NCVER News #356

Get in quick and register for the Sydney (23 July) or Melbourne (29 July) seminar that explores a new approach to strengthening the links between post-compulsory education and work. Co-hosted by NCVER and the LH Martin Institute, the thought-provoking seminars include presentations and a lively panel session, featuring:

• Professor John Buchanan, Director, Workplace Research Centre, University of Sydney
• Ms Jodieann Dawe, National Manager, Research and Business Development, NCVER
• Professor Leo Goedegebuure, Director, LH Martin Institute (facilitator both seminars)
• Ms Pam Christie, Managing Director, TAFE NSW (Sydney seminar)
• Mr Andrew Dettmer, National President, Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (Sydney seminar)
• Ms Peta Furnell, Group Manager, VET Reform Taskforce, Department of Education and Training (Sydney seminar)
• Mr Rod Camm, CEO, Australian Council for Private Education and Training (Melbourne seminar)
• Ms Pat Forward, Deputy Federal Secretary, Australian Education Union (Melbourne seminar)
• Mr Craig Robertson, Deputy Secretary, Skills and Higher Education, Victorian Department of Education and Training (Melbourne seminar).

Further information and to register

Unemployment rates for young people around the world are high. In some OECD countries, one in four 16-29 year-olds is neither employed nor in education or training (NEET).

Wednesday 15 July is World Youth Skills Day which aims to raise awareness, and generate discussion on the importance of technical and vocational education and training and the development of other skills relevant to local and global economies. It‘s hoped this will contribute to reducing unemployment and underemployment among youth across the globe. Some recent publications on this topic in our VOCEDplus international database include:

OECD skills outlook 2015: youth, skills and employability
Growing youth employment
Does vocational training help young people find a (good) job?
NEET youth in the aftermath of the crisis: challenges and policies
No country for young people?: youth labour market problems in Europe

See VOCEDplus for more resources on this topic.

Thank you to all the presenters and delegates involved in the 24th National VET Research Conference ‘No Frills’, held last week at the University of Western Sydney (UWS), Parramatta South campus. Recordings of our keynotes will be available on our Portal shortly and delegate presentations that are submitted to us will be available on VOCEDplus.

Highlights from the conference were our keynote addresses:

• Professor Peter Shergold, Chancellor, UWS and Chair, NCVER Board, opened the conference by discussing this year’s launch of total VET activity (TVA) and the potential impact this could have on the marketplace.
• Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training spoke about the importance of having a productive, well-trained workforce able to capitalise on developments in our economy.
• Nicholas Wyman, CEO, Institute for Workplace Skills and Innovation discussed how to bridge the skills gap and find people with the right skills for the job.

This event would not be possible without the ongoing support of our co-hosts and sponsors. Thanks again to:

Co-hosts:

University of Western Sydney
TAFE NSW Western Sydney Institute
TAFE NSW South Western Sydney Institute

Sponsors:

Australian Council for Private Education and Training
Australasian Association for Institutional Research
AVETRA
Cummins South Pacific
Innovation and Business Skills Australia
ish oncourse
JobReady.
TAFE Directors Australia
University of New England
VET Development Centre 
Wallis Strategic Market and Social Research