VET policy: processes, stakeholders and issues

This paper is one of a series of policy discussion papers presented by the LH Martin Institute. The aim is to contribute to the debate the Institute sees as necessary to reform and invigorate the tertiary education sector, in particular vocational education and TAFE. The series covers a range of topical issues, from policy settings, governance, funding, competency based training, social inequality and training markets. This discussion paper aims to foreground other papers in this series by defining what policy is and providing an outline of the 'ideal' approach to its development and...  [+] Show more

This paper is one of a series of policy discussion papers presented by the LH Martin Institute. The aim is to contribute to the debate the Institute sees as necessary to reform and invigorate the tertiary education sector, in particular vocational education and TAFE. The series covers a range of topical issues, from policy settings, governance, funding, competency based training, social inequality and training markets.

This discussion paper aims to foreground other papers in this series by defining what policy is and providing an outline of the 'ideal' approach to its development and translation into practice in the VET context. To do this we define the VET sector and its missions. We then move on to describe the key stakeholders in the sector and the sorts of policies that have been enacted from 1998 onwards using the VET policy timeline developed by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). We then introduce a series of propositions regarding VET policy and its implementation. These propositions include that VET policy developments and implementation are often too rapid and focused too much on the short term. We contend they tend not to be developed holistically. We also suggest that VET policymaking at present is in the hands of officials and others who lack contextual knowledge, especially of the VET system and how it actually works. This compromises the likelihood of successful policy implementation. Policy initiatives and changes also come so hard and fast that there is incomplete implementation and change fatigue. This is coupled with a critical lack of effective policy analysis, program monitoring and evaluation.

Ways forward include creating agency with a role similar to that of the former Australian National Training Authority and establishing a comprehensive review of the sector: a 'Kangan revisited' [original Kangan report available in VOCEDplus at TD/LMR 85.637] to provide a strong basis for making the necessary changes to ensure that the sector survives, grows and develops in positive ways.

Edited excerpts from publication and publisher's website.