Description
This paper was presented to the 2011 TAFE Governance and Regulations Forum, 1 March 2011 in Melbourne. Tom Karmel argues that neither a simple definition of vocational education and training (VET) nor qualification levels are helpful. He suggests that VET is distinguished from higher education by different funding and regulatory arrangements, and teaching and learning styles. What confuses the issue is that many providers deliver both higher education and VET courses.
Summary
About the research
In this short presentation Tom Karmel discusses what constitutes vocational education and training (VET) in Australia. He argues that a simple definition—that it is occupation-specific training—is not helpful in explaining vocational education and training. Qualification levels are also not helpful. Rather, vocational education and training is distinguished from higher education by different funding and regulatory arrangements, and different teaching and learning styles. What really confuses the issue is that many providers are delivering both higher education and vocational education and training.