Navigating contestability: VETMAP - an institutional response

In response to the Victorian Government's Skills Reform agenda and the anticipated impact that contestability would have on publicly funded TAFE programs, Victoria University undertook a research project to collect data to provide information to underpin decisions to discard, modify or develop new products and services. The VETMAP research project used a product/market analysis toolkit to assist teaching teams and educational leaders to determine performance of [vocational education and training] VET products and services within VET markets and comparative performance of competitors within those markets. The project adopted quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques across VET programs at Victoria University at [Australian Qualifications Framework] AQF levels 4, 5 and 6. Research reports were produced to assist program teams in identifying technological, economic, political and cultural changes that create opportunities to develop new products and/or services. The data collection highlighted major concerns, opportunities and strengths of programs which subsequently offered teams prospects for repositioning the marketing of programs and creating an evidence base for decision making for course delivery. The research also revealed some interesting reflections on institutional operations of VET delivery in a multi-sector tertiary environment. The impact of industry developments on VET delivery and planning were captured from the data also, and the findings offer insights into the capacity of the VET workforce to meet challenges and be adaptable in a rapidly evolving VET policy landscape.

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