Designing flexible and future-focused qualifications
The objective of this project was to consider new ways of designing qualifications to improve flexibility and responsiveness, with consideration given to transferable and specific skills, now and in the future.
This project was undertaken under the Mining Skills Organisation Pilot (MSOP), in partnership with the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and funded by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system plays a significant role in the development of a skilled and knowledgeable technical and trade workforce.
The reform agenda in VET sought to ensure a fit-for-purpose system, examining the structure of the sector, sectoral governance and regulation, the capability of the workforce, and the training products and frameworks used by the sector to certify its outcomes.
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MSOP qualifications reform trials project hub
Getting people into work faster and with the right skills for the job.
Key outcomes of the work
The Project Hub identified a range of challenges to be considered as part of the Skills Reform Agenda, including the need for continuous education and/or training, experience, exposure, and the right environment and that skills reform must ensure that the structure of the VET system, including qualifications, supports and champions capability building.
Occupational competencies
The work resulted in the development of seven occupational competencies and associated training and assessment (documented in the final project report), and a pathways map that provided profiles of key roles in the mining sector.
These were informed by research into international practice, and by consultation, collaboration, and validation with a range of industry partners, tradespeople, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), the Commonwealth Expert Advisory Group, State and Territory Training Agencies and Training Councils, VET regulators, and other Skills Organisation Pilots.
The model allows multiple requirements to be linked to an occupational competency and industry-relevant training and assessment requirements.
The model uses proof point assessments and the consultation undertaken indicated that the training and assessment requirements produced would be suitable across mining, civil construction, and agricultural industries.
These and the occupational competencies have been validated with project partners.
Project Hub Recommendations
The Project Hub showed how:
- simple effective information about the linkages and goals of the scope of reform activities could be presented to stakeholders and that career and workforce development approaches should be championed
- job pathways would inevitably change and that the structural reliance on qualifications to meet the needs of that workforce was out of step with the needs of industry and the community
- approaches that articulate job and career pathways and create linkages to all forms of learning, when it is appropriate, must be considered and there should be a greater focus on non-endorsed products such as a range of micro-credentials
- targeted and supported skill development activities are needed for the VET sector as part of implementation planning. Time and cost parameters associated with this planning will be critical in guiding the change management process.
