ICVET Update: May 2007
From Maret Staron, Manager, TAFE NSW ICVET
Every year seems to have lots of changes and they always seem to take me by surprise. This year in ICVET (International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning), we have had a number of staff changes. Recently Charlene Carpenter returned to an exciting new opportunity in South West Sydney Institute and Paula Johnston has moved to Northern Sydney Institute to project manage the NSW COAG RPL Virtual Portal Project. Both have made outstanding contributions to TAFE NSW and I will miss them.
A priority focus in ICVET this year is RPL. ICVET is a consortium member with Illawarra and Hunter Institutes, for the COAG funded TAFE NSW RPL Professional Development Project. Illawarra Institute is the project manager.
ICVET is also conducting the TAFE NSW RPL Colloquium on 7 June in association with Illawarra and Hunter Institutes. We are expecting over 100 head teachers and teachers at this year’s Colloquium and we are encouraging TAFE NSW Institutes to nominate ‘buddies’ for the event, ie., a key influencer or one who champions RPL together with a less experienced person. Janet Hewson is arranging the event, so if you have any enquiries, contact her (02 9244 5291).
The annual Institute report on professional development achievements is due shortly. Janet is coordinating this and the returns will be due in June. The new TAFE NSW Professional Development Framework 2007 - 2009 is also being finalized and will be out shortly.
In regard to projects within the Australian Flexible Learning framework:
- NSW LearnScope projects have been selected and successful teams have been notified. The priority over the next couple of months for Robyn Jay and Alex Hayes will be to advise and support teams on development of their project plans. The focus will be on client centred outcomes.
- NSW Toolbox ChampionShane Dowd and NSW Communications Officer Jeff Saul are currently promoting and launching the new Series 9Toolboxes.
The current Australian Flexible Learning Framework 2005 – 2007 comes to an end this year. The FLAG (Australian Flexible Learning Advisory Group) is designing the new strategy for 2008 – 2011 and the draft strategy will go to NSOC (National Senior Officers Committee) for endorsement at their August meeting. Simon Pain, Acting/General Manager TAFE Operations, is the NSW representative on FLAG.
Organisation for the TAFE NSW Learning Powerhouse Conference – Sustaining the Spark, is well underway. Around 600 teachers and educational managers are expected to attend. It will be a day of learning through keynotes, workshops, seminars, showcases and professional conversations. A special feature this year will be the video streaming of the sessions in the main theatre and this will be available for up to 6 months.
Lynne Stallard of ICVET NSW was recently on the selection committee for Reframing the Future projects for 2007. Successful applicants are being notified and the first of the NSW Information Sessions for Skills Development sub program is on 15 May.
I continue to support Life Based Learning as a new model for capability development and am really pleased to have conducted a number of sessions this year both in NSW and Queensland.
I hope the year is treating you kindly and “don’t be too sweet lest you be eaten up; don’t be too bitter lest you be spewed out” (Jewish proverb). In case you wonder for what profound reason I chose this proverb, there isn’t one!
Regards
Maret Staron