Better connecting vocational education and training (VET) and higher education will help more people gain the skills and qualifications they need.
That's according to a new report released today from Jobs and Skills Australia, entitled Opportunity and Productivity: Towards a Tertiary Harmonisation Roadmap.
The report says a more connected tertiary education system has the potential to lift workforce productivity and skill levels and help build the workforce we will need in the future.
The report also finds that better connecting VET and higher education will help improve access to tertiary education and improve the status, sustainability, and impact of TAFE and the wider VET system.
The Australian Universities Accord was clear that more people need to participate in tertiary education in the future to deliver the large and skilled workforce that Australia needs.
In response to the Accord, the Albanese Labor Government invested $27.7 million as part of first steps towards breaking down barriers between VET and higher education to ensure a more seamless and aligned tertiary education system.
It also includes facilitating better student pathways by improving guidance on credit and recognition of prior learning and streamlining regulation for dual sector providers.
This complements the Government's investment in establishing more nationally networked TAFE Centres of Excellence, which are built on partnerships between TAFEs, universities and industry.
It also complements funding for TAFEs and other high quality not-for-profit specialist providers to significantly expand their higher education offerings, including delivering degrees.
Jobs and Skills Australia's report builds on this critical work already underway with additional recommendations to further support tertiary harmonisation over the longer term.
The Government will consider the report's recommendations and respond in due course, including the establishment of a council with state and territory representation to drive tertiary harmonisation reform.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:
"We are not going to fix the skills shortages we have, and will have, unless we better integrate higher education and vocational education and training.
"We have already started work on breaking down the artificial barrier between uni and VET, but there is a lot more to do.
"Breaking down these barriers and allowing people to move more seamlessly between VET and higher education will give people the skills they need."
Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:
"When we came to government, we were faced with the worst skills shortage in more than half a century, after a decade of neglect by the Liberals, where they ripped billions of dollars out of TAFE and training.
"This report highlights how tertiary harmonisation is an opportunity to create deeper connections and greater collaboration between our two high-quality tertiary education sectors.
"Our investment in Free TAFE and getting more apprentices into the workforce is testament to our commitment to ensure every Australian has an opportunity to attain higher education which leads to good, secure jobs."
