Review of University-Industry Collaboration in Teaching and Learning

On 3 June 2021, the Minister for Education and Youth, and the Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, announced the Review of University-Industry Collaboration in Teaching and Learning. The review was led by Martin Bean, former Vice-Chancellor of RMIT and Peter Dawkins, former Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University. The Review's aim was to advise how universities, industry and government can increase industry engagement in teaching and learning through improved course curricula, more systematic engagement, and expanded opportunities for students to gain work experience and industry relevant skills. Targeted consultation sessions were held with higher education providers and peak bodies, industry peak bodies, employers, professional body associations, academic experts, and government representatives. Over 30 submissions were received from institutions and individuals in response to the Review's terms of reference. The Review and its findings will build on work currently underway to improve research commercialisation, innovation, and job-ready graduates.

The Review recommends seven short-term actions that government, higher education providers and industry can take to promote greater collaboration across the sector: (1) accelerate the development and use of the Australian Skills Classification as an open access national skills taxonomy; (2) expedite the reform of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) to facilitate better collaboration between higher education providers, vocational education providers and industry; (3) build a unified credentials platform to surface current and emerging skill shortages, provider guidance to individuals to make informed learning decisions, link to quality micro-credentials and act as a bridge to labour market opportunities; (4) providers and industry to build a stronger culture of partnership in the delivery of industry-focused micro-credentials, accelerated through a targeted investment fund; (5) roll out a flexible higher education cadetship program combining an employment contract and a learning program; (6) enhance higher education's engagement with industry through the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) [consultation paper available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 144.557] and the National Strategy on Work-Integrated Learning [available in VOCEDplus at TD/TNC 119.961]; and (7) build stronger partnerships between higher education, vocational education, and schools, including the introduction of a cross-sectoral teaching and learning innovation fund.

Edited excerpts from publisher's website. Show less