TAFE Directors Australia backs the proposed new Jobs and Skills Australia agency and suggests a bunch of issues it should address, including one to transform education and training

TDA makes its case in a submission to the Senate committee considering the two bills to create JSA.

Overall TDA says the proposed statutory body will provide long-lacking advice on skills and training.  And it has some advice on what it should consider, including;

* pricing : standardising prices for courses (the previous government was keen) “inadequately considers the needs of thin markets, disadvantaged students and regional communities”

* continue to prioritise funding for full-qualifications, “this focus cannot be diluted by the calls for industry for more short course funding”

* funding life-long learning, including micro-credentials

And then there is an innocuously expressed suggestion that looks to end generations of university dominance in post school policy.

“To compete in a global market, and in a market where access to a skilled workforce is in short supply, enterprises require a changed approach. TDA promotes that the regulatory, policy and funding environment must be altered to create one tertiary education system. As more jobs require higher level knowledge and skills then it must be possible to combine higher education and vocational education more easily. JSA therefore should be responsible to help to create the conditions through which this might occur. This will require funding, policy and regulatory change. Currently the disconnect between VET and higher education is not helpful for employers.”

With TDA attending the Jobs and Skill summit this is an idea set for a big run.