Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T23:37:35.317Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

How Can the VET Sector Drive the Adoption of Sustainable Practices in Industry?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 June 2015

Jenny Kent*
Affiliation:
TAFE NSW
*
DET Sustainability Coordinator, Bay 6, Suite G11, Locomotive Workshop, Australian Technology Park, Garden Street, Eveleigh NSW 1430, Australia. Email: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Vocational education and training (VET) is often considered the enigma of education. For those that work in or research sustainable education within the schools and higher education sections, VET appears somewhat like the mysterious second cousin: often difficult to access and difficult to understand. VET differs quite markedly from the other education sectors. Its industry, skill and competency foci have been established through a distinct range of national and international drivers. Both the limited understanding of how VET operates and its institutional characteristics has bound the integration of sustainable education practices within the sector. This paper provides a brief overview of the VET sector within Australia and provides some insight into how sustainable education practices are being developed in VET. The recognition of elements of common ground between VET and sustainable education are proposed as an entrée into the sector that can influence the adoption of sustainable practices by industry.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

References

Anderson, D. (2003). Individual learners, choice and lifelong learning. In Strategic Directions for VET conference proceedings, Monash University-ACER Centre for Economics of Education and Training, 7th: National Conference, Melbourne, 15th 09 2003. Retrieved 30 November 2004, from http://www.education.monash.edu.au/centres/ceet/docs/conferencepapers/2003confpaperanderson.pdf.Google Scholar
Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) (2003). Shaping our future: Australia's national strategy for vocational education and training 2004-2010. Brisbane: Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).Google Scholar
Australian National Training Authority (ANTA) (2004). – see ANTA website at http://www.anta.gov.auGoogle Scholar
Behringer, F., & Coles, M. (2003). The role of national qualifications systems in promoting lifelong learning. OECD Education Working Paper No. 3. Retrieved October, 2003, from http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/15/11/15520534.pdf.Google Scholar
Callus, R., & Lansbury, R. D. (2002). Working futures: Australiain a global context. In Callus, R. & Lansbury, R. D. (Eds.), Working futures. The changing nature of work and employment relations in Australia. Sydney: The Federation Press.Google Scholar
Commonwealth of Australia (1992). National strategy for ecologically sustainable development. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.Google Scholar
Curtis, D., & McKenzie, P. (2001). Employability skills for Australian industry: Literature review and framework development. Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). Report to Business Council of Australia and Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Google Scholar
Dawe, S, (2003). The changing training practices in large Australian firms. Adelaide: NCVER. Retrieved 6 February 2004, from http://www.avetra.org.au/abstracts_and_papers_2003/Dawe.pdf.Google Scholar
DFES (2003). Sustainable development action plan for education andskills. Retrieved 15 October, 2003 from http://www.dfes.gov.uk/aboutus/sd//docs/SDactionplan.pdf.Google Scholar
Goozee, G. (2001). The development of TAFE in Australia. Adelaide: National Centre for Vocational Education Research Ltd (NCVER).Google Scholar
Moore, K. (2003, unpublished). Report into Curriculum and Delivery implications for TAFE NSW to comprehensively deliver building and construction training that promotes sustainable building practice. TAFE NSW.Google Scholar
Parliamentary Commissioner for the Environment(PCE) (2004). See change: Learning and education for sustainability, Wellington, NZ.Google Scholar
Robinson, C. (2003). Employment opportunities and needs for the future. Notes for the presentation at the Skilling Australia Forum, Gold Coast, 10-12 09. Retrieved 4 February, 2004, from http://www.skillingaustralia.com/skill_aust_forum/pdf/chris_robinson_notes.pdf.Google Scholar
Russell, D. (2003). Environmental content in vocational educational and training: Project report and professional support materials, TAFE NSW. Retrieved 17 February, 2004, from http://www.lg.tafensw.edu.au/enviro/.Google Scholar
Schofield, K. (2003). In Lifelong Learning: Proceedings of a Symposium, Monash University-ACER, Centre for the Economics ofEducation and Training (CEET).Google Scholar
Sterling, S. (2001). Sustainable education: Re-visioning learning and change. UK: Greenbooks.Google Scholar
UNESCO & ILO (2002). Technical and Vocational Education and Training for the 21st Century. Retrieved 4 February, 2004, from http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001260/126050e.pdf.Google Scholar
Wooden, M. (2002). The changing labour market and its impact on work and employment relations. In Callus, R. & Lansbury, R. D. (Eds.), Working futures. The changing nature ofwork and employment relations in Australia. Sydney: The Federation Press.Google Scholar