ICVET Update: May 2008
From Maret Staron, Manager, TAFE NSW ICVET
Our main focus in ICVET (International Centre for VET Teaching and Learning) this year has been on the development of capability development strategies and approaches for TAFE NSW staff, to support the C21 Workforce Development Guarantee for staff. We have worked very closely with Institutes to collaboratively develop a range of documents for their customisation and use.
Late in April, we hosted the National VET Workforce Capability Development Managers Network meeting in Sydney. Representatives from across Australia met to share and exchange ideas about new initiatives, forge new relationships and learn from each other. Guest speakers included Elizabeth McGregor, Director, North Coast Institute – TAFE NSW; Michele Simons, Associate Professor and Acting Head of School: Education, University of South Australia; and Gayle Avery, Professor in Management and Head of the Institute for Sustainable Leadership, Macquarie University. A most informative and energising two days.
The upgrade to our website has been very successful. This quarter shows steady growth on last year, with page views clearly up against the 07 quarter, which would have been helped by the launch of the new website and eZine edition. This year to date we have had 101,798 page views by our users, compared to this time last year’s figure of 74,921 this shows a 35% increase in page views. If you are interested in our website usage reports, then go to the home page and look at the bottom right hand corner – there you will see links to stats.
The Australian Flexible Learning Framework Team has been extremely busy, coordinating the selection of innovation projects by a VET selection committee. There was a great range of applications from across the VET sector and 38 projects were selected for funding. For details of successful projects go to the NSW site at http://www.flexiblelearning.net.au/flx/go/home/States_and_Territories/NSW
Jeff Saul has left the NSW Flexible Learning Framework Team to take up a secondment at South Western Sydney Institute to coordinate the TAFE NSW Quality Awards. Jeff will be hard to replace as Framework Coordinator, as he has a great knack for promotion, marketing and communication in context – a combination of skills that aren’t always readily available. He was very successful in actively promoting the Australian Flexible Learning Framework and the use of its products and resources, throughout the NSW VET sector. We will miss his exuberance, networking and dedication to his work.