VET News

AISC cross sector projects: preparing students and industry for the future

The following article appeared in the most recent edition of the Velg Training eZine:

Today’s vocational education and training (VET) graduates are highly valued by employers for their technical knowledge and practical skills.

But what skills and knowledge will tomorrow’s graduates need? As workplaces become increasingly digitalised and automated, and the nature of work changes, what can Government, training providers, regulators and employers do to make sure students have the right skills and knowledge for the future?

These questions are top of mind for the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), which I Chair.  Working with industry, through our network of Industry Reference Committees (IRCs), our focus, among other things, is ensuring training packages provide the skills and knowledge that meet the needs of employers and students – now and in the future.

While predictions about machines replacing jobs are increasingly seen as exaggerated, it is clear new skills will be required in the workplace of the future. For instance, OECD data predicts only nine per cent of jobs are at risk of automation in G20 countries. Jobs won’t disappear but they will change and the types of skills required will also change.  

The workplace of the future will require a new breed of VET graduate. As well as having technical know-how, they will increasingly need to be able to solve problems, work as a team, have strong verbal and written communication skills and be able to move seamlessly between occupations and industry sectors as new job opportunities arise.

To help modernise the training system and give people common skills that can be applied to multiple jobs and industries, the AISC is leading a new approach to the way industry collaborates to develop training packages. We have established nine innovative cross sector projects in the areas of disability, big data, automation, coding, consumer engagement through social media, supply chain management, cyber security, environmental sustainability, and team work and participation.  

These cross sector projects have a focus on emerging technologies and bring a range of industries together to determine the common skills people will need to transition into future jobs.  

This approach moves away from the traditional siloed model where each industry sector develops training packages for their particular sector. With more collaboration in design, and shared ownership of the product, training can be designed to give people the skills they need to adapt to future workforce needs.

This new approach to training is a potential game changer for the way VET is delivered, and we want to work with you, VET professionals, to complement this picture.

Recognising and formalising skills across multiple industries is part of the cultural shift people will need to adapt to as technology continues to transform jobs and workers tap into lifelong learning over the course of their careers.  Not only will this approach benefit employees, but it will also give employers greater certainty and confidence in our VET sector and in VET qualifications.

I am a firm believer in the value of VET to deliver the skills Australia needs to drive jobs growth, productivity and competitiveness – not to mention its flexibility and responsiveness to upskill or reskill employees to move laterally as the nature of work changes and jobs transform.

To find out more about the AISC’s cross sector projects visit aisc.net.au/content/cross-sector-projects.

John Pollaers is a leader who has steered large companies on a path to success and is navigating a strong future for Australian industry.
He chairs the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (AISC), the Australian Advanced Manufacturing Council, and the Australian Government’s Aged Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce.

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Date posted Nov 30, 2017