Quality Council Focus - July 2009

From the Chair
NQC Member Profile
AQFC Consultation Paper: Strengthening the AQF
Framework Implementation
Bradley Review- VET/HE interface
NQC 2010 Work Plan
National Consistency
Quality of Assessment
Skills for Sustainability
International VET
Review of the Training Package Support Materials Noting Process
Training Package Policy
Training Packages Glossary
Evaluation of the Training Package Development and Endorsement Process
Update on 2008 NQC Projects
2009 Future NQC Meeting Dates

From the Chair

Patrick McKendry Welcome to the second edition of the Quality Council Focus for 2009.

On 12 June the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) endorsed the proposed policy framework in the report from the NQC project VET Products for the 21st Century. The policy framework is designed to improve the flexibility and responsiveness of the VET system, and the report includes a set of recommendations for further work for its implementation. A special communiqué providing further details of this significant piece of work for the VET sector is available at:

http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/nqc_publications

At its June Meeting, the NQC approved the next stage of work for a number of key projects designed to enhance quality and consistency in the national training system including a National Strategic Industry Audit of the TAA04 Training and Assessment Training Package. This will be a nationwide audit of a sample of registered training organisations delivering, assessing and issuing qualifications against this key training package. A major review of the package's design and fitness for purpose is currently being undertaken by Innovation & Business Skills Australia (the relevant Industry Skills Council). The Strategic Industry Audit will also provide a report that connects the findings of the two projects, and looks at the interaction between package design and implementation by RTOs.

Recognising the importance of ensuring high quality delivery of Australian VET programs to international students offshore, the NQC has commissioned a report on current arrangements for quality assuring the off-shore delivery by Australian RTOs against the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). The project will also examine the challenges encountered by providers in resolving the requirements of the AQTF with VET quality systems in the countries of off-shore provision.

As part of its forward planning, at its June meeting, the NQC reviewed a first draft of its 2010 Work Plan, which it is looking to finalise by November 2009 for roll-out in early 2010. The proposed 2010 Work Plan builds on work begun in 2009 and includes work to deliver the range of flexible and responsive VET products necessary to meet the needs of industry and individuals; strengthen VET quality assurance arrangements for both domestic and international students; introduce sustainability standards for VET providers; and enhance the quality of VET assessment outcomes.

I recently had the pleasure of meeting with representatives of a number of the Registering and Course Accrediting Bodies from around Australia, including a number of their Chairpersons. The meeting focused on TVET Australia's role as a delegate to a number of the state registering bodies, and also discussed the Council of Australian Government's agreement that 'stronger and more cohesive national regulatory arrangements for VET' are needed.

At the June NQC meeting members provided feedback to the consultants engaged by the Commonwealth to develop future options for national VET regulation.

Regards,

McKendry_Signature

Patrick McKendry
NQC Chair

NQC Member Profile

Patrick Coleman
Director Policy
Business Council of Australia

Patrick Coleman joined the BCA in November 2005. Patrick came to the Business Council with a background in Government policy advice in the areas of education and training, transport security, critical infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and small business.

Throughout this time he worked as chief of staff and policy adviser in several areas including in the Office of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister for Vocational and Technical Education.

Patrick has over nine years working in Federal Government and has a keen knowledge and understanding of the workings of policy development and process. Patrick holds a Bachelor of Arts from Monash University and a Master of Management from the Australian National University.

AQFC Consultation Paper: Strengthening the AQF

At its June meeting the Council considered proposals for strengthening the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) put forward by the AQFC (Australian Qualifications Framework Council) in their consultation paper. The proposals include measures to enhance the objectives of the framework and create a more contemporary AQF architecture in response to the need for improved linkages and connections between qualifications and sectors. The Council agreed to commission expert advice on the implications of the AQFC proposal for the VET sector and VET qualifications. A copy of the consultation paper is available from:

http://www.aqf.edu.au/pdf/Strengthening the AQF Consultation Paper.pdf

Framework Implementation

Following Ministers' endorsement of the policy framework for VET Products for the 21st Century, the NQC has established an Action Group to put effect to the recommendations in the final report. A communiqué outlining key aspects of the new policy framework and the report itself is available on the NQC website here:

NQC Policy Framework: VET Products for the 21st Century - Communique

The report was developed by a Joint Steering Committee of the NQC and the COAG Skills and Workforce Development Subgroup. The new policy framework is intended to improve the flexibility and responsiveness of the VET system.

