What now? What next? Insights into Australia's tertiary education sector

In this episode Claire looks at some of the important developments in VET in 2023 and looks ahead to 2024. In doing so she references the following reports and analysis: NCVER's 2023 Government-funded VET Student and Courses: https://www.ncver.edu.au/research-and-statistics/publications/all-publications/government-funded-students-and-courses-january-to-june-2023 Fee Free TAFE in 2023 and 2024...

In this episode Claire is joined by three of the founders of the International Education Sustainability Group (IESG) - Will Archer, Ailsa Lamont and Emily O'Callaghan. They've been working with  co-founder Nannette Ripmeester on developing the Climate Action Barometer for International Education (CABie): https://ie-sg.org/cabie/ The Barometer launched in late July and has the support of...

In this episode, Claire is joined by Dianne Dayhew of the National Apprentice Employer Network (NAEN) which is the national peak body representing group training organisations.  Di shares her insights (and those of some of the other keynote speakers from the recent NAEN conference) to explain how the labour market and therefore apprenticeships are changing and the vital role of group training orga...

In this episode Claire is joined by Acumen's Chief Commercial and Partnership Officer, Marnie Watson. Marnie shares her insights on TNE opportunities in higher education and VET - as well as some great tips in managing high performing teams remotely. Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Bluesky: @clairefield.bsky.social  Check out the news pages on my website...

In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by ACTU Assistant Secretary, Liam O'Brien to discuss VET reform. Claire also unpacks the skills and higher education initiatives outlined in the newly released Employment White Paper - which you can download from the Treasury website Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Bluesky: @clairefield.bsky.social  Check o...

In this episode of the podcast, Claire is joined by Ukraine's Ambassador to Australia, His Excellency, Vasyl Myroshnychenko to discuss the impact of the war, particularly on Ukraine's  students - and what Australia's tertiary education institutions can do to help. The exhibition the Ambassador discusses is Unissued Diplomas: Ukrainian Student War Victims : https://www.unissueddiplom...

In this episode of the podcast Claire explains why Skills Ministers are embarking on reforms to VET qualifications, where the process is up to, and what the changes are likely to mean for RTOs. She also explains why there's a demand for change and why the VET sector might go through all of this effort, only to find industry subsequently arguing (again) for more specificity and prescription. I...

In this episode of the podcast, international education expert Dirk Mulder joins Claire to discuss the changes the sector is currently undergoing and those still to come. He also discusses his new venture:  https://thekoalanews.com where you'll find all the latest Australian international education news. Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Bluesky: @clairefi...

Dr. Carina Garland is the Federal MP for the seat of Chisholm, as well as a member of the House of Representatives' Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training. She joined Claire on the podcast to discuss the Universities Accord Panel's work and its Interim Report. If you're wanting to provide feedback on the Interim Report, the Panel is accepting submissions until 1 Se...

In this episode Claire is joined by Anastasiia Horyslavets, a refugee who fled Ukraine last year and is now studying at RMIT University.  She is being supported in her studies by the new MEGT Foundation - and the Foundation Manager, Jodie Belyea also joined Claire on this episode of the podcast. If you want to find out more about the MEGT Foundation and the ways it can assist students (or if you w...

In this episode Claire is joined by Brian Wexham, CEO of Skills One and the Chair of National Skills Week, to discuss his efforts to help VET showcase all of the myriad, life changing opportunities it creates for students. If you want to learn more about the different initiatives Brian mentions in the interview these are the links you'll need: National Skills Week:  https://www.nationalskills...

In this episode of the podcast, Claire is joined by the CEO of Kallibr Training, Gerard Healy to discuss the risks associated with the constant level of policy churn in VET and some current programs which might provide potential solutions. And more change is ahead - with the NSW government launching a new review of its VET sector ( https://education.nsw.gov.au/about-us/strategies-and-reports/our-r...

