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As we grow accustomed to writing 2023 instead of 2022, try and keep up with our new year’s resolutions and get back into the hustle and bustle of work, there are a number of trends that are already re-shaping the VET sector to look out for this year.
The top 5 trends:
Everyone is talking about it – and for good reason. The impact of highly accessible AI (artificial intelligence) tools has already changed the game of what is possible for learners and educators across all industries.
In VET, one of the areas we’ve seen it have the biggest impact is assessments. Perhaps the most talked-about tool, ChatGPT is able to create everything from essays to helping develop curriculums, with impressive pieces of text churned out in just minutes.
Like most new technologies, there are of course some concerns around how it will disrupt and change education and training. A major point of discussion is plagiarism, with The Guardian reporting a number of universities, schools and other institutions introducing new academic integrity policies and redesigning assessments.
“The University of Sydney’s latest academic integrity policy now specifically mentions “generating content using artificial intelligence” as a form of cheating.” – The Guardian
In Queensland and NSW, some public schools have implemented a ban on students using AI technology, including ChatGPT, with firewalls. The NSW Department of Education will implement a ban on ChatGPT and QLD is reviewing the technology, while Victoria’s Department of Education has declined to bring in a ban. Sydney Catholic Schools and the Islamic College of Brisbane are also not banning the technology, with the latter institution being one of the first to revise this year’s curriculum to allow ChatGPT to become a teaching aid.
When it comes to VET, these new tools have educators questioning how to respond and adapt to ever-evolving AI technology, especially when it comes to written assessments. However, some VET educators aren’t too concerned, with VET being more focused on skills and application of knowledge to achieve competencies. Interestingly, the Australian National University has changed assessment designs to rely on laboratory activities and fieldwork, as well as timing exams and introducing more oral presentations.
In the tech space, plagiarism detection software providers like Turnitin have shared their AI writing and ChatGPT detection capabilities, while Charles Darwin University artificial intelligence expert Dr Stefan Popenici told The Guardian, ‘it’s a way of thinking about education that is obsolete and completely unsuitable…rather than banning it, we should use it to our advantage.;
With such strong uptake of this tech in such a short period of time, it will certainly be interesting to see both the positive and negative effects of AI tools in education and training in 2023.
We know that work-based learning (WBL) leads to better employment outcomes for VET learners, productivity gains for employers and a positive reputation for the training provider (NCVER, 2020).
For many learners, work-based learning experiences are irreplaceable for gaining real-world experience and skills. On the training provider’s side, delivering and maintaining a high quality learning experience is paramount yet challenging.
Manual processes, paper logbooks and disparate systems all lead to gaps in the work-based learning management process. In 2023, we foresee more and more training providers moving away from the tools that limit their program management – and switching to a digital solution.
There are three key ways we see work-based learning management changing when going digital.
1. Visibility at each step of the work-based learning journey
Once a paper-based logbook is in the hands of a learner, how difficult is it to view, track and intervene in their work-based learning progress?
According to aXcelerate clients – it’s quite difficult. And that’s an issue.
Being able to track and be involved at the right time in a learner’s progression is important for being able to manage the on-the-job experience well.
Managing progression within your preferred Student Management System (SMS) and Learning Management System (LMS) is even better. It means managing every step of the learner’s journey is as easy as working in a different part of the same system used for training management every day.
NCVER found that regular communication is key to overcoming work-based learning challenges. A digital management tool allows real-time communication and feedback between the trainer, admin, supervisor and learner, all linking back to the SMS.
And, with a digital portfolio of evidence, learning outcomes, sentiment ratings and insights, having visibility across work-based learner cohorts becomes connected, simpler and efficient.
2. Managing the whole work-based learning process within your preferred SMS/LMS
Managing a work-based learning program is lot of work in itself – but managing it all offline or in disparate systems opens another whole can of worms.
When your student and learning management is all online in one place, it makes things difficult and wastes time to still be using offline, paper processes, or disparate systems.
When you move your work-based learning management into your preferred SMS and LMS, you regain control, remove double-handling and reap the compliance benefits of having all data in one place.
3. Automation and digitisation to relieve time-consuming, repetitive manual processes
Managing work-based learning offline with manual processes is time-consuming, repetitive and unnecessarily inefficient. A good work-based learning management tool will allow you to not only digitise the whole process, including logbooks and evidence, but also automate your manual, repetitive processes.
