Globalisation and its impact on VET: Review of research

THIS REVIEW OF research and literature gives a general account of internationalisation, or globalisation, and its impact on vocational education and training(VET). It seeks to give an international perspective of the phenomenon termed ?globalisation? and to examine the degree to which the Australian economy and society is experiencing the impact of globalisation and its inevitable impact on VET.

There is a vast array of literature recording the perceptions held by prominent persons of globalisation and its impact on nations, and on the design of VET that is needed to meet this impact. Many consider the term ?globalisation? to be far and away the most prominent in the literature relating to the development of nations and societies today. Considerable debate is recorded with respect to the potential benefits and dangers of globalisation. Much of this debate is underpinned by unstated philosophical tenets and ethical stances. However, while objective research into the impact of globalisation is being pursued more vigorously, the literature still lacks significant substantiation by research of opinions voiced by these prominent persons.

The review has been written focussing on VET policy-makers, curriculum designers, and those responsible for decisions concerning appropriate delivery strategies for VET. Further, it takes particular account of VET delivery in the context of the world of work itself and those that are responsible for the design and/or delivery of this area of VET?such as unions, enterprises, private providers and non-government organisations (NGOs).

The global context of VET is firstly addressed. This seeks to establish the causes for the growing interdependence of nations and, thus, the degree to which education for the world of work (VET) will be constrained in many areas of its responsibilities to heed the developments within the global economy, as well as those within Australia. This is especially true as VET seeks to export its education and, in so doing, meet its competition through the application of best practice. This section also includes some important definitions.

The significant developments within the Australian economy, especially with respect to exports and investments, are then examined for their implications on employment prospects and the range of competencies that will need to be offered by VET over the coming years.

Having established the nature of globalisation and its development within the Australian arena, a study is made of possible problems and potential benefits of globalisation from the viewpoint of significant leaders around the world and within Australia. This section is designed to alert VET to the areas of globalisation that need to be handled in such a way as to maximise its benefits and minimise its negative impact on the Australian economic and social life.

A section then addresses the specific implication for VET of globalisation in terms of communication, information technology, VET curricula and learning systems and staff development. This is given as a guide to those who are responsible for such enterprises within the VET arena.

Finally, a brief section is given over to the key conclusions that can be drawn from the Australian scene and the global scene with respect to the responses that must be made for VET to meet the challenge of the internationalisation, or globalisation, of vocational education and training (VET). In brief they are as follows:

• Globalisation is a phenomenon of major importance that is reshaping almost every economy around the world. Australia is very much a part of this phenomenon.

• It is also a phenomenon, however, that is generating much debate as to its positive and negative aspects, and to those elements of it that should be resisted by nation states. VET needs to contribute constructively to such debate.

• As a consequence of globalisation, economies are increasingly operating in a global market place. This is establishing a high degree of interdependence among such economies. This is also requiring economic units to attain standards that will enable them to succeed in the arena of global competition. These standards of best practice are therefore influencing the production, management and employment decisions and practices of both national and international production and services entities.

• For VET to successfully fulfil its role of developing people's relevant competencies for their effective and efficient performance within the world of work, and for sustaining those competencies and their standards of excellence, it must accommodate, to the extent possible, the global context in which it now operates.

• This accommodation will impact on its management structures, its curricula, its teaching/learning strategies, its flexible delivery systems, its articulation with other strata of education, its staff development, and its recognition and accreditation of relevant prior learning and experience.

• Further, globalisation confronts VET with the challenges of exporting education and training for the world of work. To succeed in such endeavours, it must co-operate with necessary change, increase its flexibility and development goals and implement strategies that fulfil the needs of its clients, especially those within its export market.

• The teacher/training personnel of VET must undertake programs of initial and recurrent professional development that equip them to perform successfully within the global context in which they must now operate.

• Current trends in the workplace indicate that businesses and industries are investing heavily in information technology. The only key to success in this less and less predictable workplace will be education in the new information technologies and a willingness of personnel to retrain for changing jobs with the changing technology. VET teacher/trainers have the most crucial role and responsibility to assist this development. They will need continual upskilling and updating on changes and new requirements of the work place so that they themselves can continue to adapt to the rapid change.