ALA

A new international report released by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has found that the national training system’s e-learning strategy, the Australian Flexible Learning Framework (Framework), is successfully investing in e-learning to actively respond to challenges in the vocational education and training (VET) system.

The Systemic innovation in the Australian VET system: country case study report, which praises the Framework for supporting e-learning innovation, leadership and collaboration in the national training system, was featured at this week’s BIG Skills conference in Sydney.

The OECD notes the Framework’s achievements in the face of current economic circumstances and canvasses the need for systemic change in VET to better respond to labour market challenges, such as an ageing population and staff recruitment difficulties.

Jim Davidson, Chair of the Framework’s managing body, the Flexible Learning Advisory Group (FLAG), welcomed the report, saying it provided an important strategic analysis of innovation in the VET system while offering useful recommendations for the way forward.

“The Framework is addressing the current challenges facing VET by embedding e-learning in the delivery of education and training, which provides Australian business, industry and learners with greater choice and control over the time, place and delivery of training.

“This, combined with the use of innovative concepts such as e-portfolios and recognition of prior learning, is establishing VET as a preferred education option and allowing students to better manage their own education.”

The report recognised the Framework’s ability to maximise national cooperation while continuing to recognise state and territory autonomy.

“We have achieved this by tailoring our activities,” Mr Davidson said. “During 2008, a range of national industry sectors received funding and support to embed e-learning in industry-led workforce development. At a state and territory level, we allocated $5.3 million in funding to E-learning Innovations projects, to provide learners with localised, targeted e-learning opportunities.”

The report lists a number of key Framework strengths:

As a national strategy, the Framework collaborates successfully across states and territories.
Flexible Learning Toolboxes (Toolboxes) provide quality, national learning content to all states and territories, accentuated by a strong support network, including Toolbox Champions and e-learning mentors.
LORN provides access to online training resources developed with educational objectives in mind, but these ‘have transcended the original intent and are now used for a variety of activities including community building in aboriginal centres, health information, civil society issues, etc’.
The Framework identifies individual leaders and champions, ‘who can be used as effective sources for knowledge transfer, raising awareness, and aiding implementation at the field level’.
Work in establishing national e-standards is helping states and territories avoid ‘reinventing the wheel’, while help is given to practitioners to navigate institutional barriers, such as firewalls, to access e-learning tools.
The report notes that greater flexibility of training provision has allowed for the creation of targeted learning content that can be used to increase access and relevance for under-represented groups, including rural, Indigenous and disadvantaged learners.

Produced by the OECD’s Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (CERI) Expert Team, the report is part of a study being conducted across six countries. The OECD brings together 30 member countries, including Australia, which are committed to democracy and the market economy. CERI, a division of the OECD’s Directorate for Education, identifies emerging trends and issues in international education.

To access the Systemic innovation in the Australian VET system: country case study report, visit: http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/17/38/42243354.pdf