Keeping up with technology: A pilot study of TAFE and the manufacturing sector
Authors:
Phillip Toner
Publication date:
30 March 2005
Publication type:
Research report
Themes:
Industry and employers > Specific industries > Manufacturing
Industry and employers > VET/Industry partnerships > General
Teaching and learning > Quality of teaching and learning > General
Teaching and learning > VET practitioners > Professional development (VET practitioners)
VET in context > Contribution to innovation > General
VET system > VET providers > TAFEs
VET system > VET workforce > Professional development (VET workforce)
VET system > VET workforce > VET teachers
ISBN:
1 920896 25 2 print; 1 920896 26 0 web
Australia's innovation capacity is, in part, reliant on its teaching workforce - to teach and promote new technologies to industry. This pilot study examines how vocational education and training (VET) teachers, in particular TAFE teachers, maintain the currency of their skills and knowledge base. It also explores their role in the development and diffusion of innovative practices and new technologies in the manufacturing sector. Despite the lack of recognition of TAFE teachers in national innovation policies and programs, they do provide a technology diffusion function. However, there are impediments to maintaining the currency of teacher skills and equipment, including inadequate capital expenditure on equipment, an aging teaching workforce and reduced access to professional development and return-to-industry programs.
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