Victorian State Report
Margaret Aspin has gathered information for this report
from the ‘Innovation’ state of Victoria.
INNOVATION
Victoria is focussed on innovation, with many government
departments involved in innovation in some way. The big ticket item in Victoria
is Biotechnology http://www.biotechnology.vic.gov.au/,
and this coupled with a range of other science and technology innovations
such as the Synchrotron project http://www.synchrotron.vic.gov.au/ in Dandenong form part of Victoria’s national and international
commercialisation push.
The Bracks Government's new Innovation Statement, "Victorians.
Bright Ideas. Brilliant Future." is driving innovation to cover economy, community
and environment. The Victorian Government's $310 million Science, Technology
and Innovation (STI) Initiative is designed to enhance Victoria's science
and technology base. ICT, biotechnology, new manufacturing technologies, design
and environmental technologies are the key areas identified. http://www.innovation.vic.gov.au/index.asp
VET, University and ACE
Knowledge & Skills for the Innovation Economy outlined in last
year’s state report is still the guiding statement of future directions for
the Victorian vocational education and training (VET) system. Fifteen specialist
centres (Centres of Excellence) and Innovations projects were funded and are
in full swing in 2003. http://www.otte.vic.gov.au/ettenews/issue12.htm#article6
Learning On Demand has been established by the Office of Training and
Tertiary Education as part of the TAFE Virtual Campus. It provides an online
professional development resource for the TAFE and ACE sectors in Victoria
and brings together a database of sites for VET and ACE around Australia.
http://lod.tafevc.com.au/
Flexible Learning Week is a yearly event organised by TAFE Frontiers. This
year it is August 18-22 and includes a Virtual Car Rally, conference and activities
at registered training organisations around the state. http://www.tafefrontiers.com.au/flexible/
Adult Learner’s week is on from September 1st – 7th.
Activities are held throughout the state to make people aware of adult education
courses and learning centres in their local community. http://www.acfe.vic.gov.au/alw/index.htm
Education and Training Minister Lynne Kosky has released
a statement setting out the Victorian Government's strategies to ensure
our universities are responsive to the knowledge and skill needs of the
innovation economy. Knowledge and Skills
for the Innovation Economy - A Ministerial Statement on the future directions
for Victorian higher education
www.otte.vic.gov.au/publications/KnowledgeandSkills/HigherEd.htm
Costing VET
The Office of Training and Tertiary Education has commissioned MGI MW Consulting
Pty Ltd. to undertake the Costing Vocational Education and Training project.
The purpose of the project is to develop a framework and model for costing
the delivery of vocational education and training. The project will identify
and quantify benchmark costs of VET delivery within Victoria's TAFE Institutes.
For more information contact Mary Smith on 9637 2719.
ILAs
Six Industry Liaison Agents (ILAs) have been appointed to promote the delivery
of manufacturing training to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The
ILAs will set up clusters or networks of SMEs and use these networks to identify
training needs and stimulate demand for workplace training in their industry
sector. The sectors within manufacturing identified as priorities for ILAs
were: automotive, food, precision engineering, chemicals and plastics, and
biotechnology.
SME Research and Action Learning Sets
OTTE has commissioned research to be conducted by Chisholm Institute of
TAFE and Aspin Online Consulting into investigating what VET staff need to
know about SMEs, in order to better meet their flexible training needs. Contact
Margaret Aspin marasp@alphalink.com.au
ACPET
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) are using
their LearnScope funding to provide a seminar series on Planning for Flexible
Delivery and Establishing and Maintaining and Online Learning Environment.
LearnScopevic@acpet.edu.au
FLEXIBLE LEARNING LEADERS
The Victorian Leaders are working with TAFE Frontiers to
assist in a new online networks site. The Leaders attended a meeting to start
developing a way that the Victorian Leaders could continue to contribute to
the system, attended a workshop on mastering virtual work with Dr John Gundry
from Knowledge Ability UK, and formed a sub group to work with TAFE Frontiers.
The new site will provide a range of online network options for web developers,
ICT trainers, leaders in flexible learning, and several more organisations
and clients. Contact Clint Smith csmith@tafefrontiers.com.au
SCHOOLS
VCAL
The Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) was trialled in 2002 and
Minister Kosky approved 20 projects to further develop the VCAL framework
and meet identified student needs. A listing
of these projects is available on the VCAL Further Development Pilot projects
2003 page. VCAL is conducted at secondary schools and TAFE institutes. http://www.vqa.vic.gov.au/vqa/vcal/pilot_projects.htm
On Track is a new Victorian Government initiative designed to ensure that
Year 10 to 12 government and non government school students are on a pathway
to further education, training or employment after leaving school. http://www.llen.vic.gov.au/llen/ontrack/default.htm
LLENS
The Department for Victorian Communities has launched their new Community
Building - Communities Growing Together website. The website provides essential
information about the Victorian Government's Community Building programs,
including a section on LLENs which are the Victorian Local Learning and Employment
Networks. http://www.communitybuilding.vic.gov.au/
MULTIMEDIA VICTORIA
Sixteen peak bodies and community groups shared $520,000
in the third and final round of the My Connected Community program this year.
The My Connected Community program allows Victorians with a mutual interest
to share and engage with each other. The My Connected Community program provides
Victorians with the training and support they need to get online, stay in
touch and build Internet skills and experience. http://mc2.vicnet.net.au/
ELearning Network
The Victorian eLearning Network was launched in May 2003. It is a free,
member-based networking organisation which brings together the wide range
of companies, organisations and government agencies involved in eLearning
in Victoria.
Supported by the State Government, the Network aims to facilitate the sharing
of information, knowledge and advice, and to stimulate collaborative activity.
The Network plays an important role in helping promote the capabilities of
Victoria's eLearning companies to the education sector and other industries
in Victoria, across Australia and internationally. It also acts as a forum
for industry to provide feedback to government.
By providing a focal point of activity, the Network raises awareness and
understanding of the range of possibilities and benefits associated with
using technology to assist in the delivery of learning outcomes throughout
the economy and community.
For more information visit www.mmv.vic.gov.au/elearning
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