Back door to university or front door to open learning: submission prepared in response to 'Varieties of learning: the interface between higher education and vocational education and training'

This submission has been prepared in response to an issues paper prepared by the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) entitled ‘Varieties of learning: the interface between higher education and training’ (indexed at TD/TNC 71.378). It has been written following consultation with a range of stakeholders in the vocational education and training sector in Victoria. Even though there was found to be a divergence of opinion amongst Victorian TAFE Association (VTA) members, one clear and unwavering precept amongst the VET community is that it is the educational well-being of the learner and the need for coherent pathways to lifelong learning that must be paramount. This paper was written to better inform the debate and to advance the level of understanding by the proponents of educational policy of the value of maintaining a quality, viable and publicly owned vocational education and training sector in Australia. While the paper argues that there are differences in the mission and purpose of TAFE institutes and universities across Australia, it does not purport to suggest that one is better than the other. The VTA also remains a staunch advocate for the public provision of quality education through equitable, accessible and affordable pathways. Show less