Edition 80, July 2010

Queensland to review training system

The State government has commissioned an independent review of post-secondary education and training in Queensland to prepare the sector for the next cycle of strong economic growth.

Education and Training Minister Geoff Wilson said the review is timely in light of ongoing national reforms to vocational education and training and higher education.

"The recovery of the Queensland economy is well under way with the resources sector continuing to grow strongly and a raft of new knowledge-based industries emerging," Mr Wilson said.

"It is critical that the post-secondary education and training system, including vocational education and training and higher education, is able to fully respond to the learning and skilling needs of industry and individuals, particularly in regional Queensland, over the coming decade.

"We need to make sure that those who provide the training on the ground - TAFEs private training organisations and universities - are fully geared-up to deliver the training that experts, industry, employers and unions tell us we need.

"The review will provide advice to the Queensland government on the performance of the current system and recommend ways to improve it to ensure the training sector is meeting the needs of students and industry.

"Key to this process will be a review of the TAFE system to further improve the flexibility and responsiveness of the public training provider.

"The government wants to put TAFE in the box seat to provide the skills needed by employers over the next decade."

TAFE institutes, universities, the private training sector, unions, employer organisations and relevant agencies will be consulted as part of the review.

A cross-government steering committee, chaired by the Director-General of the Department of Education and Training Julie Grantham has been established to oversee the review and the development of recommendations for Government consideration in late 2010.

For more information visit http://training.qld.gov.au/information/review.html

This page was generated on 23 July, 2010