The growth in today’s learner population is increasingly working age, transitioning occupations, and representative of a broader cross section of Australian society. This means we must design and scale up a new tertiary, multi-sector learning approach that better supports this more diverse population.
Examples such as RMIT’s higher and degree apprenticeships developed with industry move seamlessly between vocational and higher education and are producing real and tangible results for employers.
We know earn and learn models work - one of the higher apprenticeship pilots that RMIT developed with government and seven industry partners saw a qualification completion success rate of 87.5 per cent – far higher than the norm for diploma-level qualifications in Australia.
There is no doubt that we’ll need more funding and investment to design and implement a system fit for the future – this can be achieved over time.
It will be through a collective effort with state and federal government, the tertiary sector and industry working together to agree a sustainable way forward to fund this essential change.
RMIT started as a Working Man’s College over 137 years ago, established to provide the skills of the day in times of rapid change.
We stand ready and well-equipped to help more Australians access the skills and qualifications at their different stages of life.
As I’ve said previously, in our shared pursuit of a more equitable and prosperous Australia, change is necessary if we are to level what is arguably the most important playing field of all.
Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President