VDC NEWS
15 February 2023
EDITION 2 - 2023
ASQA releases strategic review of online learning
In mid-January 2023 ASQA released the final report for the Strategic Review of Online Learning in the VET sector. Online became a more important delivery approach during the pandemic, with many providers rapidly shifting offerings to embrace its greater use, especially in the increased use of blended learning.
ASQA reports that after experiencing the rapid growth of online learning through the COVID-19 pandemic, “many students now prefer the flexibility of blended learning. This brings opportunities for providers to expand their offerings and provide students with more choice across the market.” However, some providers “had limited or no experience in that mode of delivery” and this exposed them to risk, the review found.
Read MoreHighlighting VET in regional and remote Australia
This very recent and comprehensive report from Jobs and Skills Australia “examines the provision of – and access to – vocational education and training (VET) in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia.” It is really worth a read if that’s your bag!
It points to VET’s very important role in these areas and a key finding is that “regional VET activity is driven, to a large extent, by local industries.” The report also reveals that “training is driven to a large extent by local industries with higher enrolments in agricultural and engineering-related training when compared with major cities.” Not surprising really!
Read MoreSupporting tertiary students in regional and remote Australia
Complimenting another article on regional and remote issues in this edition of VDC News (Highlighting VET in regional and remote Australia) are a couple of pieces of work that look, first, at the support services available to tertiary students in regional, rural and remote (RRR) areas and then provide a ‘good practice framework’ for this support.
This work sits within a context which has examined the issues related to the work of the Regional Education Expert Advisory Group which has also produced a series of issues papers to address the challenges facing tertiary education in regional, rural and remote areas following the 2019 Napthine Review.
Read MoreVET graduate outcomes improve
In December last year NCVER’s student outcomes survey reported that VET studies had improved employment outcomes for VET graduates and others undertaking VET programs.
As the report found, “in 2022, 65.0% of qualification completers had an improved employment status after training, up 4.4 percentage points from 2021.” In addition, nearly 59% of qualification part-completers “had an improved employment status after training, up 2.7 percentage points from 2021.”
Read MoreSemester 1 Professional Learning Program Now Available
The VDC 2023 Professional Learning Program for Semester 1 is now available. With an extensive range of new and existing professional development opportunities ranging from Workshops, Webinars, VET Chats and free Thought Leaders sessions. Click here to view the program.
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