VET funding in Australia and the role of TAFE

In this speech, Mitchell Professorial Fellow Peter Noonan discusses the role of vocational education and training (VET) and calls for a sustainable investment base for VET and a more coherent funding model across the tertiary education system in Australia. Introduction The national VET system in Australia is very much at the crossroads. While workforce skills and capabilities are recognised as central to Australia’s future economic prosperity and to individuals’ life chances and well‐being, the VET sector ‐ which arguably is of greatest relevance to most Australians and to most Australian firms ‐ is facing a diminishing future. Almost all of the public commentary in relation to education funding in Australia over the past year has been in relation to funding for schools and higher education. However, the real funding crisis is in the VET sector

Focus Highlight in VPET: Governance and performance

This presentation will consider various evolving models for vocational education and training (VET) system governance and their relationship to VET system performance. Governance is defined broadly to include how power is exercised, who exercises the power and governance models relevant to VET, including co-governance with industry, governance in federal systems such as Australia and Germany, and devolved governance (such as the various levels of autonomy of training providers and institutions). The differences in planned versus market-based systems and the intersection between governance in VET and other systems (schools and higher education) will also be considered. System performance will then be considered in terms of the purposes of VET systems, using a case study of Australia, which has a long history of VET system performance assessment and performance measures. The presentation will also highlight the limitations of system-level performance measures and argue for a greater emphasis on provider or institutional performance, particularly in countries that have adopted market-based approaches to VET, such as Australia, where information on provider performance is essential to the effective functioning of VET markets. The presentation will conclude by considering the benefits and feasibility of international benchmarking of VET system performance, such as system benchmarking projects currently underway in the higher education sector

Expenditure on education and training in Australia: analysis and background paper

Education and training is a continuum, from early childhood, through schooling, to tertiary study and training. Yet our public policy and funding settings continue to reflect a piecemeal approach. This analysis and background paper shows that Australian governments are prioritising their investment in some aspects of education over others - with schools and universities the beneficiaries and vocational education and training (VET) in real decline. Further, this is occurring in the absence of an explicit, or even apparent, policy logic or rationale.  The analysis was previewed at the TAFE Directors Australia Conference on 2 September 2014 by one of the report authors, Mitchell Professorial Fellow Peter Noonan. Summary of key findings: Comparative analysis of expenditure on education across the three sectors shows a clear trend – while spending on schools and universities has risen significantly over the last decade, there has been a much lower rate of growth in VET spending. Total expenditure grew only 15 per cent for VET over the ten years to 2012‐13, while schools and higher education experienced growth of 23 and 40 per cent respectively over the same period. Expenditure on VET amongst the states and territories is uneven. In Victoria, expenditure on VET grew at an average of 4.2 per cent per year over the ten years to 2012‐13, whereas New South Wales and Queensland averaged zero and negative growth over the same period. Analysis of expenditure per student also saw VET falling short. In higher education, expenditure per student has been relatively stable, while spending per student in government secondary and primary schools has increased 20 per cent 30 per cent respectively. Meanwhile expenditure per hour of training in VET actually decreased around 25 per cent over the same period

Expenditure on education and training in Australia 2015

Previous analysis by the Mitchell Institute has shown a clear disjuncture in Australia’s expenditure on education and training, with spending on schooling and higher education far outstripping spending on vocational education and training.   One year on, this trend has intensified. Analysis conducted by the Mitchell Institute in 2014 examined Australia’s expenditure on education and training over the last decade. The paper found that Australian governments had been clearly prioritising their investment in some aspects of education over others - with schools and universities the beneficiaries and vocational education and training (VET) in relative decline. This divergence also highlighted the absence of an explicit, or even apparent, policy logic or rationale to investment across the education continuum, and across the nation.  It appears that, despite our best efforts, our public policy and funding settings across education continue to reflect a piecemeal approach. This update revisits the data one year on to see what, if anything, has changed. While spending on schools and universities has risen significantly over the last decade, there has been a much lower rate of growth in VET spending, and now even a decline. What we found was that the national disinvestment in VET has only intensified, with expenditure dropping significantly in the most recent year. We also found that growth in expenditure on schools and higher education has flattened, although off a much higher base. To get a more complete picture of spending, this year we have taken a closer look at two other important aspects of the education financing landscape in Australia; in tertiary education - income contingent loans, and in schooling - private contributions to non-government schools. Our analysis shows that government payments to tertiary education and training providers for income contingent loans have grown rapidly in recent years, rising from $3.3 billion in 2008 to nearly$6 billion in 2013. We also found considerable growth in private contributions to school education, with non-government school income from private sources increasing by over 20 per cent from 2005 to 2011 to reach $7.9 billion in 2011. Taken together, these analyses contribute to a more holistic picture of our collective investment in education and training. In a time when key reforms - such as deregulation of higher education and responsibilities for VET in the federation - are being considered, it’s useful to stop and look at just where our finite resources are being directed, and to consider whether our current investment is well targeted across the three sectors of Australian education. Summary of key findings Comparative analysis of expenditure on education across the three sectors shows a continuation of the existing trend – while spending on schools and universities has risen significantly over the last decade, there has been a much lower rate of growth in VET spending, and now even a decline, as the other sectors continue to grow. Expenditure on higher education has grown the fastest over the eleven years to 2013-14 – growing over 40 per cent. Expenditure on schooling has grown approximately 25 per cent over the same period. Expenditure on VET has grown much more slowly, by around 15 per cent until 2012-13, before experiencing a sharp decline in the most recent year. This has left total VET expenditure in 2013-14 only around 5 per cent higher than 2003-4 levels. In tertiary education new analysis shows the significant growth in HELP payments to VET and higher education providers over the period 2008-2013 – from$3.3 billion to nearly $6 billion over this period. It also shows the extent to which VET FEE-HELP has grown since its introduction in 2009, rising to 12 per cent of all income contingent loan payments to providers in 2013. There has been a significant increase in private contributions to the non-government school sector in recent years. Total income from private sources increased by over 20 per cent in both the Catholic and independent sectors from 2005 to 2011, to approximately$2.7 billion (Catholic schools) and $5.2 billion (independent schools)

