Quality Council Focus - May 2009

1. From the Chair
2. NQC Member Profile
3. NQC Planning Sessions - February 2009
4. NQC Action Groups
5. Draft 2009 NQC Work Plan
6. VET Products for the 21st Century
7. Bradley Review- VET/HE interface
8. Quality of Assessment Practices - Stage 1 Report
9. Skills for Sustainability
10. NQC Equity Statement and Operating Principles
11. VET Work force Development
12. Training Packages Processes
13. Update on 2008 NQC Projects
14. 2009 Future Meeting Dates

From the Chair

Welcome to the first edition of the Quality Council Focus for 2009. The NQC have had a busy yet productive first quarter. The Council’s planning session was held over two days in early February and provided an early opportunity for members to focus on the key issues and future skill challenges in the Australian workforce, reflect on NQC processes over the past year, and consider future ways of working to effectively deliver the 2009 Work Plan. As part of the planning process, the NQC extended an invitation to the CEOs of the eleven Industry Skills Councils (ISC’s) to attend the session and present on the key issues and future skill challenges faced by their respective industries. The CEOs of all eleven ISC’s attended and provided valuable input to the NQC planning for 2009.

This two-day session resulted in the NQC identifying a number of priority areas for its 2009 Work Plan and establishing Action Groups to progress work relating to key priorities including VET Products for the 21st Century, Skills for Sustainability, National Consistency, Quality of Assessment and International VET. More information on the Council’s 2009 priorities and Work Plan is available on the NQC website at http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/work_plan.

With several exciting projects now well underway and due for completion this year, I will be engaging extensively with stakeholders including Ministers, peak industry bodies, ISCs, unions, Commonwealth, State and Territory training officials, and the media. These activities are a vital part of my role as NQC Chair and contribute to the Council being represented widely and meaningfully to a range of opinion-leaders and decision-makers. The engagement program in 2009 will contribute to a cooperative exchange of ideas and information sharing among key stakeholders.

Since the last meeting of the NQC in December 2008, I have represented the Council at a number of events. On 8th December 2008, I presented a brief to the senior managers of Rio Tinto on the Future VET Directions in Australia (QLD). In early March, I participated on a panel discussion as part of the Big Skills Conference organised by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR). At the end of March, I took the opportunity to provide feedback to the ISC Forum on the outcomes of the NQC Planning Day and the Council's priorities for 2009. On 29 April I participated, along with a number of other key stakeholders in the national VET system, in a roundtable discussion of the Skills Australia position paper Foundations for the Future (April 2009), which presents draft proposals for future governance, architecture and market design for the national training system.

I look forward to working with my fellow NQC members to deliver a rigorous and worthwhile Work Plan in 2009.


Regards,


 
Patrick McKendry
NQC Chair

NQC Member Profile

Virginia Simmons
Director & CEO
Chisholm Institute of TAFE

Virginia Simmons is a Board member of TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) and is the TDA nominee on the National Quality Council (NQC), bringing a public sector provider perspective to NQC’s deliberations.

Virginia has been the CEO of Chisholm Institute of TAFE for 8 years.  Prior to that, she was Deputy Vice-Chancellor (TAFE) at Swinburne University of Technology for 3½ years and Director of Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE for 11 years.  In all of these roles she has had a strong emphasis on quality, culminating in Chisholm’s Quality Management System which is recognised as being best practice.

Virginia has been a strong advocate for public sector TAFE throughout her long-standing career in the sector.  In 1995 she received the inaugural Prime Minister's Training Award for her contribution to women in VET.  In 2008, she was the recipient of the Sir James Darling medal award by the Australian College of Educators for outstanding and sustained contribution to Victorian education.

In addition to TDA, she is an active member of the Victorian TAFE Association and has served on a number of Boards over the years, including the South East Development (SED) Area Consultative Committee.

Widely experienced at leading organisations through periods of major change, Virginia has also participated in many international consultancy projects in South Africa, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Brunei Darussalam and China.  Through her work at Chisholm, she has also been strongly committed to the quality of VET internationally.

Virginia holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education, Higher Diploma of the German Language, Graduate Diploma of Educational Administration and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators (FACE).

NQC Planning Sessions - February 2009

The NQC held their annual planning sessions on 5 (half-day) and 6 (full-day) February 2009. For the first session, the NQC invited the CEOs of the eleven ISCs to provide presentations around the key issues and future skill challenges arising from the environmental scans. These were: Sustainability – ‘green’ skills; Training and Assessment Training Package; Training Products for the 21st Century; E-scans for VET and Training Package Continuous Improvement Processes.

A list of the main NQC ‘takeaways’ from the session is provided at http://www.nqc.tvetaustralia.com.au/work_plan/nqc_priorities_for_2009

The remaining sessions enabled the NQC to reflect on processes and discuss future working arrangements, as well as decide on priorities for the 2009 Work Plan.

