Keeping it real - the Queensland VET Development Centre

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Benefits identified in maintaining industry currency include:• the delivery of training that is relevant, based on real world examples and more tailored toindustry needs• improved teaching, learning and assessment practices• improved confidence and an up-to-date and best practice image of trainers for students,industry and peers• improved reputation of the RTO amongst employers• enhanced industry confidence and goodwill - through being ‘seen’ in industry• improved industry ownership, valuing and understanding of training.Industry-current trainers identified the value of relationships with industry and employers.These trainers considered the development and maintenance of industry relationships to be partof their professional responsibility as a trainer. However, some trainers did not think that industryengagement for industry currency and relationship building purposes was as highly valued bytheir RTO as increasing the number of training hours provided.Some trainers who regularly engage with their industry reported additional benefits to their RTOfrom maintaining industry relationships such as opportunities to train and upskill other staff ofemployers.“It is expected that as a professional, I will take ownership of this responsibility and drivethe process to ensure that I am able to take full advantage of any opportunities to maintainmy industry currency.” – RTO Trainer“The benefits of being in contact with your industry are numerous; gaining a rapport withemployers and the supervisors they employ, observing and discussing innovation withworkers at the coal face, collecting materials and data to be used in the training processat the RTO in which I work, being able to market services that my RTO has to offer to otherstaff members not just apprentices.” – RTO TrainerWhile industry provides strategic advice to the VET sector on industry standards, some trainersreported that their local employers rely on the trainers to provide advice on current and bestindustry practice. This may be particularly relevant for small and medium size employers who arenot engaged with peak industry bodies and the training agenda.Key Finding 5The maintenance of industry currency benefits the trainer, the RTO, students and industry.Key Finding 6Sophisticated industry currency strategies value relationships with industry and employers andseek to collaboratively improve practices both within RTOs and their local industry.How trainers and assessors maintain their industry currencyQueensland trainers undertake a range of activities to maintain and increase their technical skillsand knowledge and maintain their industry currency. The range of activities includes:• industry placement• concurrent employment in industry and the RTO• industry and professional association membership• attending conferences, professional workshops and industry specific developmentprogrammes• attending professional development activities run by industry skills alliances• researching best and new practice and general research• subscribing to professional journals and publications8 Keeping it real
• applying for sponsored corporate teaching awards and scholarships• networking with industry mentors, employers and other trainers• talking to students about practices and job roles in their workplaces• industry specialist visits, industry site visits and study tours• undertaking specific training courses in new equipment or skill sets• work shadowing• fulfilling industry licensing or regulatory requirements.Opportunities such as research scholarships, overseas sabbaticals, interstate assignments, workshadowing and industry projects could also be considered when planning industry currencyactivities.Key Finding 7Industry currency is a progressive and continual process involving a rich variety of activities.The relevance of these activities may vary according to the individual industry and educationalcontext.Most trainers thought industry currency activities should involve best and new practice and thedevelopment of higher level skills, not just maintaining existing practice in local areas and lowerlevel skills. They suggested that industry identify good practice workplaces where trainers couldgain industry experience.Some trainers thought that some of the work they do within RTOs should be recognised asmaintaining their skills for industry currency. They said that transferable skills, like managementskills, although demonstrated and maintained outside of their industry, should be recognised.“I firmly believe that non-teaching duties that appropriately reflect skills and attributesappropriate to my industry area of business and management should be given equalcredit in building and maintaining industry currency. At present none of these activities isconsidered when evaluating my currency in industry.” – RTO TrainerSome of the activities that trainers are undertaking to maintain their industry currency arediscussed in more detail below.• Industry placementA number of respondents related industry currency to industry placement, which is referred to as‘release to industry’ in TAFE institutes. The Queensland TAFE Teachers’ Award 2003 State definesrelease to industry as, ‘release from institute attendance for observational, research or hands-onexperience in an external organisation within industry, commerce or other appropriate setting forthe specific purpose of acquiring skills, knowledge and experience necessary for staff members toimprove the quality of technical and further education.’ (Schedule 2)Where industry placement was used as a strategy for maintaining industry currency, the majorityof public trainers surveyed appeared to access it for short periods of time only. This may bebecause the TAFE Teachers’ Award specifies that ‘All Permanent Teachers, Leading VocationalTeachers, Principal Teachers and Tutors covered by this Award shall be entitled to a minimumperiod of 10 days per year for the purpose of professional development, including releaseto industry, subject to appropriate professional development opportunities being available.’(Section 9.2.1 and Schedule 2)While the award refers to a minimum of 10 days, 10 was often referred to by many respondents tobe the maximum number of days available for professional development. Planning for professionaldevelopment in educational practice and industry currency was often limited to this 10 daytimeframe. Although private RTOs are not subject to this award, some have adopted 10 days as abenchmark.Industry Currency of Trainers in Queensland9
Page 5 and 6: Interviews were conducted at five Q
Page 10 and 11: A common practice in TAFE institute
Page 12 and 13: Professional identity of VET traine
Page 14 and 15: Workplace trainers in some TAFE ins
Page 16 and 17: School teachers may be disadvantage
Page 18 and 19: Information sharing in RTOsWhile mo
Page 20 and 21: Summary of key findings1. The focus
Page 22 and 23: Appendix 1 — Discussion paper Ind
Page 24 and 25: Possible barriers to maintaining in
Page 26 and 27: Appendix 2Questions for discussion
Page 28 and 29: Questions for discussion with indus
Page 30: Appendix 3Table 1: Number of survey

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