"The release of Jobs and Skills Australia's roadmap towards tertiary harmonisation presents an opportunity to finally progress the tertiary education reform that Australia desperately needs," said Innes Willox, Chief Executive of the national employer association Australian Industry Group.
Jobs and Skills Australia's Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap report highlights the unique opportunity for game-changing reform of tertiary education – for the benefit of learners, the industries which employ them and for the broader economy.
"The nation's human capital has been held back by the divide between vocational and higher education. Each of these sectors has unique strengths and both are critically important to our future, not in isolation but as a cohesive system working in partnership with industry.
"It's time to move beyond arguments about different parts of the sector and patch protection. The main game for us as a nation is to grow our skills and capabilities to lift participation and productivity and meet future challenges," Mr Willox said.
"The Ai Group Centre for Education and Training has long advocated for the need for a coherent, connected and industry-relevant tertiary education system that facilitates movement between the sectors to meet Australia's current and future skills needs. The Centre welcomes the Jobs and Skills Australia roadmap, which highlights the Centre's work as an example of industry-led harmonisation in practice.
"The Universities Accord and the National Skills Agreement set out a bold reform ambition for a connected tertiary system. While some incremental progress has been made, the job has only just begun. Incremental reforms, while important, must not distract from the bold ambition.
"We must all work together to ensure that the golden opportunity we now have to drive meaningful and lasting reform is not wasted," Mr Willox said.
