Connections between TAFE and University will help boost Australia’s skills: Report 

A new report highlights the need to break down barriers between vocational education and university in order to help more people gain the skills and qualifications they need.

Released by Jobs and Skills Australia, Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap says a more connected tertiary education system has the potential to lift workforce productivity and skill levels and help build the workforce Australia will need in the future. 

These stronger connections, authors argue, would help improve access to tertiary education and improve the status, sustainability, and impact of TAFE and the wider VET system.  

“We are not going to fix the skills shortages we have, and will have, unless we better integrate higher education and vocational education and training,” Federal Minister for Education Jason Clare said. 

“We have already started work on breaking down the artificial barrier between uni and VET, but there is a lot more to do.”  

The Australian Universities Accord was clear that more people need to participate in tertiary education in the future to deliver the large and skilled workforce that Australia needs, particularly in sectors and industries such as early childhood education and care (ECEC) where more workers are needed to meet current and projected demand.

In response to the Accord, the Federal  Government invested $27.7 million as part of first steps towards breaking down barriers between VET and higher education to ensure a more seamless and aligned tertiary education system.  

It also includes facilitating better student pathways by improving guidance on credit and recognition of prior learning and streamlining regulation for dual sector providers.  

This complements the Government’s investment in establishing more nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence, which are built on partnerships between TAFEs, universities and industry. 

It also complements funding for TAFEs and other high quality not-for-profit specialist providers to significantly expand their higher education offerings, including delivering degrees.  

Jobs and Skills Australia’s report builds on this critical work already underway with additional recommendations to further support tertiary harmonisation over the longer term. 

The Government will consider the report’s recommendations and respond in due course, including the establishment of a council with state and territory representation to drive tertiary harmonisation reform. 

“This report highlights how tertiary harmonisation is an opportunity to create deeper connections and greater collaboration between our two high-quality tertiary education sectors,” Federal Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles said.

Access the report here.