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This study analyses how one Victorian regional [Technical and Further Education] TAFE Institute is working towards understanding and contributing to skill formation for the green economy. While we already know that the provision of vocational education and training in regional areas contributes to regional innovation and development, (Kilpatrick, Johns and Rosenblatt, 2000; Gelade and Fox, 2008; Kearns, Bowman and Garlick, 2008; TAFE Directors Australia, 2011), this research provides a case study of how this is occurring with regard to the development of green skills. The study presents the perceptions and understandings of participants drawn from four different cohorts. These cohorts are (1) key players in the community/industry representatives, (2) TAFE managers, (3) TAFE teachers, and (4) TAFE students. The study found that work and jobs are changing to become more sustainable though investment in large scale alternative energy generation while often lauded had failed to reach fruition. Likewise, [vocational education and training] VET training programs are also changing with teachers and students contributing to the complex arrangements around the supply and demand for green skills. The teachers at this regional TAFE who participated in the study reported that they were well supported in accessing and participating in relevant sustainability-related professional development. Finally, numerous examples were evident throughout the study of how the work performed by staff at this TAFE institute was contributing towards regional and community development.

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This study investigates the professional preparation of teachers working in vocational education and training (VET) programs in Australian secondary schools. It also investigates the similarities and differences and the enablers and blockers that occur across the various states and territories in their approaches to providing teacher education for VET in Schools (VETiS) teachers. The research focuses on the supply-side of university-based VET teacher education programs and offers a stocktake of the VET method area offerings that are available (and not available) for pre-service teachers in Australia.

Key messages from the report are that: (1) there are concerns regarding the efficacy and expertise of VETiS teachers; (2) the requirement for VETiS teachers to have a teaching degree in order to be able to teach in schools has been removed; accordingly, they are no longer required to gain full teacher registration; (3) some universities that have taught VET as a method area in the past to pre-service teachers have discontinued the offering; (4) demand by pre-service teachers within current models of teacher education to undertake VET as a method area is low and has made it an unviable offering for many universities; and (5) VET as a method area is usually low on the list of university subject offerings for pre-service teachers; with about one in eight of all secondary school students doing VETiS, maybe there should be a subject within all secondary teacher education programs that teaches pre-service teachers about VETiS.

Edited excerpts from publication. Show less

This paper reports on a research study that was undertaken with vocational education and training (VET) staff in a dual sector university. The study involved a cohort of 15 VET practitioners who negotiated authentic work based projects as part of their professional development and for academic credit. The agreed outcomes of each project involved writing up a project report, compiling a folio of work-related artifacts and products, and a presentation. The findings of the study identified five variations on the initial basic design, developed a template for writing up proposals, developed a basic report template, and developed a recognition of prior learning (RPL) statement and policy.

The collection of refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.622; individual refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.623 to TD/TNC 73.650. The collection of non refereed papers is indexed at TD/TNC 73.651; non-refereed papers are indexed from TD/TNC 73.652 to TD/TNC 73.680. Show less

This paper offers a framework to guide [vocational education and training] VET teachers who are taking up postgraduate study as practitioner researchers. This framework is intended as a heuristic and pedagogical device that will provide scaffolding to orientate VET practitioner researchers. The framework is a resource. It allows practitioners to locate their investigations within existing bodies of knowledge and research. The intention is to decrease the practitioner's feelings of alienation with respect to postgraduate research by them being able to find connections between their experience of teaching practice and existing areas of research. The framework provides one possible arrangement of some of the significant aspects of these teachers' work and their learning. It also provides a place to begin thinking about the work-related learning of VET teacher practitioners.

Published introduction reprinted by the permission of the copyright owner.

The volumes from which this paper is taken are indexed from TD/TNC 77.351 to TD/TNC 77.353. Individual papers are indexed from TD/TNC 77.354 to TD/TNC 77.437. Show less

Education Links is produced by a group of teachers, students and university staff working to bring about democratic and socially progressive change in Australian schooling, as part of a broad political movement towards socialism in Australia. The magazine aims to present a socialist analysis of a wide range of theoretical and practical issues in education and is not affiliated with any political party.

Edited excerpt from publication.

Contents: An historical reckoning: education and training reform / Terri Seddon; Lurking in the wings / Roy Martin; Ford factory learning / Mike Brown; Claiming common ground / Helen Gribble; The training market / Simon Marginson; Bottom line training / Robin Sefton; Vocational education reform: kamakazi style / Peter Kell; Brave new vocationalism / Grant McMurdo. Show less