Global themes in VET: observations from TDA delegation to USA and Canada

A total of 10 TAFE participants from across Australia took part in key bilateral forums in the USA and Canada in May 2008. With contributions from the TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) participants and TDA partners in the USA and Canada, this paper highlights issues and opportunities aligned to key themes in vocational education and training [VET]. The papers are from mission members and are focused around their own interest areas and themes including: leadership; sustainability; international marketing; research and innovation; governance; regional and remote delivery; supporting indigenous learners; workforce and economic development; and mobility (staff and students). The contents are as follows: Future directions for TAFE: can international benchmarking improve RTO performance by broadening our experiential and institutional gene pool; The benefits of travel: valuing home; Research and innovation; Leadership and management development: observations from TDA’s North America; Edu-Canada: a national approach to marketing the Canadian college system; Reflections on first nation training in Canada; Regional and remote delivery of vocational education and training in the USA and Canada; Getting things moving … a mobility plan for USA, Canada and Australia; Expanding opportunities: postsecondary career and technical education and preparing tomorrow’s workforce; A new educational imperative for a new global century; Canada changes visa guidelines to attract more international students; American community colleges working effectively with employers; California community colleges and international education; The Global Consortium: global partnerships in action. Show less