NQC Action Groups

The NQC agreed that in line with other Ministerial Council advisory body arrangements it should use Action Groups rather than standing sub-committees to prosecute its work.  At the 9 April meeting the NQC endorsed the Protocol for the Establishment and Operation of NQC Action Groups and agreed to References and membership for a number of Action Groups.
The NQC has established five Action Groups so far for 2009 to deliver key outputs – National Consistency, Quality of Assessment, VET Products for the 21st Century, International VET, and Skills for Sustainability.

Draft 2009 NQC Work Plan

The NQC endorsed the Draft 2009 Work Plan at their 9 April meeting subject to minor amendments. The Draft Work Plan incorporates the outputs to be achieved by each of the Action Groups and in addition highlights other priority areas to be addressed. For each Action Group the key outputs include the following:

• National Consistency – key outputs include - full implementation of the Quality Indicators for RTOs by the end of 2010; identification and implementation of Quality Indicators for Registering Bodies; addressing findings of the formative evaluation of the AQTF (undertaken by KPMG 2008); reports from Registering Bodies on continuous improvement of the AQTF.
• Quality of Assessment – key outputs include – a strategic industry audit of the Training & Assessment Training Package; a review of what constitutes and contributes to quality assessment and identifies key issues impacting on quality assessment; an analysis of assessment resources, identifying gaps and a strategy for addressing the gaps; a report on alternative forms of workplace recognition including viability, key features and infrastructure required to support a national system for recognition of workplace training; a report on good practice models/strategies for moderation of assessment.
• VET Products for the 21st Century (Joint NQC & COAG Steering Committee) – key outputs include – a national consultation to determine any changes necessary to the definition and design of units of competency, Training Packages, VET qualifications, accredited courses, credit systems and the recognition arrangements within and between systems; and the development of a policy framework to improve the flexibility and responsiveness of the VET system.
• International VET – key outputs include – research on the nature and extent of off-shore delivery of VET by RTOs; a report on the effectiveness of the AQTF in managing quality issues associated with delivery to international students in Australia; and a report on the feasibility of allowing international providers to register as Australian RTOs and deliver Australian qualifications.
• Skills for Sustainability – key outputs include – a ‘stocktake’ of units and qualifications incorporating sustainability skills, including identification of gaps and recommendations for development; identification of standards for voluntary certification of RTOs relating to sustainability or ‘green’ skills; and a progress report to Ministers 12 June 2009 meeting.

The NQC will also address a number of other high priority areas including – a review of the Training Packages endorsement and noting processes; investigation of the need and options for a national graded assessment framework; implementing an equity action plan; analysis and impact of the Bradley Review; and identifying priorities for VET workforce development.

The NQC is also looking to collaborate with the AQFC on areas of mutual interest in relation to strengthening the AQF and improving learner pathways.

The Draft NQC 2009 Work Plan will be considered by the Ministerial Council out-of-session.

VET Products for the 21st Century

The joint NQC/COAG work to develop a policy framework to enable VET qualifications and products to meet the needs of businesses and industry and equip individuals with broadly based skills and knowledge is nearing completion. In late April, the NQC considered a draft Final Report which will be considered in turn by MCVTE and the COAG Skills and Workforce Development Subgroup. 

Bradley Review- VET/HE interface

At its 9 April meeting the NQC discussed the Final Report from the Review of Higher Education (Bradley Review), released in December 2008 and the Commonwealth’s response to the Review. The Review presents a vision for higher education within a new ‘national framework for tertiary education’ and has strong implications for the VET sector. In response to the Review, the Commonwealth has acknowledged the key role of VET and called for a ‘fundamental rethinking of the separate VET and HE systems and institutions to create better connected learning for individual students.’

Skills Australia has been commissioned by the Commonwealth to develop revised governance proposals for the National Training System within the context of a move to a more integrated tertiary education system and has recently released a position paper.  

The NQC is participating in the public policy discussion with a view to ensuring that whatever arrangements are finally made in relation to a new tertiary education system, the key features of VET (including the strong engagement with industry and competency based qualifications) and the quality of VET provision are maintained.

A copy of the Final Report from the Review can be downloaded from http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Review/Pages/ReviewofAustralianHigherEducationReport.aspx

Copies of the Deputy Prime Minister’s speeches of 4 March to the Universities Australia Conference, 5 March to the Big Skills Conference and the 9 March to the Australian Financial Review - Higher Education Conference can be downloaded from http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Gillard/Pages/default.aspx

The Skills Australia position paper can be downloaded from http://www.skillsaustralia.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/263EFA98-329C-4FD9-BE04-D0CFB22E2ED8/25838/Foundations_for_the_future.pdf

Quality of Assessment Practices - Stage 1 Report

The NQC has endorsed the final report Quality of Assessment Practices Stage 1- Part A prepared by Learning Australia Pty Ltd for public release, with the caveat that the recommendations are currently under consideration by the NQC and will not necessarily be accepted.  A number of recommendations have been directed to NQC Action Groups for further consideration.

