Realising Opportunities through Collaboration: Addressing systemic problems facing regional TAFEs.
Andrea Radley E-learning Developer, South West TAFE
Nicole Broe Director Food & Fibre Centre of Excellence, Bendigo Kangan Institute
Andrew Williamson Executive Director, Victorian TAFE Association
WFCP World Congress
Tuesday 9 October 2018
S2
Victorian TAFE NetworkThe Victorian TAFE Network
The Victorian TAFE Model
State / Territory Number of TAFEs
New South Wales 1
ACT 1
Queensland 6
South Australia 1
Northern Territory 1
ACT 1
Western Australia 5
Tasmania 1
Victoria 12+4
The Victorian TAFE Model
The footprint of more localised TAFE is consistent
and aligned with other important institutions such
as local government and Regional Development
Australia Committees, thereby facilitating
collaboration on social and economic
development.
The number of TAFEs and dual sectors means that
the experience and skill set of CEOs and Chairs is
more diverse, which is an important mechanism for
divergent and innovative strategic thinking.
A number of the TAFEs and dual sector institutions
have high profile industry specialisations, and long
standing relationships with industry sectors.
Public VET Provision in Victoria
History – current state
• First Mechanic’s Institute in Melbourne in 1840
• Rapid expansion in regional Victoria to support skills and culture – GOLD
• Governance of TAFE colleges cycled through central to local control
• Links with industry and community vital
• Government recognises TAFE role in social and economic reform
• 2012 – transition to a contestable VET market
Victoria’s Current VET Policy Platform
“TAFEs will be at the centre of the new training system,
with a distinct role expanded for excellence and quality”
1.A benchmark for quality and a trusted advisor to Government
2.Centres of excellence partnering with industry to ensure productivity,
innovation and skills
3.Pivotal in regional communities through links with local businesses
4.Leaders in international education in partnership with Government
5.Providing more than just training by offering a campus experience
and essential services that help disadvantaged learners
Ministerial Statement of Expectations
Minister for Training & Skills 2018
Strengthen collaboration and sharing of expertise across the TAFE network
to drive service improvements, ensuring all Victorians have access to the
same level of high quality training and services, regardless of their
location, background, or circumstance…
Regional Collaboration
Thin markets for students, thin markets for staff
Economies of Scale
Geography
Shared systems and services
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Who?
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Why?
Regional Collaboration
Support Industry Growth
Share Quality
Courseware
Lift perception
of VET
Support effective &
efficient relationships
Improve Learner
Experience
Focus on New and Emerging
Trends
Stronger as ONE
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
When?
November 2015: Initial
Meeting
March 2016:
Terms of Reference, Vision and
Mission statements
July 2016: BKI food and fibre centre
business case
October 2017:
qualifications and units for development
agreed
February 2018: Centre of Excellence
Complete
March 2018: MOU
Deliverables
May 2018: Joint RSTF application
August 2018: Initial
Development Unit
Complete
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Critical Factors
Regional Food and Fibre Collaboration Delivery Model
Creation of a “one stop shop”
Reduced duplication of
resource development
Improved industry
confidence in the training system
Improved access to education for regional national and international students/groups
Efficient and effective service
provision
Improved productivity and profitability of
key stakeholders
Better skilled graduates
Diverse support base
Strong positive community
awareness and acceptance
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Benefits
INDUSTRY STUDENTS
COMMUNITY REGIONAL TAFES
SUCCESS IS…
KEY SUCCESES TO DATE
1. MOU Signed to Dec 2020
2. Joint Funding Application Production Horticulture
3. Decisions on the Next Collaboration projects
4. Working closely with the RTA
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Collaboration is Everywhere
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Collaboration is Everywhere
Critical Very Important
Somewhat Important Not Important
Don't Know
TRENDS
1. Personalisation 2. Globalisation3. Distance Learning4. More eLearning Platforms5. No physical campus6. Project focused7. Teacher as a guide/ facilitator8. Social and Emotional Skills9. Flexibility
Regional Food & Fibre Collaboration
Future for Education
VIRTUAL
Regional TAFE Alliance
Project Drivers
• Consistent content and assessment
supported by a digital collaborative
hub
• Re-dress the inequity created by
thin markets
• The wicked question of industry
engagement in curriculum
Image 686672464 used under licence from shutterstock.com, by Radu Cadar, Accessed 4/10/18
Regional TAFE Alliance
Project Outputs
• Agreed quality framework
• Greater industry engagement
and support
• Regional TAFEs regain a reputation
as leaders in eLearning
Image 1013580523 used under licence from shutterstock.com, by Ivan Uglov, Accessed 4/10/18
Regional TAFE Alliance
Economy of Scale
Metro TAFE - 460 Full-time TeachersRegional TAFE - 170 Full-time Teachers
Metro TAFE -10 million student contact hoursRegional -3 million student contact hours
Metro TAFE - $270,000 per full time teacherRegional TAFE - $150,000 per full time teacher.
Downloaded from VTA Website, Accessed 4/10/18
Regional TAFE Alliance
Not just another eLearning project
• Strategic partnership framework
• Professional development fordevelopers and teachers
• Project management methodology
• Capability building
• Change management
• New models of rapid evaluation and rapid development
Regional TAFE Alliance
Developing the quality framework
eLearning Developer,
Glenn Kelly from the Gordon in Geelong.
https://youtu.be/oHgPI1ZQqk0
Building capability for a sustainable future
• within the eLearning development team
• within the individual TAFEs and
• amongst teaching disciplines across TAFEs.
S24
Regional TAFE
AllianceBuilding capability
in the eLearning DeveloperseLearning Developer, Julie Day
from the Federation Training in Bairnsdale.
https://youtu.be/a_eog_nQGCA
Regional TAFE AllianceBuilding capacity within
each individual TAFEs
The teachers can pick
and choose the
‘content chunks’
that best fit with
their approach and
what they already
have.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Regional TAFE AllianceBuilding capacity amongst teaching
disciplines across TAFEs
This project is building collaboration across TAFEs as the “new normal”.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Regional TAFE AllianceBarriers and Challenges
• Internal ICT policies can block collaboration• Availability of quiet 24/7 connected workspaces• Drawn back to previous role – if not backfilled• Filtering of the CEO message to share resources• Travel distances - time and money• Less than expected provenanced content• No state-wide (or country-wide!) view of
parallel projects
Image 697650814 used under licence from shutterstock.com, by neruso, Accessed 4/10/18
Regional TAFE AllianceWhat we have learnt
• Informal daily virtual team meetings – weekly formal virtual team meetings
• Bi monthly face-to-face team meetings are essential • Important to establish tools for communication
and collaboration early• Sharing underpins everything we do• Regular reflection • Sustainable model• Yes – culture eats strategy for breakfast
– but not when you have 7 very hungry CEOs.
Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash
Learning from ExperienceCollaboration across the TAFE Network
• Beyond regional
• Across state boundaries
• International commons?
Realising Opportunities through Collaboration: Addressing systemic problems facing regional TAFEs.
Andrea Radley Elearning Developer, South West TAFE
Nicole Broe Director Food & Fibre Centre of Excellence, Bendigo Kangan Institute
Andrew Williamson Executive Director, Victorian TAFE Association