policy matters

1. Factors affecting the quality of VET teaching
2. AQF Policy for the addition or removal of qualification types: Final draft
3. AQF Qualification Issuance Policy: Second draft for discussion
4. Testing the AQF – online survey

1. Factors affecting the quality of VET teaching

ACPET Members are invited to participate in a research project on the factors that affect the quality of vocational education and training (VET) teaching. This includes VET teacher qualifications and continuing professional development; the impact teaching has on the quality of the VET student experience and student outcomes; and how this can be evaluated. Your views will help shape the project’s recommendations.

The project has been funded by the DEEWR and it is being managed by the Australian College of Educators.

The survey consists largely of open-ended questions and should take between 20 and 30 minutes to complete, depending on the length of the responses you wish to provide. There are five sections with 3 – 5 questions in each. Participants are asked to provide a little bit of information about themself to develop a picture of the different types of respondents who participate in the survey, but no information is asked that will identify participants.

Click here to start the survey, which will be open until 5 pm on Monday 3 May 2010.

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2. AQF Policy for the addition or removal of qualification types: Final draft

The purpose of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) policy for the addition or removal of qualifications types is to ensure that the AQF has flexibility and is responsive to Australia’s changing education and employment environment. This policy will ensure that changes to the structure of the AQF are able to be made and do not compromise the stability of the AQF.

Principles for the addition or removal of qualification types from the AQF were included in the paper Strengthening the AQF: An architecture for Australia’s qualifications in September 2009 that was circulated to all stakeholders for comment. Feedback indicated that the principles were received positively and this feedback has been incorporated into the new AQF Policy for the addition or removal of qualification types.

The AQF Council will include this new policy in its advice to the Ministerial Council for Tertiary Education and Employment (MCTEE) on Strengthening the AQF later this year.

A copy of the policy is available on the AQF website

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3. AQF Qualification Issuance Policy: Second draft for discussion

This policy sets out the AQF policy for issuing AQF qualifications and provides the basis for the protection of the titles of AQF qualifications through consistency in their application across the education and training sectors.

The draft policy was circulated to all stakeholders for comment during 2009 and feedback was received from 32 VET and higher education stakeholders across Australia.

The direction of the policy and protocols was supported by all respondents who agreed that specifying the minimum content on testamurs added to the protection of Australian qualifications. Many comments and suggestions were provided and many of these have been incorporated into the second draft.

The AQF Council is seeking further comment from stakeholders.

The consultation paper and letter to stakeholders is available on the AQF website at http://www.aqf.edu.au

Submissions can be sent to the aqfc [at] sa [dot] gov [dot] au (AQF Council) by 30 April, 2010.

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4. Testing the AQF – online survey

An on-line survey is currently gathering data to empirically test the AQF levels criteria, the qualification type descriptors and where existing AQF qualification types should be placed in a strengthened AQF.

To do the survey please go to www.aqf.edu.au and click on the link to the survey. It will take about 20 minutes to complete.

For more information contact:
Australian Qualifications Framework Council
Level 4, 11 Waymouth Street Adelaide SA 5000
GPO Box 320 Adelaide SA 5001
Tel: 08 8226 2775 / aqfc [at] sa [dot] gov [dot] au (Email)

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