Industry experts, who are highly knowledgeable and experienced in their sector, are an underutilised resource as vocational education and training (VET) practitioners, according to latest research released by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).
The report Attracting industry experts to become VET practitioners: a journey, not a destination explores strategies to attract industry experts to become, and remain, VET practitioners.
There is consensus that the Australian VET sector faces several workforce issues, including the ageing of VET practitioners, the high level of casualisation, the need to maintain industry currency as well as increase the capacity of trainers.
The availability, knowledge and experience of industry experts provides great potential for adding value to the VET workforce and addressing critical shortages to ensure the VET sector has the capacity to meet workforce development needs, particularly post-pandemic.
Helping the next generation of workers develop was found to be a key motivator for industry experts to become VET practitioners. The provision of a supportive culture, structured mentoring, and RTO-supported professional development were considered effective strategies in retaining industry experts as trainers once employed.
However, the process of attracting industry experts to transition to VET practitioners is not a straightforward recruiting exercise. Industry and teaching/training qualifications, the level of remuneration and a perceived lack of career pathways are some of the confounding factors.
The research suggests a means to address both currency of skills and workforce development could be through more flexible ‘boundary crossing’ opportunities, that is, where VET practitioners move back and forth between the classroom and the workplace.
Background
Through interviews and surveys with registered training organisations (RTOs) and VET practitioners, this research explores approaches to attracting industry experts to become, and remain, VET practitioners.
Quotes attributable to Simon Walker, Managing Director, NCVER
Industry knowledge and experience can provide rich information on up-to-date workplace skill needs and add value and quality to the VET sector.
Becoming a VET practitioner is an ongoing journey, not a destination, involving vocational and educational preparation; a transition to VET; and continual practice and updating of skills to maintain the dual professionalism that is required to train, assess and respond to the changing needs of industry.
The continuing debate associated with the minimum qualifications for VET practitioners and flexibility in entry points to the VET profession indicates that further input into innovative and practical solutions is required.
Download: Attracting industry experts to become VET practitioners: a journey, not a destination
Enquiries: Deanne Loan M: 0413 523 691 E: deanneloan@ncver.edu.au
About NCVER: we are the main provider of research, statistics and data on Australia’s VET sector. Our services help promote better understanding of VET and assist policy makers, practitioners, industry, training providers, and students to make informed decisions.
This work has been produced by NCVER on behalf of the Australian Government and state and territory governments, with funding provided through the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.