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The virtual organisation is defined as a network of employees and organisations which link up to complete specific projects or time critical objectives, after which they may disband or may redefine their goals. Such a network tends to customise its products and services. This article anticipates the professional competencies, personal attributes, and social skills all workers will need in order to function successfully and confidently in the changing workplace. It is recommended that entry-level as well as existing workers be trained to demonstrate these characteristics. Show less

In this paper the authors seek to answer questions relevant to the outcomes of competency based training, its benefits for industry, enterprises and individuals, and its major beneficiaries through information collected recently from training managers in a variety of enterprises throughout Australia. Information collected by means of telephone interviews implies a strong commitment to competency developments in Australian enterprises, and for many training managers CBT meets the practical and immediate needs of their workplace. The authors suggest that there is a clear perception among many of the interviewees that the morale of both trainers and trainees is improved by CBT and that both groups are deriving benefit from the structure it provides. Show less

The need for current knowledge and skills to maintain economic competitiveness has generated keen interest in the concept of lifelong learning. In this article the concept is portrayed as a long-term planning strategy rather than an alternative for the existing education system. Lifelong learning and its predecessor recurrent education are compared, with the major difference being that lifelong learning is concerned with young people as well as adults. The Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has identified 5 main elements necessary in a strategy encouraging lifelong learning. Reducing early school leaving and assisting adults with low levels of education emerge as the areas of priority in such a strategy. Ongoing research into effective learning strategies is needed, particularly for those with low levels of initial education and training. Show less

The article reports on a research study conducted by the Group for Research in Employment and Training at Charles Sturt University dealing with how workplace change is affecting the experience of training in Australian companies. The study concentrates on some of the 'buzz' words related to the concept of workplace change, such as the learning organisation, total quality management (TQM), re-engineering, lean production and teamwork. More than 3000 private sector firms were surveyed to assess how widely the various change programs were being implemented. Smith reports on the levels of commitment to each of the processes and the extensive impact on training for employees, particularly the implementation of teamwork. He also reports on other effects of implementing these changes, such as the new emphasis on workplace trainers and the change in nature of the skills required. The survey also found that there is an increasing trend for companies to expect individuals to take responsibility for some of their own training and development and this is where TAFE plays an important role. Private providers also have a role to play, often in providing specialist training in the management development, sales and information technology areas - specialist areas which are less well served by public providers. Smith concludes that the message is clear: change is calling for new skills and new delivery methods and that all training providers have an important part to play in the future development and encouragement of change. Show less

The Open Learning Technology Corporation (OTLC) in South Australia, established by Australia’s Ministers of education and training, aims to encourage a co-ordinated, national collaborative approach to the use of communications technology in open learning. This article outlines the function of the OLTC, and lists seven initial areas of investigation which OLTC has identified: technical standards; delivery systems; communications issues; cost-benefit issues; disabilities; professional development; information services. The Corporation’s first projects include one in the cost-benefit area and another regarding disabilities. Show less

As training co-ordinator for a national automotive industry plant, the author describes the communications problems in a multicultural workforce. Allen is spearheading an assault on this problem on two fronts: providing resources in learning English and introducing writing skills in ‘Plain English’ to fluent English speakers communicating with the workforce. A resource centre was set up to serve this aim, comprising a self-paced learning unit equipped with English language materials, audio cassettes and teaching support for individual self-paced learning. A production subcommittee manages the centre. There are five levels of language and literacy training available in the centre, ranging from a very basic group that caters for people with little English and little education in their native language, to those of high literacy in their own language but less than perfect English. Show less

This article gives an overview of the Vocational Education and Training database (VOCED) produced by the National Vocational Education and Training Clearinghouse. It is Australia's only specialist database of information on research (current and published) in vocational education and training (VET). The database has hitherto been available in diskette and in a printed copy. Now the full database is available on the world wide web, with a free trial web interface which allows users to search the database to retrieve information about current research in progress and published documents on VET. Each retrieved entry gives a source for further information about current projects or for obtaining the documents from the clearinghouse collection. Project information can now be submitted on-line. Information about Australian VET research is now visible all over the world. Show less

This article examines the work of the Hospitality Training Association (HTA) in response to dramatic changes in the hospitality industry over the last 20 years. The industry can now offer a range of quality long-term career opportunities. The services provided by the HTA are outlined, particularly its work with secondary schools in promoting HTA training pathways and developing school-based training for careers in this industry. Show less

This is a summary of a seminar which considered the costs of competency based training and assessment as well as who is responsible for paying those costs. Assigning responsibility could be complicated if government, employers, trainers, and students have different expectations of that training. Show less

This article discusses effective ‘people skills’, and sets out some common sense rules for dealing with people as a supervisor. Show less