In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Prof. Braden Hill, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Students, Equity and Indigenous) at Edith Cowan University to discuss equity in higher education and the Voice. During their discussion Braden and Claire mention the following: Braden's speech to the 2022 TEQSA annual conference : https://youtu.be/O__d5VSaaF0 The Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre at Murdoch...

In this episode Claire was joined by Matt McGowan, former General Secretary of the NTEU to discuss the issue of university wage underpayment. Matt shares his views on what's gone wrong and the significant cultural shift needed to address the problem. While wage underpayment is an issue in the tertiary education sector affecting predominantly, but not exclusively, universities - the solutions...

In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Adj. Prof. Robin Shreeve - who shares his insights into the ways in which VET and higher education could be better integrated - as well as some of the challenges for VET in closer integration. Robin also explains what's needed to lift the status and perceptions of VET. Read or watch: Robin's submission to the Inquiry into the Perceptions...

Claire is joined in this episode by Prof. Yi-Chen Lan from Western Sydney University - explaining how international education changed his life and how he and the team at WSU and their partners are giving back to assist Myanmar students and teachers Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Bluesky: @clairefield.bsky.social  Check out the news pages on my website: clair...

In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Kira Clarke from the Brotherhood of St Laurence and President of AVETRA (the Australasian VET Researchers Association). If you're interested in finding out more about the 2023 AVETRA National Conference - you can find the program and registration details at: https://dg.eventsair.com/avetra-2023-conference and the AVETRA website has more detai...

In this episode Claire speaks with John Ross and Chris Platt from Times Higher Education on the key issues in Australian higher education and in the broader global higher education sector. If you're interested in attending THE's Campus Live ANZ 2023  event, co-hosted with The University of Queensland - you'll find all the details at: https://www.timeshighered-events.com/live-anz-202...

In this episode Claire outlines what the Productivity Commission's latest 5 year  inquiry Advancing Prosperity  recommends for higher education and VET.  She then goes on to examine recommendations from some of the key submissions to the  Inquiry into the Perceptions and Status of VET  . Finally Claire discusses her own submission to the Inquiry into VET which is also available on her website...

On this edition of the podcast Claire speaks with Patrick Pheasant, the CEO of NEAS (the National ELT Accreditation Scheme). During the interview Patrick mentions the workshops NEAS has run for English language teachers in the ASEAN region and now in Ukraine. You can find out more at  https://neas.org.au Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Bluesky: @clairefield.b...

In this episode of the podcast Claire is joined by Fiona Anson, Enterprise Learning Lead at UTS. Fiona explains the work she's been leading to develop industry-specified, platform- and vendor-agnostic microcredentials for some of Australia's largest companies - and she also explains her experiences and passion for helping women (and men) into tech. During the podcast, Claire mentions a r...

In this episode of the podcast Claire speaks with Design Director at Spowers, Scott Allardyce, about creating the best physical designs for online and on-campus learning. Claire also mentions the upcoming TAFETalks webinar she'll be speaking at on 8 February 2023. Register at:  https://tda.edu.au/events/tafe-talks/  and that's also where you'll find the recording after the 8th, as w...

In this episode of the podcast Claire unpacks all of the key reforms and initiatives which had an impact on the Australian VET, higher education, international education and EdTech sectors in 2022. If you want more details you can find a detailed summary at:  https://clairefield.com.au/wrapping-up-all-that-happened-in-2022/ Contact Claire: Connect with me on LinkedIn: Claire Field Follow me on Blu...

In this episode of the podcast Claire speaks with Prof. Helen Huntly, Provost and Vice President, Academic at CQU about the importance of regional universities to the people, businesses and communities they serve, as well as the challenges dual sector universities face because of the different policies, funding and regulatory arrangements in the higher education and VET sectors in Australia. Helen...

In this episode Claire is joined by Wendy Palmer, Director, Global Studio at Deakin University. Wendy shares a raft of insights, research and learnings on the very non-linear journeys lifelong learners are taking from Deakin's short courses to subsequent enrolment in Deakin University's microcredentials and degrees. She also shares the lessons of their successful online transnational edu...