Certificate IV, Certificate III, Certificate II,

Certificate

Advanced Diplomas (conditional articulations)

Associate Degrees

HEHE

VET

VET

Apprenticeships and Traineeships available

Block credit 50% of 4 yr degree and 67% of 3 yr degree in the same discipline area

Degrees

RMIT University LH Martin Institute – 12 November 2010

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IT Cadetship Pathway

Certificate IV IT Networking(including entry from the ASBA Cert III pathway)

Associate Degree in IT(including entry from the Diploma in IT)

Bachelor Degree

RMIT University

Employment based pathway combining off the job and on the job learning

Building Pathways to Construction

Certificate IV Building and ConstructionYear 11 and 12 as a VET in Schools Program

Diploma Building and ConstructionEnter 2nd yr, 1st yr out of School

Bachelor DegreeEnter 3rd yr, 2nd out of School

RMIT University

Learning in the integrated tertiary sector: What does an appropriate curriculum and pedagogy look like?

• assessment – combination of competency-based and other criterion referenced approaches

• coursework – combination of work-related and discipline based learning units and program wide reflective practice;

• competency development – through work placement and simulated work-based practice

• work-readiness – industry feedback on assessments and/or dialogue with learners

• higher-learning readiness – academic feedback on assessment and/or dialogue with learners

Some prevailing challenges• Assessment: design, industry standards and evidence of

competence• Industry currency is a requirement of VET teachers but

‘cutting edge’ currency is not always easy to maintain.• Teachers require high level educational design (pedagogical)

skills• RMIT is developing an ‘industry practitioner’ role which will

support practical education and training and link students with industry

• ‘Non standard’ operational models challenge the ‘standard’ operational models and culture of tertiary institutions

• Relationship management across education and industry sectors takes effort and time: but is worth the effort and time

Some useful links

•VISTA - http://www.vista.org.au/•Training packages @ work - http://www.tpatwork.com/•Australian Flexible Learning Framework - http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/•NCVER - http://www.ncver.edu.au/

•acen inc (Australian collaborative education and network); www.acen.edu.au Link to Curriculum Vignettes

Current events:•The National WIL Portal will be launched on 12th May•Work integrated Learning Forum, 17th – 18th May, Melbourne: www.informa.com.au