Skills shortages eased through education partnership
The IACT steering committee L-R Prof Nit Temmerman,
Janine Schubert, Gref Thurlow, Kaylee Harth,
Carl Rallings and Prof Allan Layton |
In an Australian first, skills shortages will be eased through a partnership between the University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and industry and tertiary education groups.
The Integrated Articulation and Credit Transfer (IACT) project brings together industry, the VET sector and higher education institutions in response to Australian Government efforts to address Australia’s increasing demand for a more highly trained workforce.
Funded by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), the IACT project takes a three dimensional approach to bringing together employer and education groups to look at how articulation pathways can be improved between training providers.
The project is designed to increase a greater take-up of vocational and tertiary education opportunities and focuses on industry needs and developed pathways that provides students with critical learning skills and streamlined enrolment between USQ, TAFE and other vocational education providers.
An objective of the IACT project has been the development of a training and articulation framework which uses industry as the starting point from how courses and programs are developed.
Using a specially designed internet based tool kit that makes available a collection of information, resources and advice around career planning and study opportunities , industry, VET and higher education providers can get a detailed plan on the articulation pathways between employer and training groups.
USQ Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Baker said the project provides a win-win situation for both students and employers with industry having a more highly trained workforce to draw from and students benefiting from work-ready skills and qualifications that will help them with future career prospects.
'This project will certainly deliver greatly improved and streamlined learning outcomes for students,' Professor Baker said.
'The removal of barriers between vocational and higher education providers will go a long way in increasing the number of students who take up study.'
The online tool kit and more information about IACT can be found at www.3Darticulation.com.au.
The Integrated Articulation and Credit Transfer (IACT) project was developed in collaboration with the Queensland Department of Education and Training (DET), Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), Careers Australia Group (CAG) and the University of South Queensland.
The Project Team were encouraged by the endorsement of the online tool-kit by people such as Director of the Allen Consulting Group Peter Noonan, who was a member of the Bradley Review, and CEO of Skills Queensland Rod Camm.
Contact Details:
Callum Johnson, USQ Media, 4631 1163