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Reframing the Future is the national staff development and change management program that supports the implementation of the National Training Framework (NTF) in Australia. This paper focuses on the skills and knowledge needed by change agents in the vocational education and training (VET) sector to support the national training system. This paper attempts to answer six questions: (1) What change management is needed in the national training system?; (2) What is a change agent?; (3) What skills do change agents need?; (4) What knowledge do change agents need?; (5) What are the limitations of change agents?; and (6) What can change agents achieve in the national training system? Show less

The external environment for most registered training organisations (RTOs) is constantly changing and is, to some extent, turbulent. Continually undertaking strategy-making will ensure that organisations are responsive to their changing external environments and their stakeholders and clients. This report provides examples of RTOs effectively developing strategies in spite of the turbulent vocational education and training (VET) sector and the uncertain future. It presents findings from an evaluation of 28 strategic management and change management projects funded as part of Reframing the Future, a national staff development and change management program. Major findings include: strategy-making is one of the most important activities undertaken by RTOs in their pursuit of high performance; RTOs were able to develop strategies in spite of the turbulence because they were both willing and able to come up with new strategies customised to suit their specific context; effective RTOs tap into the explicit and tacit knowledge of a range of their managers and use a range of planning strategies and models to develop strategies; some RTOs preferred the emergent approach to change management which views change as a continuous, unpredictable process; and ongoing strategic management and change management is needed in every RTO in VET. The contents are: Executive summary; Why focus on strategy-making not plans?; How did RTOs develop strategies in the midst of turbulence?; How did RTOs confidently develop strategies for an uncertain future?; How did RTOs change their entrenched cultures?; Will RTOs require improved strategy-making in the future? Included as appendices are: Research methods; References. Show less

This paper reports on some issues arising from a national project funded by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) and managed by the Victorian Office of Training and Tertiary Education (OTTE). The project provided opportunities for staff and managers to discuss and report on their views about innovation in teaching and learning in vocational education and training (VET). It also set out to find examples of innovation across a wide range of VET providers. Additionally, the project built on its consultative processes to develop a specification for the type of national dissemination strategy that respondents felt would most likely support wider knowledge about innovative activity in VET teaching and learning amongst VET practitioners.

Published abstract.

The collection of refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.622; individual refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.623 to TD/TNC 73.650. The collection of non refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.651; non-refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.652 to TD/TNC 73.680. Show less

The paper reports on the findings from a study conducted from July-November 2001 on the Australian market for vocational education and training (VET) online products and services. The two aims of the project were to undertake research to identify Australian markets for VET online products and services and to develop resources that will assist registered training organisations (RTOs) and the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) to maintain and grow Australian markets for VET online products and services. The project's findings also have ramifications for the export of Australian VET products and services. The study highlights the incomplete nature of the existing market research and that much more research is needed, however the available data shows that although the market is complex, there are opportunities for appropriately targeted products and services that respond to key areas of market demand. The research suggests that there is demand for VET providers to develop customised e-learning solutions for some progressive Australian enterprises and for target segments of learners, such as the 'working adult student'. The methodology for the project included a literature review, a student survey, a provider survey and interviews. The research shows that to stimulate the market for VET online products and services, a demand-driven approach to the market is required. Unfortunately, the research indicates that currently the most common approach to marketing online learning in the public sector is based on a supply-driven model that targets mass markets of individuals. Recommendations of areas for further study are offered.

The collection of papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.601. Individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.602 to TD/TNC 73.621 and from TD/TNC 73.681 to TD/TNC 73.689. Show less

Reframing the Future is the national staff development and change management program that supports the implementation of the National Training Framework (NTF) in Australia. The report ‘Emerging futures: innovation in teaching and learning in VET’, indexed at TD/RTF 95.27, demonstrates different ways in which VET practitioners are innovative. This paper directs VET practitioners to a range of ideas raised by the report. These ideas support the implementation of a national training system and are under six headings in this report: (1) The demand for workplace delivery stimulates innovation; (2) Assessment provides a new frontier for innovation; (3) Industry-provider partnerships can underpin innovation; (4) Equity groups benefit from innovation in training and assessment; (5) The national system creates opportunities for flexible learning and e-business; and (6) Benefits of innovation can reverberate throughout the sector. Also included is a table listing Reframing the Future’s sub-programs and sub-categories, with suggestions about relevant sections of the ‘Emerging futures’ report which could be investigated. Show less