In 2023, we’re going to see training organisations digitise and aim to deliver a modern work-based learning experience – not just for learners, but for admins, trainers and supervisors too.
Find out more about aXcelerate’s Work-Based Learning functionality here.
Although not a ‘trend’, the impact of Labor’s budget will influence VET significantly in 2023. Education has been the cornerstone of discussions surrounding Labor’s budget, with their ‘fee-free TAFE’ initiative sparking questions and conversations across Australia.
To address the growing issue of businesses across the nation suffering from a lack of staff and high unemployment rates, the Government will contribute $550 million to the $1 billion 12-month National Skills Agreement that will support access to 180,000 fee-free TAFE and vocational education places from January 2023.
ITECA’s State of the Sector Report found that independent providers are responsible for 64.4% of program completions, while public providers deliver 28.4% of program completions. ITECA has shared their perspective on the Australian Government’s support for public providers, stating they want to ensure the skills training system is funded in a way that addresses skills shortages equitably.
Terry Burke, IEQ Queensland Branch Secretary, said independent providers have the “ability and agility to provide further training and education complementary to the TAFE sector”.
With specific industries hit hardest by skill shortages, including healthcare and tourism, it is hoped this increased funding for higher and vocational education will support the nation’s workforce recovery.
Additionally, $402 million over the next four years has been invested into the new Jobs and Skills Councils (JSCs) to help address skills shortages and broader workforce challenges. The JSCs will be led by industry to find solutions to the workforce challenges and skills needs currently facing industry sectors across Australia – bringing together employers and unions that work in partnership with governments and the training sector.
Read more about the impact of the budget for RTOs and TAFEs here.
In 2011, Cisco reported that ‘skills are a global currency: they are a source of economic advantage and increasingly ‘tradable’.’ Over a decade later, this has grown to become more relevant than ever.
According to the World Economic Forum, every five years a skill becomes half as valuable as they were before. KPMG recommends organisations need to see employees through the lens of skills and capabilities, not only jobs, to proactively manage frequent changes and ensure their workforce is prepared.
VET has always needed to respond and evolve alongside new demands from industry and learners. Digital badging is a way to further connect training, skills and job-readiness between the training organisation, learner and employer.
This year, we’re likely to see more demand from learners to earn verifiable and shareable digital badges when they attain skills, adding credibility and competitiveness to their ever-expanding portfolios. In the ‘war for talent’, global skills shortages and economic uncertainty, acknowledging skills as timely, secure, verifiable and shareable digital badges gives learners a competitive edge.
Check out this example from Learning Vault.
Lou Pugliese, former Chairman and CEO of Moodlerooms and Senior Innovation Fellow at Arizona State University, recently stated in University Business that higher education needs to translate “educational experiences into a language that learners and employers alike can better comprehend…in a fast-changing, modern world of work.” In VET, digital badging is one tool that will support this need.
ASQA recently released their final report for the Strategic Review of Online Learning in the VET sector.
The purpose of the Review was to analyse the opportunities and risks of online learning. The findings show there is no single issue or feature of online learning that poses a greater or lesser risk to quality – showing there are ample opportunities for online learning in VET to develop and grow in 2023 and beyond.
When thinking about the innovative delivery of education, the core student and learning management systems remain at the cornerstone of the discussion. While new technologies and tools emerge that can positively add to education delivery, training providers still need to ensure they’re addressing key risks as identified by ASQA when delivering online and blended learning.
The best student and learning management systems are designed to manage the whole student journey, and every role that’s involved in that journey. Your everyday training management system should be used as a key tool to help mitigate these risks and maintain compliance across training, assessment, trainer currency, communication and more.
The Review also found that many learners prefer the flexibility of blended learning. This provides opportunities for providers to expand their offerings and provide learners with more choice across the market. From this opportunity, we’ll likely see an increasing number of providers adding flexibility to their delivery modes this year.
There are five key actions we’ll see ASQA take from this Review:
All of these actions will involve actively engaging with stakeholders.
2023 is looking up, and we're excited to see further growth and innovation in the VET sector.
The Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga provides students with workplace skills and technical knowledge to help them advance their careers, now and in the future, with aXcelerate as their Student and Learning Management System.
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