September BluePrint – EU Connections, Evolving VET & Workforce Initiatives

Hi there

Getting over the jet lag, there is much to share with a heads up on a couple of things that may be of interest to you.

Firstly, on Friday 8 September 2017, Jessica and I met with The Hon Karen Andrews MP, Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, following the TAFE Directors Australian Convention 2017 dinner the night before in Adelaide.

On the point of evolving Vocational Education and Training (VET), we discussed the Training Package development and approval process with a shift needed in responsiveness and skills for current, new and emerging jobs.

Considering opportunities, similarities and differences between VET in India, Sri Lanka and Australia we focused on quality, cost and volume. It is clear that there is a global supply issue for skilled workers and we need the skills much faster too.

Hearing from the Minister about her open mindedness on apprenticeships, suggesting alternative models from the states and territories, was pleasing but the ‘product’ is an issue. We also appreciated the connection with Department of Education and Training colleagues in Canberra the following week on current and future workforce needs and the mismatch with some VET qualifications, units of competency and programs.

This was all in the lead up to presenting on ‘VET and Entrepreneurship’ at the UNEVOC TVET Leadership Programme 2017 in Bonn, Germany, where I worked with leaders from Armenia, Australia, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador, Fiji, Germany, Ghana, India, Kenya, Korea, Malta, Mongolia, Qatar, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Seychelles, Spain, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago, Uganda, and Zambia. An amazing experience, imagine gaining insight into all of these countries, their workforce issues and VET systems.

To top off the experience overseas, I had a 3.5 hour meeting in Brussels on Saturday with Joao Santos, Deputy Head of Unit for VET, Apprenticeships and Adult learning from the European Commission (see pic above). The EU’s initiatives on Understanding Skills including the European Vocational Skills Week can provide you with information on the future of VET and the main question we talked about, which many people are now asking, was is how relevant is VET in the 21st Century? This aligns with the 21st Century Capabilities that we have been developing, future jobs and capturing learning experiences exploring the application of xAPI (an international, inter operable standard that documents any learning, any where, any time and in any context).

If you’d like to tap into a significant skills base and network in everything workforce, VET and entrepreneurship related then consider coaching and mentoring for yourself or colleagues, sending invitations to deliver engaging conference key notes, getting assistance with international delegation hosting, partnering on entrepreneurial programs, or facilitating workforceprojects for your organisation, industry, region or country.

On that note, I’m pulling together examples of 21st Century Workforce initiatives and World-class TVET/VET (in any area/field) so wondered if you had any examples or links to share? Please email me the details and I’ll profile via events and social media plus my next conference talk.

PS. Happy to send you a surprise gift (old school through the mail) in return for your best examples, thank you.

Developing Northern Australia – workforce multiplier

Australia’s far north attracts more than 22 million domestic and international overnight visitors each year. The tourism industry contributes $1.2 billion directly into the Queensland economy – 3.7% of the state’s gross state product (GSP) and $11.6 billion to the state’s economy (7.5%). Read more here>

Entrepreneurship: a hot topic in Himeji, Japan, Adelaide’s sister city

The Japanese ‘lifetime employment system’ and culture doesn’t take kindly to risk. This means there are some policies that don’t make the process of finding private capital simple. Most entrepreneurs don’t work for start-ups. Rather, they go into the government or large companies – the elite jobs. But things are changing. Read more here>

Greater Western Sydney, Australia’s third largest economy, creating new jobs

Sydney districts have been powering one quarter of Australia’s economic growth, for the last financial year. All eyes are on Western Sydney – home to over 21% of Greater Sydney’s population and generating 18% of its jobs. It also powers 18% of Greater Sydney’s economic activity. Read more here>

Learning and development transformed – Video message from UNESCO, Bonn, Germany

Education (across all levels) and learning in every context (industry, organisational, professional, regions and workforce development) is about to be transformed. Watch video here>

Lessons from the German VET system – could ASQA be redundant?

In Bonn, Germany this week working with UNESCO UNEVOC, Wendy Perry met with Philipp Grollman from Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung (BIBB) to learn about the German VET system, compared with Australia and others around the world. Please watch the quick 4 minute video til the end and read all of the blog, then share your ideas. Read more here>

Qingdao, China sister city boosting higher education numbers & economy

Qingdao, one of Adelaide’s sister cities in China’s eastern Shandong province – is a region with over 154 higher learning institutions. Out of these providers, 62 offer Bachelor-degrees and 33 provide Masters studies. China’s already vast education industry is set to further expand in the coming years. Read more here>

TVET/VET and Entrepreneurship

Inspired by TVET/VET Leaders from across the world in Bonn, Germany this week, for the UNESCO UNEVOC Programme, this blog is written for you and colleagues working to improve TVET systems in your country. Read more here>

Workforce Planning and Development – an enterprise, island, region and country

You may have picked up from social media that we are currently:

  • developing a workforce plan for the stunning Kangaroo Island in South Australia;
  • gathering evidence on workforce requirements in Agriculture and Horticulture in Sunraysia, Victoria; and
  • negotiating partnerships with colleagues locally and in many countries around the world on workforce initiatives.

If you have a workforce project, need to undertake a skills needs analysis, outline your future workforce and the impact of decisions in the here and now, or perhaps want to explore international opportunities, please get in touch for a chat about how we might be able to help, thank you.

Kind regards

Wendy Perry, Managing Director, Workforce BluePrint

+61 416 150 491 | +61 8387 9800

wendy@workforceblueprint.com.au | www.workforceblueprint.com.au

www.wendyperry.com.au

PO Box 838, HAPPY VALLEY, SOUTH AUSTRALIA 5159

/WorkforcePlanningTools

@workforce_blueprint

/WendyPerry /Workforce-BluePrint

@waperry @WorkforcePlan

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