EU Centre forum fires skills debate

Australia should look to Germany’s success in boosting vocational training to ensure the long-term skills capacity of the nation’s workforce, a forum organised by the European Union Centre at RMIT University has heard.

Convened by RMIT’s Dr Andrew Scott, the policy briefing forum brought together key representatives from academia, industry, unions and government to share insights for Australian public policy from Germany and the EU.

The topic, Strengthening Skills Formation in Australia: Lessons from Germany?, was addressed by speakers including Thomas Kaulisch, from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Australia, and Professor Richard Sweet, former Principal Analyst in the Directorate for Education at the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD).

Dr Scott, Senior Lecturer in the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, said the briefing was designed to inform future policy direction in Australia by detailing practical models for strengthening skills formation.

"Australia has much to learn from the European experience, and in particular from Germany, which has long valued a wide range of vocational skills," he said.

"About 60 per cent of German teenagers take part in some kind of vocational training, which is fully integrated into the country’s education system, enabling students to easily transition from high school to vocational training or apprenticeships.

"Vocational qualifications in Australia still don’t carry the same high level of respect, despite recent campaigns to encourage people into recognised training programs.

"But the success of Germany’s system demonstrates that strong, quality vocational training can equip people not just with much-needed skills, but also with the crucial ability to adapt to a variety of skilled occupations throughout their careers."

Mr Kaulisch detailed some of the policies that have been implemented in recent years in Germany, which has committed to increasing investment in education and research to 10 per cent of GDP by 2015.

Investment in pre-school education is a key part of the plans, which also include encouraging collaboration between schools, employment service agencies and companies to prepare students for the labour market in the early years of high school, and supporting unskilled and older workers by providing training vouchers that can be used with any course provider.

"As Germany does not have substantial natural resources, the qualification of our workforce is our biggest economic asset," he said.

"Young people entering the labour market today can no longer expect to stay in one company or even one occupation throughout their careers. Thus continuing education and training to enhance employability and occupational mobility is one focus of labour market policy."

Distinguished guests at the briefing included His Excellency, David Daly, Ambassador of the European Union to Australia and New Zealand, His Excellency, Patrick Renault, Ambassador of Belgium to Australia, and the Maltese Consul General, Charles Mifsud.

Professor Bruce Wilson, Director of the EU Centre at RMIT, introduced and thanked participants, which included representatives of peak bodies such as the Business Council of Australia, the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Industry Group, the Australian Technology Network of Universities, the Australian Council for Educational Research and Victoria’s Department of Education and Early Childhood Development and Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development.

An edited publication of proceedings is planned.

The European Union Centre at RMIT is funded through a grant from the European Union and the University.

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