TAFE Governance & Regulations TAFE Governance & Regulations ForumForum

February 24, 2010February 24, 2010

The Urgency of The Urgency of ReformsReforms

Virginia SimmonsBoard Member, TDA

OverviewOverviewAbout TAFE Directors AustraliaGovernance ContextPolicy ContextTwo case studies on how

governance affects policy responses

Implications for A National Training System

CONCLUSION

TAFE Directors AustraliaTAFE Directors AustraliaTAFE Directors Australian Inc (TDA) is the peak body representing Australia’s educational network of TAFE institutes.

Membership includes institutes, universities of technology, institutes of technology and polytechnics from every state and territory.

TDA was established by TAFE Directors in 1998 and incorporated as a not-for-profit educational organisation

TDA is a key advocate for TAFE on governance and other issues.

TDA’s Mission and VisionTDA’s Mission and Vision

Mission:To provide leadership at a national level as the ‘public provider voice’ for Australia's vocational education. Vision:TAFE: Australia's provider of choice in vocational education

As the national voice of public provider vocational education, TDA commissions research and independent reviews on vocational education, and stages regular professional development programs for executive membership.

Governance in VET - Governance in VET - ContextContextTAFE’s overlay with VET

◦Private sector governance arrangements

◦Other RTO governance arrangements

Governance levels◦National - presentation focus◦State◦Regional◦Institute

Governance Models for TAFE Governance Models for TAFE ––Continuum across AustraliaContinuum across Australia

Centralised –limited

autonomy

Decentralised –significant autonomy

Advisory Bodies

Public service employment of

staff

Centralising of operational surpluses

Centralised marketing/brand

ing

Board of Directors

Institute employment

Institute retention of operational surpluses

Institute marketing/brand

ing

DisclaimerDisclaimer

Because of the different governance arrangements from state to state, TDA’s position is to supportthe governance arrangements of each member and hence to support each State’s approach.

The views expressed in this presentation should beseen in this light.

Current Policy ImperativesCurrent Policy Imperatives

Improved Tertiary

Pathways

Better TAFE

Infrastructure

ImprovedQuality

Sustainability/Green Skills

International Education

SocialInclusion

Current Policy Imperatives - Current Policy Imperatives - ExamplesExamples

Improved Tertiary

PathwaysAQF Review/TEQSA

Better TAFE

InfrastructureEIF

ImprovedQuality

National VETRegulator

Sustainability/Green Skills

National Green Skills Agreement

International Education

Market Failure

SocialInclusion –

COAG Targets

Case StudyCase Study

ImprovedQuality

National VETRegulator

Layers of Governance in Layers of Governance in VETVETNous Consultation on the National VET Regulator

TDA’s Position on the TDA’s Position on the National VET Regulator National VET Regulator (NVR)(NVR)TDA supported the concept of a NVR subject to:

Agreement on the model being reached with all states and territories – WA and Vic have not agreed

The NVR being given robust powers i.e. ‘teeth’ – awaiting draft legislation

The NVR being sufficiently resourced to exercise its powers – awaiting draft legislation.

Case StudyCase Study

International Education

Market Failure

Some Government Some Government ResponsesResponses2009 Ministerial Missions – Federal and State Senate Inquiry into the Welfare of

International Students Education Services for Overseas Students

(ESOS) Amendment Bill Senate Inquiry into the ESOS Act Review of International Education (Bruce

Baird) International Student Roundtable Review of the Migration Occupations in

Demand List (MODL) Review of the National VET Regulator Additional state/territory initiatives

TDA’s Position on Market TDA’s Position on Market Failure in International Failure in International EducationEducationTDA’s response has been one of frustration:

Need to respond to each government initiative – resource intensive

Need to differentiate TAFE from unscrupulous or low quality providers

TAFE - ‘tarred with the same brush’ - has lost business and will suffer until the whole of VET is reformed

A National Training A National Training System?System?Congested governance arrangements * Authorising and oversight layer – Ministers and

their highest level joint jurisdictional committees Legal, advisory and policy layer – VET

Departments, advisory bodies and legislation Product and provider registration layer –

registering and accrediting bodies, guidelines, frameworks, products and contracts for programs

Market layer – providers, students, business and industry

* Courtesy Nous

A National Training A National Training System?System?In each state: Different governance arrangements Different levels of autonomy commercial

capability Different policy positions on the public and

private sector Different approaches to market design Different funding levels staffing practices Different fee structures Different public perceptions of VET

ConclusionConclusion

Current governance arrangementsare complex, cumbersome and

confusing impede timely and effective

development and implementation of government policy

are a disservice to studentsare preventing TAFE from

developing to its full potentialYes, reform is urgent …Yes, reform is urgent …

Thank youThank you