Further information about the Framework Implementation Action Group can be found on the NQC website.

Bradley Review- VET/HE interface

At its April meeting, the Council of Australian Governments(COAG) endorsed the need for stronger and more cohesive national regulatory arrangements for VET, including in-principle support for a national regulatory body to oversee registration of providers and accreditation of VET qualifications and courses.

http://www.coag.gov.au/coag_meeting_outcomes/2009-04-30/index.cfm

In a joint communiqué issued after the June meeting of the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) and the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE), Ministers announced joint action by all governments to design and implement the new Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_090612_125447.aspx

At its June meeting the NQC considered work being done by the Nous Group for the Commonwealth on possible models for new regulatory arrangements in VET.

NQC 2010 Work Plan

At its June meeting, the NQC agreed that a draft 2010 NQC Work Plan should be developed for consideration by members at the September NQC meeting, with a view to endorsement being sought from Ministers at their November meeting. This effectively brings the planning cycle for the annual NQC Work Plan forward by six months thereby enabling outputs from an endorsed plan to be achieved over the 2010 calendar year. The decision also provides continuity of purpose given that a substantial proportion of Council member appointments are due to expire at the end of 2009, and new members appointed will need time to come up to speed with the work of the Council.

National Consistency

A number of activities are being undertaken by the National Consistency Action Group in order to achieve a strong, nationally consistent application of quality assurance arrangements for the national training system through the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).

Quality Indicators for Registering and Course Accrediting Bodies are being developed by KPMG and are expected to be presented to the NQC at its September meeting. The Action Group is monitoring the implementation of the AQTF Quality Indicators for RTOs during their transitional period to June 2010 and a review of these indicators is planned for later in 2010.

Registering and Course Accrediting Bodies are undertaking benchmarking activities to address findings from the Formative Evaluation of the Implementation of the AQTF 2007 report (2008). These activities will identify any need for the review and development of national guidelines in 2010 prior to the full review of the AQTF proposed at the end of 2010.

Quality of Assessment

The NQC has established the Quality of Assessment Action Group to address the widely held perceptions across the national training system that the quality of assessment practices needs to improve. The Action Group will provide recommendations to the NQC for achieving:

improved assessor capability and high quality assessment practices;
high quality assessment resources which provide for consistency of outcomes; and
strengthened quality assurance arrangements for assessment.

As a means of building the capability of VET assessors and enhancing the quality and national consistency of VET assessment outcomes, the NQC has agreed to undertake a National Strategic Audit of the TAA04 Training and Assessment Training Package as a priority in 2009. The work will be completed in two stages.

Stage 1 will comprise the National Strategic Audit, which will focus on the quality of delivery of the Package and identify issues to be addressed in regard to implementation.

Stage 2 will pull together and connect the findings of the national strategic audit and the findings of the IBSA review of the TAA 04 which is currently underway, and which seeks to identify issues of design and fitness for purpose. The high level strategic report will provide recommendations to the NQC for addressing the issues of design and implementation in a holistic way.

At its June meeting, the NQC endorsed the report Alternative Frameworks for the Recognition of Workplace Learning and agreed to publish the report noting that its recommendations are currently under consideration by the NQC and it should not be assumed they will necessarily be implemented. The NQC also decided to seek a joint approach between the NQC and the AQFC to consider recommendations from the report. The report will shortly be available on the NQC website.

Skills for Sustainability

The NQC has established the Skills for Sustainability Action Group to enable incorporation of sustainability skills into flexible and responsive VET products and to promote a greater awareness of sustainability issues in the operations of RTOs. On 12 June 2009, Ministers noted the progress report from the NQC on the Council's Skills for Sustainability Strategy and Action Plan. At its most recent meeting the Skills for Sustainability Action Group received a presentation on the Australian Government's National Action Plan for Education for Sustainability from the National Council for Education for Sustainability, where it was agreed there was a need for on-going liaison between the two Councils to avoid duplication of effort.

The NQC endorsed work to proceed in relation to a "stocktake" and "gap analysis" of sustainability skills, which will bring together the work of the ISC's, States and Territories, and RTOs and determine the extent of sustainability coverage in Training Packages and accredited courses. The NQC also endorsed work to proceed on options for a standards framework for voluntary certification of RTOs as providers of green skills, which will have as a focus an RTO's capacity and capability to teach and assess skills for environmental sustainability.