The Stage 1 report also includes a report on the National Mapping of Assessment Materials.  These materials will be further reviewed in Stage 2 of the project, which will provide recommendations to the NQC as to how gaps in materials might be addressed. Learning Australia Pty Ltd has been granted the tender to complete Stage 2 of the project.

Both the Issues and Options paper prepared as part of the national consultation process for the Stage 1 project, and the Stage 1 report will be available from the NQC website in the very near future.

Skills for Sustainability

At its November 2008 meeting the Ministerial Council for Vocational and Technical Education (MCVTE) requested that the National Quality Council (NQC) should incorporate a Green Skills strategy into its 2009 Work Plan. The NQC has affirmed this as a priority for 2009 and has established a Skills for Sustainability Action Group to implement the Ministers’ reference.

In the first instance the objectives of the Skills for Sustainability Action Group are to undertake preliminary scoping and research on how the NQC might acknowledge and/or incorporate Skills for Sustainability into VET products; and to develop a standards framework for voluntary certification of RTOs as Green Skills Providers as part of the AQTF.

The NQC will present a progress report on this work to the 12 June MCVTE meeting.

NQC Equity Statement and Operating Principles

Acknowledging the importance of integrating equity considerations into NQC outputs and business practices, the NQC has adopted an equity statement which articulates a number of equity operating principles to underpin all the Council’s business and govern the work of those who undertake activities on its behalf.

The Council’s equity operating principles are founded on the following premises:

• Equity is everybody’s business and this needs to be reflected in the policies, procedures and practices of organisations.
 
• The provision of high quality education and training is a prerequisite for the achievement of a fair and inclusive society.
 
• Creating accessible and productive learning opportunities and outcomes for clients with particular needs, may require the co-ordination of policies, programs and services across other areas of government.
 
• Membership of an identified equity group does not necessarily mean that an individual suffers a learning or employment hindrance. Equally, members of equity groups may encounter barriers other than those associated with their ‘category’ of disadvantage. Education and training policies and programs, therefore, need to reflect this diversity.

The full NQC Equity Statement.pdf can be viewed on the NQC website.

At its February planning day the NQC identified equity as a key priority for its 2009 Work Plan and the first order of business is development of an equity impact assessment tool to enable the Council to identify real or potential inequalities resulting from NQC decisions and policies and the design of NQC projects. This project is expected to be completed by mid 2009.

VET Work force Development

The funding arrangements agreed by COAG in November 2008 place responsibility for VET workforce development with the states and territories to manage in line with the specific needs of their jurisdiction. Recognizing the significance of the professional capability of the VET workforce for the quality of VET provision, the NQC has agreed that each of its Action Groups will provide advice to the Council on any workforce development implications of its work.

Training Packages Processes

The following four projects relating to Training Packages are being managed by DEEWR or TVET Australia.

Changes to the Training Package Development and Endorsement Handbook

Through consultation with STAs and ISCs, DEEWR has identified a number of areas in which there is inconsistent interpretation and application of NQC Training Package policy. Issues identified include: importing units of competency, pre-requisite units of competency and entry requirements and pathways. DEEWR is managing stakeholder consultation on these issues. While a process of policy clarification and targeted professional development may address some of these issues, others may require the development of new or refined policy. Outcomes of the work will be considered by the Council at its next meeting in June.

Review of the Training Package Support Materials Noting Process

DEEWR is managing a project to review the current process for formal noting of Training Package support materials. Stenning and Associates have been appointed as the project consultants and a two stage consultation process has been completed. The Final Report from the review is expected to be considered by the NQC at its June meeting.

Evaluation of the Training Package Development and Endorsement Process

The Lista consultancy, headed by Ms Margo Couldrey, has been selected to conduct an evaluation of the Training Package development and endorsement process. The project will evaluate the extent to which the new process, which has been successively implemented since January 2008, is meeting the needs of industry in terms of quality and speed to market of Training Packages and Training Package components. The project will focus on those packages which have been through the new process and will involve consultation with industry advisory bodies at both state and national levels, provider groups, State and Commonwealth training bureaucracies and members of the ISC Quality Assurance panels. It is anticipated that the project will be completed by the end of July 2009.

Training Package Glossary of Terms

In the interest of promoting consistency, the NQC commissioned NCVER to develop a Glossary of Training Package related terms. The Glossary is now in its final stages of editing and will be presented to the NQC at its June meeting. Once it has been endorsed by the Council, the Glossary will be published.

Update on 2008 NQC Projects

The following projects from the 2008 NQC Work Plan are nearing completion

Industry/enterprise and RTO partnerships

This project is due for completion in May 2009. It will report on 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

This project, which is expected to be completed in June 2009, will report on 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 can be reviewed 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 Meeting Dates