Victorian TAFE free-for-all – is it beginning of another “Crisis”?
From January 2019, the Victorian Government will cover the cost of 30 TAFE courses and 18 pre-apprenticeship courses. The free courses run for up to two years and include accounting, agriculture, construction, plumbing, engineering and nursing. The free TAFE courses Non-apprenticeship courses Apprenticeship pathway courses Accounting, Certificate IV/Diploma/Advanced Diploma Automotive Air Conditioning Technology, Certificate II Ageing Support, Certificate IV Automotive Body Repair Technology, Certificate II Agriculture, Certificate II/III/IV […]
Read MoreIndia to be top study destination in two years
The Indian government has promised fee waivers to foreign students choosing India as their study destination as part of a campaign that has a commitment to welcome 1 million inbound students. Following the launch of the Study in India web portal on April 18, which will be a one stop solution for international students, the government has […]
Read MoreThe VET Sector Newsletter – Edition 1, April 2018
The official Newsletter from Compliance and Quality Assurance (CAQA) OUR FIRST NEWSLETTER By Anna Haranas Welcome to The VET Sector, our official newsletter for the Australian VET education and training sector. This monthly publication is an initiative of the team at Compliance And Quality Assurance (CAQA). The newsletter will be a vehicle for news and […]
Read MoreCEO Declaration
Annual declaration on compliance Have you submitted your Annual Declaration on Compliance? Are you confident that your RTO meets current compliance requirements with RTO standards? Or do you need help? All Australian Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) are required to submit an annual declaration on compliance with the RTO standards applicable to their organisation on or […]
Read MoreCurrent VET sector a disgrace: CEDA
The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) is calling for a national review of the VET sector, claiming the area has been “significantly weakened” by recent scandals and a lack of focus from the government. CEDA has put forth a number of recommendations to strengthen the sector, hoping the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) will consider […]
Read MoreFake universities may have produced bogus lawyers and doctors in UK
More than 30 fake UK universities have been shut down in the past year as concern grows about students being mis-sold fraudulent degrees. The Law Society Gazette reports that 32 fake academic institutions were closed by the government over the past year; 25 of them claimed to be in the UK but were found to […]
Read MoreVET Industry News 11-Sep-2018
New course accreditation application lodgement fee On 6 July 2018, ASQA introduced an application lodgement fee of $500 for all initial and renewal applications submitted for course accreditation by ASQA. At time of lodgement, a completeness check of the application will be conducted to review: Sufficiency of evidence demonstrating industry support Sufficiency of evidence demonstrating […]
Read MoreHow does quality assurance differ from compliance (Part 3)
In this third and final part of our “compliance and quality assurance,” articles, we are continuing to discuss compliance and quality assurance requirements, standards, expectations and the differences between them. How does quality assurance differ from compliance? It can be overwhelming trying to keep track of all your organisation’s compliance obligations. That’s why many businesses […]
Read MoreDifferent phases of assessment and learner validation processes (Part 1)
In this article, we will discuss different phases of validation processes that you should be following in your RTO to ensure you meet regulatory requirements and industry expectations. Validation of RTO assessment resources You must validate all your assessment resources to ensure they meet the principles of assessment, rules of evidence, training package requirements, regulatory […]
Read MoreAssessment issues that may impact your RTO audit (Part 1)
It is important to look into ASQAs 2017 report that shows: Around 72% of RTOs FAIL audit on Assessment Approximately 50% of those FAIL to be able to rectify their assessment tools on resubmission under the OLD audit mode According to the new audit model: There may be NO opportunity to rectify critical non-compliances Initial […]
Read MoreASQA Regulatory strategy 2016–17 and ASQA’s Regulatory Risk Framework
ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority), VET regulator has recently released its regulatory strategy for 2016-2017. ASQA’s Regulatory Risk Framework, which is part of the published Regulatory Strategy outlines how ASQA fulfils its responsibility by managing risk on two levels: Operational (provider risk), and Strategic (systemic risk) Provider risk continues to be a key focus […]
Read MoreHeavy penalty for bogus qualification
A former trainer has been ordered to pay $120,000 for providing her employer with 11 bogus vocational education and training (VET) qualifications, providing another two bogus qualifications to a co-worker and submitting false qualifications to the national regulator as proof of her competency. The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) successfully obtained declarations from the Federal […]
Read MoreVocational education and training courses behind significant drop of crime rate.
Vocational education and training courses have been linked to a significant drop in Victoria’s crime rates by University of Melbourne economists. They believe the benefits of the controversial education reforms have been overlooked. “What has been missing is that these reforms did increase access to publicly funded training and that has had positive flow on […]
Read MoreNational Strategy for International Education 2025
Australia’s first National Strategy for International Education 2025 sets out a 10-year plan for developing Australia’s role as a global leader in education, training and research. Pillar 1 Strengthening the fundamentals Goal 1: Building on a world-class education, training and research system Goal 2: Delivering the best possible student experience Goal 3: Providing effective quality […]
Read MoreOmbudsman for dodgy colleges
Dozens of Victorian education providers will be scrutinised by a new investigation unit looking into dodgy training courses across the state. The new squad, headed by a former Victorian Ombudsman investigator, will conduct detailed investigations into “unscrupulous training providers”, and closely examine the quality of courses on offer. The team is currently focusing on online […]
Read More‘Unscrupulous training providers’ to be investigated
The Andrews Labor Government is upping the pressure on rogue training providers with a new investigations unit in the Department of Education and Training to put them under the microscope. Dodgy training courses in Victoria will soon be scrutinised by a new investigation led by a former Victorian Ombudsman investigator. The crack squad, headed by […]
Read MoreHigher education standards framework (threshold standards) 2015
TEQSA registers and evaluates the performance of higher education providers against the Higher Education Standards Framework, specifically, the Threshold Standards. All providers must meet the Threshold Standards in order to enter and remain within Australia’s higher education system. The Standards are available online. The Higher Education Standards Panel (the Panel) was established to provide independent advice to […]
Read MoreThe 2016-17 Skilled Occupations List (SOL)
2016-17 Skilled Occupations List (SOL) has been registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The review of the SOL was conducted by the Department of Education and Training. The SOL identifies occupations that would benefit from independent skilled migration for the purpose of meeting the medium […]
Read MorePrivate students to be included in national student survey
For the first time, the National Centre for Vocational Education Research’s (NCVER), major survey of VET students will include fee-paying students at private colleges. Over coming weeks around 220,000 students will be asked about their recent training experience as part of the Student Outcomes Survey. NCVER Managing Director Dr Craig Fowler said that, to date, […]
Read MoreASQA News 14-Aug-2018
ASQA given additional powers to seek civil penalties and issue infringement notices On 12 July 2018, the Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC made the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Amendment (Enforcement and Other Measures) Regulations 2018(NVR Regulation Amendment 2018). The NVR Regulation Amendment 2018 allows ASQA to seek civil penalties for breaches of the […]
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