In November 2012, representatives from 15 of the 18 East Asian Summit (EAS) countries and regional Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) providers came together in Melbourne to participate in a three-day EAS TVET Provider Network Workshop.
The workshop, facilitated by TAFE Directors Australia, was an important step in the development of the EAS Network of TVET Providers project, one of 13 priority education cooperation projects included in the EAS Education Action Plan, adopted by EAS Education Ministers on 5 July 2012.
The project is being developed collaboratively by the Australian and Korean governments and seeks to build stronger regional collaboration in TVET through the exchange of ideas, knowledge and expertise.
Notably, the project was referenced in the Chair Statement from the 7th EAS Leader’s meeting, recently concluded in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, where EAS countries were represented by their heads of state or government.
At the Melbourne workshop, country participants had the opportunity to present their country’s key challenges in TVET in relation to areas such as skills gaps and ageing populations and challenges in youth engagement and meeting industry workforce needs. Participants workshopped the networks operational plans, membership criteria and governance arrangements.
Workshop participants also took part in hands on training at the William Angliss Institute, conducted day 3 of the workshop at the Kangan Institute and had the opportunity to informally meet Senator the Hon Chris Evans at the
Australian Training Awards.
The opportunity for participants to share information on education and training systems was clearly valued by all. The delegation also welcomed presentations from the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and from TAFE Directors Australia.
The Australian Government is working with the Korean Government to implement the network, which will include a conference hosted by Korea in October 2013.
Workshop participants at the Kangan Institute.