Rethinking skills in vocational education and training: from competencies to capabilities

This paper has been commissioned by the New South Wales Board of Vocational Education and Training (BVET) to generate discussion about work, skill and qualifications. The paper critiques existing notions of skill and qualifications in vocational education and training (VET) in Australia to make the case for change, but tries to go beyond that as part of a discussion about what we should do differently. The authors critically examine the relationship between skills and work and the relevance of competency-based training given the scale and pace of change in society and the economy. They introduce a new framework for thinking about skills in VET, embodying a capabilities approach. The key argument underpinning this approach is that VET must prepare students for a broad occupation within loosely defined vocational streams rather than workplace tasks and roles associated with particular jobs. The implications for qualifications and standards, and for policy, are discussed.

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