Communities of practice are groups of people formed around common interests and concerns and who continually interact. This report highlights the significant impacts effectively structured communities of practice can have on the implementation of the national training system in the vocational education and training (VET) sector. It is based on an evaluation of 48 communities of practice funded as part of Reframing the Future, a national staff development and change management program. Major findings indicate that: greater understanding of structure is required; the initial domain of knowledge of many VET communities of practice relate to training packages, the requirements of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) or industry-provider relationships; community-building is required in VET to meet common challenges such as distances between members of the same industry or the diversity of community membership; the development of practice is enhanced by skilled VET facilitators; and communities of practice help practitioners develop sophisticated skills and knowledge. The contents are: Executive summary; Why focus on the structure of communities?; How did the 2002 communities define their domain of knowledge?; How did the 2002 communities develop a community?; How did the 2002 communities develop practice?; What are the benefits of effectively structuring a community. Included as appendices are: Research methods; References. Show less

This report focuses on innovation in the professional practice of vocational education and training (VET) staff who are directly involved in the teaching and learning functions of Australian VET organisations. It is the first part of a project designed to develop a clearer knowledge and understanding of innovative approaches to teaching, learning and assessment in VET. It provides a national review of good practice and reveals the quality and scope of current innovation in teaching and learning practices in VET. The report is based on research that is guided by the following key ideas about innovation: that the implementation of new ideas improves existing educational services; that innovation is a sequence of activities beginning with creativity and culminating in implementation; that there are different types of innovation; and that there are distinguishing features of innovation in action that are distinct from organisational change in general. The research methodology involved a literature review, interviews, focus groups and case study research. Key findings about innovation in VET teaching and learning are that: (1) more innovation is needed in the national training system; (2) innovation is required to meet the many needs of different learners; (3) innovation results from practitioners’ skills and actions; (4) innovation can be fostered or impeded by many factors, e.g. senior management in registered training organisations (RTOs), availability of resources, VET system factors, staff resistance, and student opposition; (5) many parties gain from innovation; and (6) much can be done to further support innovation. Show less

This study examines the connections between e-business and online learning and considers the opportunities for the vocational education and training (VET) sector arising from these connections. The report shows that, historically, e-business and online learning evolved separately within VET, although examples of convergence between the two fields are now emerging. The report argues that encouraging this convergence will benefit VET customers and organisations. The research methods for this study include a literature review, an Internet search, interviews with representatives from Australian educational organisations which have a full or partial e-business model for online learning systems, an analysis of the e-business models used by overseas educational organisations which have a clearly articulated e-business model and also provide online learning and an analysis of e-business models and solutions implemented in sample non organisations that could be transferred to the VET environment.

The findings of the study, detailed in the chapters of the report, include: (a) that e-business and online learning evolved separately in VET provider organisations, however there are indicators of growing convergence; (b) that online learning should be repositioned as a service of customer-centred VET organisations; (c) that e-business is embraced by customer-centred, efficiency conscious VET organisations; (d) that there are lessons for Australian VET organisations in the business models used overseas; (e) that some VET organisations (examples are given) are already some way towards bringing about a convergence of e-business and online learning; (f) that while there are benefits of applying e-business principles and processes to online learning there are also barriers and risks; and (g) that educational issues regarding online learning are often connected with business, technological and marketing issues. Finally, the study highlights the development of a new business philosophy among many VET managers where flexible learning and its sub-set, online learning, are seen as components of the essential way of being in business, that is to be demand-driven and market-driven not supply-driven and technology-driven. As well, since the study also shows that e-business and its linkages with online learning will vary from one organisation to another, the importance of strategic analysis and planning is highlighted. Show less

This chapter examines the connections between e-business and online learning and considers the opportunities for the vocational education and training (VET) sector arising from these connections. The discussion shows that there is value for the Australian VET sector in drawing on the new thinking emerging from the field of e-business. The range of business processes, strategies and models that e-business encourages can potentially reposition and strengthen online learning systems within VET organisations.

The book is indexed at TD/TNC 71.08; chapters are indexed from TD/TNC 73.451 to TD/TNC 73.461. Show less

This paper reports on the evaluation of an innovative management development program in vocational education and training (VET) that facilitates the development of change management and strategic management skills in managers, enabling their organisations to become high-performing.

Published abstract.

The collection of papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.601. Individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.602 to TD/TNC 73.621. Show less