On the move: Transferring between VET and uni
At present, Australia has two largely separate tertiary education sectors: VET and higher education (university). VET is largely funded and regulated by the states and territories, while universities are federally funded and are substantially autonomous.
Yet increasing numbers of learners using both university and VET at various stages during their life to obtain the skills they require.
To aid the current discussion around the potential move toward one tertiary sector, as stimulated by the recent Bradley review of Australian higher education, NCVER has written an ‘at a glance’ publication and commissioned two research reports on the topic.
According to David Curtis in Student transfer: At a glance, about 10% of commencing undergraduate university students are admitted on the basis of their prior VET study and a further 5% have undertaken some VET study. About 10% of public VET learners have university qualifications.
In Higher education in TAFE, Gavin Moodie and his colleagues note that 10 TAFE institutes are now registered to provide higher education courses, although their higher education enrolments are relatively few.
The Bradley review notes the under-representation of individuals from low socio-economic backgrounds and non-metropolitan areas at university. Because of TAFE’s wide geographic footprint, it is well placed to provide access to higher education programs in regional Australia. This access can be enhanced by collaboration between VET providers and universities.
In Crediting vocational education and training for learner mobility, Walls, Pardy and White-Hancock are investigating the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority’s ‘credit matrix’ as a means of helping VET learners move into higher-level courses, including from VET to higher education.
Student transfer: At a glance is available at
www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2144.html
Higher education in TAFE: An issues paper is available at
www.ncver.edu.au/publications/2139.html
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