Anonymous - 30

Response:

Strengthening industry involvement in the development and delivery of VET is critical to ensure students have the relevant skills that employers need. Industry engagement involves including employers with the practicalities of delivery, what’s happening within the classroom, and how this correlates to the workplace. This breaks down barriers between industry, students and the RTO. 

Working more collaboratively benefits all, and team teaching with industry is a great way to do this. Regular industry information nights or meet and greet events where students and industry meet and network are also positive. Trainers and assessors should be proactive in involving industry in the development of training and assessment strategies consistently. 

Using local industry for case studies, practical assessments, surveying etc., exposes students to real workplaces and increases student confidence once working in industry.

There is an opportunity for trainers and assessors to have more time to engage with industry; by visiting organisations and establishing and building stronger working relationships.

With student placements, there is an opportunity for RTOs and industry to consult regarding industry expectations and work on strategies students lack when they go out for placement.  

Response:

Yes

Response:

There is an opportunity to improve direct engagement beyond student placements and training product changes. 

Often industry has expectations of RTOs that are beyond those at the national level. The development of local partnerships between VET, local employers, and other stakeholders is a more collaborative approach.

Some RTOs are inclined to take an ad-hoc and fragmented approach to industry engagement, with duplicated contact by various staff and a general lack of coordination. 

Industry has commented that they don’t fully understand what their roles and expectations are regarding students. 

There is an opportunity to strengthen working relationships with industry by possibly offering in-house training for staff already employed at particular organisations, which offer student placements. 

Response:

Workers should be equipped with the skills applicable across different job roles through a better selection of electives and skill sets offerings - industry consultation would help identify this. Working groups with representatives from various industry areas would benefit, with representatives who are genuinely interested in making positive change.

In the UK in the late 1990s, there was a pilot project to strengthen collaboration between employers and universities. It was a training and career pathway that spanned over two industries; health and community services. Collaborative development between VET, HE and industry throughout the training period ensured skilled and knowledgeable candidates for the workplace. Students were required to undertake three months annually working fulltime in the industry whilst studying and then bringing those skills into the classroom. It was successful as 100% of graduates went directly into employment in their chosen industry after graduating. 

Response:

The current training system is not entirely meeting the needs of our learners or industry. Many of the units are repetitive and need to incorporate more skill development. Industry has identified that current delivery does not always meet industry needs and that just because a student passes the written assessments, they may not have the skills to undertake the job (be work-ready).  

RTOs are faced with the challenge of balancing the need to grow enrolment numbers and producing quality workers.

Students who fall below the accepted entry-level skills (LL&N) need to have a program to learn conversational skills and terminology that reflects the industry they want to work in. Sending them off to more English classes is not nearly as valuable, and industry terminology is a skill foreign to them.  

There is an opportunity for RTOs to assist industry partners in upskilling their workers who lack the English language skills to do the job. Online delivery does not suit all learners and doesn’t replace the value of face-to-face classroom teaching with activities and practical tasks that help embed knowledge and skills. 

The needs of industry are continually changing. The sector requires more engaging online courses which link with the student in the workplace. More virtual platforms for training and assessment so trainers and assessors can see in real-time what students are doing on placement without the disruption to industry and the expense to the RTO of having staff physically go there.

Response:

Resourcing: Staff to allow consistent industry engagement to happen.
Funding: Funding to allow the development of collaborative teaching opportunities with industry.