Ensuring Vocational is Not Second Best

1. Ensuring Vocational is Not Second Best Dr John Spierings Senior Adviser on Skills & Higher Education, DPMO & PMO 2008-13

2. Some Global Trends • Everything is mobile, everything is tradeable…nothing in the air is solid • Increasing marketization of education across all sectors – higher education , schools, early childhood as well as VET – privileges private goods over public benefits • Greater choice in education confers greater risks for individuals, without necessarily greater rewards • VET is at the pointy intersection of public, student & industry interests - it is the education sector most entwined with changes in labour markets • Labour markets are increasingly precarious in terms of hours, pay, duration & pathways. Entry level work opportunities in manufacturing, public service, finance sectors have evaporated across OECD • Future mobility framed around achieving a senior school qualification, higher ed or VET equivalent

3. Australian Strengths • National qualifications framework – provides certainty & clarity for students, industry & training providers. Point of difference with universities & schools • VET qualifications are integrated into the broader tertiary education landscape • Training packages establish the ‘units of competency’ in VET qualifications • Joint employer & union management of packages via Industry Skill Councils • Innovations such as group training schemes cover small employers & disadvantaged students • Apprenticeship participation withstood the Global Financial Crisis • 500 Trade Skills Centres in Schools – potential base to strengthen voced options for students

4. Snapshot of Australian Apprenticeship System • Trend: Removal of govt incentives - non-trade commencements fell by 90K to 146K, 2012 to 2013 (37.5%) Trade commencements roseby 2.3% over same period • Balance: 40% of commencements are in trades • Pay: 55% of Adult Award in 1st year (previously 35%); 80% for those aged 21+ • Returns: Labour market returns for apprentices are strong – above average earners & lower unemployment • Quality: 80% of employers & 87% of students express satisfaction with training quality

5. Australian weaknesses • Australian apprentices are employees as well as students – training experience is strongly related to the quality of the enterprise • Business still views training as a cost rather than an investment – poor data on business training expenditure • Low industry participation - only 100,000 businesses employ apprentices & trainees. Leads to ‘free riding’, skills shortages, diminished opportunities • Low completion rates – 50% attrition in trades; 60% in other qualifications. Long tail in literacy & numeracy capabilities (1:8 & 1:5 in lowest literacy & numeracy bands) • No ‘master’ or ‘elevated’ trade qualifications • Poor career guidance services for students

6. What needs to be done • Public support for high quality institutions of learning dedicated to vocational skills • Extend sector-based training levies to share the costs & reward successful employers. Enhance group training schemes • Embrace problem solving, design skills & collaboration as core VET competencies • Lift entry-level standards & qualifications of VET teachers • Conduct external validation of qualifications & providers • Attract powerful new friends to champion VET