International VET

Acknowledging the extent of Australian VET delivery to international students and its contribution to the Australian economy, the NQC has identified international VET as a priority for 2009 and established the International VET Action Group to provide advice to the NQC on issues related to the quality assurance of onshore and offshore Australian VET delivery to international students.

The NQC has endorsed work to proceed on a project to report on current arrangements for quality assuring off-shore delivery by Australian RTOs against the AQTF; and challenges encountered by providers when resolving the requirements of the AQTF with VET quality systems in the countries of offshore provision. A separate project focusing on whether aspects of the AQTF and its related guidelines might be strengthened to support the quality of delivery to onshore international students will be considered in the light of work to be undertaken by the Joint Committee on International Education at the request of Ministers.

Review of the Training Package Support Materials Noting Process

Recognising the need for quality resources as a tool to support quality delivery and outcomes in the national training system, the NQC commissioned a review of the Training Package support materials Noting Process which has now been completed. The final report identifies a number of significant improvements seen as necessary for the process to function as an effective quality assurance mechanism and recommends that the current process be terminated and a new approach developed. A copy of the Noting Process Evaluation: Final Report is available on the NQC website at:

http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/nqc_publications

The Council will be seeking to ensure a coherent and streamlined approach to quality assurance across the full range of VET products- both endorsed and non-endorsed, and has agreed that work to develop the new quality assurance process for non-endorsed components of Training Packages will be undertaken as part of the next stage of work on VET Products for the 21st Century. This work will be overseen by the Framework Implementation Action Group.

Training Package Policy

At its June meeting the NQC agreed to a number of policy changes for Training Packages relating to: entry requirements and pathways; pre-requisite units of competency; categories of change for units of competency and qualifications; continuous improvement and endorsement; assessment guidelines; and co-requisite units of competency. Changes agreed by the Council have been incorporated into the online Training Package Development Handbook available at:

http://www.deewr.gov.au/Skills/Overview/Policy/TPDH/Pages/default.aspx

Training Packages Glossary

The NQC endorsed the Training Packages Glossary subject to clarification of a number of definitions. It is intended that the Glossary will become the definitive source for VET terminology and over time the definitions will be reflected in all key VET documents. The NQC agreed that once finalized the Training Packages Glossary be made available and maintained as part of the online Training Packages Development Handbook.

Evaluation of the Training Package Development and Endorsement Process

From January 2008, the NQC introduced a streamlined process to develop and endorse Training Packages with the intention of developing higher quality Training Packages which are responsive to the needs of industry and increasing the speed to market of new qualifications, skill sets and units of competency. In 2009 the Council commissioned an independent evaluation of the new process. This work is nearing completion and a report will be considered by the NQC at its September meeting.

Update on 2008 NQC Projects

The following 2008 projects designed to build assessor capability and industry confidence in VET assessment processes and outcomes are nearing completion.

Industry/enterprise and RTO partnerships

A report on this project will be considered by the NQC at its September meeting. It will describe several case studies which represent good practice examples of industry, enterprise and RTO partnerships. It will also report on six action learning sites in Australia which established partnerships between RTOs and industry/ enterprises. The final report will document processes and procedures that were used in completion of the action learning plans and strategies that contributed to the success of the program. The project will provide examples of practice and advice to RTOs/ enterprises seeking to establish a partnership approach to training and assessment in the workplace.

National approach to moderation to improve the consistency of assessment

A report on this project will be considered by the NQC at its September meeting and will include outcomes from a number of action learning projects. Outputs will include:

a Code of Practice for engagement in moderation activity which was developed for the action learning projects but which is appropriate for wider use;
agreed good practice characteristics and principles for assessment tools - portfolios, assignments, third party reports, demonstrations and simulations that may be applied in the moderation of assessment decisions in any industry - for use during the projects.;
a report describing the process of reaching consensus on what is acceptable evidence to confirm assessment judgements in selected competencies in identified national industry priority areas;
a report that synthesises the examples of good practice models in determining quality assessment judgements which could be applied in a variety of contexts;
a brief from the consultant outlining how equity considerations have been taken into account.

2009 Future NQC Meeting Dates

National Quality Council (NQC)

Thursday 10 September - all day meeting
Thursday 3 December - all day meeting

National Consistency Action Group

Wednesday 19 August

Quality of Assessment Action Group

Wednesday 12 August

International VET Action Group

Thursday 30 July
Thursday 24 September
Thursday 12 November

Skills for Sustainability Action Group

Thursday 23 July
Thursday 17 September
Thursday 5 November

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