Impact of TEQSAs legislation on TAFE Institutions

 University & Tertiary Education Symposium

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY 

Martin RiordanCEO, TAFE Directors Australia

31st August 2011  

Known as Institutes, Colleges and Polytechnics and, in Australia, include 5 dual-sector universities

• Deliver 84% accredited training in over 1300 locations:senior secondary school certificatesvocational certificatesdiplomas, advanced diplomasassociate degrees, bachelor degrees and graduate qualifications

• Across range of: contexts – institutional, workplace and onlinevariety of partnerships

 

59 TAFE institutes…

• Provider Category Standards have existed in HE since 2000 (National Protocols)

• They have been progressively reviewed and are under review again with TEQSA

• Latest iteration proposes six categories:─ Australian University─ Australian University College─ Australian University of Specialisation ─ Higher Education Provider─ Overseas University─ Overseas University of Specialisation

• 5,000+ RTO’s in VET remain undifferentiated

• Provider Category Standards have existed in HE since 2000 (National Protocols)

• They have been progressively reviewed and are under review again with TEQSA

Latest iteration proposes six categories:─Australian University─Australian University College─Australian University of Specialisation ─Higher Education Provider─Overseas University─Overseas University of Specialisation

5,000+ RTO’s in VET remain undifferentiated

Containment effect within HE reforms

Higher Education Provider Standards

- case for Specialist Universities

- case for University Colleges

Revenue constraints from uncapped places

DIAC visa classifications for diploma and advanced diploma disadvantages TAFE considerably

Figure 1

Distribution of VET students

Figure 2

Publically-funded VET providers

Category TAFE University

Rural 46 19

Indigenous 4 1

Disabilities 6 4

NESB 12 4

Students + 25 years 35 20

Low Socio Economic 29.2 15

Student Numbers 1. 4(M) 800,000

Table 1 – Equity Performance - % Students

Source NCVER 2009, 2007, DEEWR 2008

HE Provider Categories – A Potential Template for VET

TDA has:TDA has:•analysed the configuration of Higher Education Providers (HEPs) in four quadrants•identified gaps and unevenness in provision as well as barriers to diversity•identified a new organisational type requiring new nomenclature

39 Universities (inc. 14 RTOs)•37 public•2 private

3 other approved uses of ‘university’ Open Universities Australia, Carnegie Mellon University University College London

0 designated Australian ‘university college’

QUADRANT 1UNIVERSITY/BROAD-BASED

33% of all HEPS

16 HEPs (inc 14 RTOs)•8 TAFE institutes + TAFE NSW•2+ large private providers•4 attached to universities e.g Monash College, Deakin Prime•1 indigenous

QUADRANT 2OTHER HEP/BROAD-BASED

12% of all HEPs

70 HEPs (inc 33 RTOs)67 private2 public (NIDA, AFTRS)

1 TAFESpecialising in:Theology/Faith-Based 17Business/IT 16Creative Industries 15Health 12Hospitality 6Other 4

QUADRANT 4OTHER HEP/SPECIALIST

55% of all HEPS

O designated ‘University of Specialisation’

QUADRANT 3UNIVERSITY/SPECIALIST

0% of all HEPS

UNIVERSITY(up to AQF 10)

NON-UNIVERSITY(up to AQF 9)

BROAD-BASED/GENERAL

SPECIALIST

OVERVIEW OFOVERVIEW OFAUSTRALIANAUSTRALIAN

HIGHERHIGHEREDUCATIONEDUCATIONPROVIDERSPROVIDERS

Issues (contd)Issues (contd)• 66 out of 70 Quadrant 4 HEPs are accounted for by 5 specialisations: - Theology / Faith-based (17) - Business / IT (16) - Creative Industries (15) - Health (12) - Hospitality (6)

• No Quadrant 4 HEPs specialise in skill shortage areas such as:- Building & Construction - Electrical/ Electronics- Engineering

TAFE has strong expertise in these

and other areas

AUSTRALIA USA

COAG & Bradley targets Achieving the Dream & Obama targets

Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) x 2 TAFE Institutes

Funded degrees legislated in 17 states across 180 Community Colleges

Funding ‘one size fits all’ Differential College funding and prices to students for degrees

Research component Scholarship for Colleges

Uncapped places for universities Skill shortage criterion

Income support reform (Kwong Lee Dow Inquiry continuing)

Pell Loans

Articulation ad hoc Various models including Florida and Arizona

PM Julia Gillard address to CEDA01 Feb 2011

“It is vital that we unlock all the potential of our labour market for young people and adults … the Government’s goal is to create the best education system in the world, including a world-class, market driven TAFE and vocational training system.”

Key messages:

•The definition of tertiary qualifications as ‘those at diploma level and above’

•The creation of a set of more unified tertiary education protocols incorporating new nomenclature for a wider range of organisational types

•Progressive movement towards a single tertiary regulator

•TAFE institutes offering degrees access Government funding for Commonwealth Supported Places

Blueprint for Australia’s tertiary education sector

Key messages (continued)

•TDA supports a diverse tertiary education sector as providing the best opportunity for student choice

•TDA sees TAFE institutes as integral to diversity– as standalone institutes offering HE degrees or

– as partners of other HE providers; multi-sector institutions already operating in the tertiary space

•Provider Standards should reflect the diversity of the tertiary sector – currently not the case

TDA’s Blueprint…

Thank you…martin.riordan@tda.edu.au