Global trends in food quality: an exploratory study in fresh produce supply chains

The provision of safe food which protects customers' integrity and provides consumers with the desired taste is expected to remain the major priority in world food markets in the foreseeable future. While reducing microbial contamination, chemical contaminants and pesticide residues will gain in importance, ethical products and functional foods are the emerging priorities. Food businesses will need to give much greater attention towards minimising water use and pollution, more sustainable production systems, worker welfare and waste management. Recyclable packaging, conservation and biodiversity, food miles and reducing salinity and land degradation are the emerging environmental issues. Country-of-origin is perceived to be the most important indicator of food quality both now and in the foreseeable future. Identifying which food preservatives, food colourings and flavour enhancing compounds have been used in the food will continue to grow in importance as consumers move towards more natural, unadulterated food products. Identifying the presence of potential allergens is critically important for the growing number of susceptible consumers. The food energy content and the use of sugar and artificial sweeteners are the emerging issues, with the presence of genetically modified organisms and eco-labelling poised to become more prominent in the long-term

Who backs up credence claims?: Roles for government as a competent authority in assuring quality attributes

The role of government and intergovernmental mechanisms to assure food safety is well established. However, government also has a role in establishing and verifying a range of acceptable production approaches and consequential outcomes relating to credence attributes. The role of government in providing baseline information on the supply side and competent inspection services to verify the effectiveness of control measures at the production and processing levels of the value chain is identified. A meta-accreditation process, whereby government endorses various food safety and quality certification schemes that are coupled with credence attribute assurances is the most cost effective mechanism for government to pursue

Anarchist Terrorism and American National Security, 1881-1903:

Thesis advisor: Seth JacobsThis dissertation examines the intersections of transnational anarchist terrorism, American foreign relations, and national security in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. As such, the primary purpose is to examine how cultural concerns exert an influence over discussions of national security in the United States. In the face of an unprecedented wave of bombings and assassinations around the world, Americans made clear that anarchist terrorism was a dual menace. First, the actual threat of violence posed an external security problem that needed to be addressed. Government officials as well as private individuals debated the need to protect public officials, curtail press freedoms, punish anarchist crimes, and cooperate with other states to suppress anarchist violence. At the same time, however, many Americans expressed concern that by overreacting and making acceptable the passage of measures that would erode traditional values in the name of providing security, anarchist terrorism posed a second—greater—threat to American society. The failure to satisfactorily resolve those conflicting priorities, this dissertation argues, set the boundaries within which discussions over how to protect society from the threat of anarchist violence—both real and imagined—would take place.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: History

Implementing Information System Innovations to Manage Biosecurity Issues in Australian Food NetChains

Tracking and tracing systems are being demanded by customers such as the major Australian supermarket chains, superior food service chains and globally in export markets such as the European Union and Asia. This includes the ability to track products as they move to downstream customers and to traceback where products have been sourced for feedback and to resolve problems. To continue to access these global premium priced markets Australian food organisations need to ensure they meet changing customer requirements. Traditionally information communication technologies to provide tracking and tracing systems have been set up for larger business and industry sectors that warrant the costs of development. Small business cannot always afford to invest in the infrastructure to establish through chain and industry wide netchain based systems. This problem is compounded where businesses are fragmented and spread over large geoographical areas even if they have similar requirements. An action learning approach was taken to identify what is needed in setting up tracking and tracing systems to address biosecurity issues in three small business based netchains (livestock 'A' and fruits 'B' and 'C'). In the livestock 'A' sector fears of a global pandemic has heightened the need for tracking and traceablity processes, combined with preventative actions and rigorous bio-security protocols (e.g. traceability of traffic properties). For fruit 'B' and 'C' movements of produce across state and national borders requires phytosanitary certification to provide assurance to minimize or eradicate the spread of diseases and pests. Concerns or delays in tracking and tracing can result in perishable produce becoming unsalable. A system was identified to suit small businesses and those in niche market industries. The system was based on deployment through the internet. The system had to link in with existing business information systems and business methods, be reliable, able to be tailored to address biosecurity issues and effective in meeting customer requirements. Results presented compare the use of the tracking and tracing system across the three different sectors (animal and horticultural products) and states of Australia. Findings are presented on what was learnt in the process including: identifying business in chains and networks to work collaboratively with; catalysts needed to get commitment to change; and support systems needed for successful implementation across multiple small businesses linked in netchains

Review of Australian higher education: discussion paper

The federal government\u27s review of Australia’s higher education system will examine and report on the future direction of the higher education sector, its fitness for purpose in meeting the needs of the Australian community and economy and the options for ongoing reform. This paper has been released to outline issues and invite input on the key issues identified in the review\u27s terms of reference. The paper has been structured around nine key challenges and issues for higher education in Australia over the coming decades

VET Leadership for the Future: contexts, characteristics and capabilities

This study examines leadership in Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) sector. VET leaders make a vital and growing contribution to learners, industry and society, yet research on their work is limited. This has direct implications for ensuring leadership is most effective, and for framing evidence-based capacity development. To assist the sector, and in particular the people who find themselves running large and complex training organisations, this study paints a picture of what VET leaders do, and of how they can do it best