A short summary of my presentation to the Elearning eCOP on my recent study tour to Europe.

1. Partners in VET - EU
George Holt
Head of Department
Level 2, D Block
Cnr Coleman & Macleay Streets (PO Box 2231)
Wagga Wagga 2650
Phone 02 6938 1290 Email: george.holt1@tafensw.edu.au

2. NSW Premier’s
scholarship

3. Partnerships

7. OECD Education rankings

8. Assumptions are dangerous things
> Build and sustain relationships - Process, Roles.
> Negotiate to balance the needs of stakeholders
> Review, Audit and consultative practices – QA,
> Build collaborative tools and techniques
> Finland - parallel dual university sector - academic and/or vocational
qualifications. -
> Austrian VET - world leader in work place training.

9. Finland
> Parliamentary constitutional republic
> Autonomy within Russia 1809
> Independence 1917
> Joined the European Union 1995
> Area: 338,424 km2 Riverina approx. 50,000km2
> Population 5.5 Million

10. Vorarlberg
ViennaSt Poulten
Austria
> Federal parliamentary republic
> Margraviate of Austria 976
> Joined the European Union 1995
> Area: 83,879 km2 Riverina approx. 50,000km2
> Population 8.6 Million

11. 11 Educational institutions visited:
> Austrian Fed Ministry of education and womens affairs
> FH Studiengangsleitung Informatik, Vorarlberg
> FH, Fachhochschule St. Pölten
> Helsinki Business College
> Landesberufsschule Bregenz
> Luovi, Helsinki
> OPH, Finnish National Board of Education
> TASTAFE
> TGM Die Schule der Technic, Vienna
> United nations
> WKO, Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce , Industry Division

12. 22+ Key contacts/experts consulted:
> • Andreas Dvorak
> • Antti Loukola
> • Christoph Lang-Muhr
> • Emma Broadbent
> • Gernoth Dolinar
> • Harri Hautala
> • Hubert Hosp
> • Kerryn Meredith-Sotiris
> • Klaus Nylamo
> • Mari Kontturi
> • Mario Kempf
> • Markus Nesensohn
> • Minna Balint
> • Otto Burman
> • Pawel Bulenda
> • Regine Bolter
> • Reischer Karl
> • Simon Tjoa
> • Tuija Laukkanen
> • Vesa Jokela
> • Vitovec Gerhard
> • Wolfgang Scharl

13. Wagga + 30 hrs of flights
= Helsinki, Finland
> first meeting is booked for 1230. Landing + 6hrs
> Helsinki is a lovely harbour side city dating back to the late
1700-early 1800’s.
> partly modelled on the architecture of St Petersburg
> people are obviously affluent, well-educated and stylishly
dressed
> warm and hospitable

15. Helsinki Library - a summary of the Finnish
Education System

16. Finland: education system
> #1 - world OECD education rankings
> We, citizenship, respect, consultation, trust, entrepreneurial thinking, holistic well-being
of the student.
> Social partnerships = community, businesses and educators “More to life than skills,
knowledge, rules and processes.”
> You must learn and be assessed in the workplace. Marks are a 3 way negotiation
between employers, the teacher and the students own self assessment.
> Students have great skills are knowledgeable, are respectful citizens and they get jobs.
> Teachers are highly respected professionals.
> The Finnish people are hospitable and very responsible in their thinking.
> I don’t know if homework is banned but I know Finnish kids learn through play.
Everywhere we went we saw kids from 5+ on public transport with their teachers on
excursions.
> Libraries are full of people. Education is grounded in their communities .
> They have a strong commitment to exchange programs.

17. Austria
> 8 Million people
> Highest rate of workplace training in the world
> Very high standard of living
> Vorarlberg state has the highest standard in Austria

20. Austrian VET Education System
> Grounded in industry with strong
leadership from major employers
> Business chambers are
mandatory and provide leadership
and funding
> History based on renewable power
and High tech manufacturing
> Mandatory Work placements eg IT
+ Electronics
> workplace training is one of the
best ways to recruit staff

21. UN in Vienna

22. TASTAFE
> Tassie stats: Population:
517,000, Hobart = 205,000
– Area: 68,401 km²
> cross section of courses with
a mix of generalist and
networking specialist courses
eg Support, Programming,
DBA, Helpdesk.
> joint program with their
electrotechnology department
> Webconferencing classes
> TASICT industry link

23. Future Projects
> Social partnerships – communities + education
– Communities - Business, towns, cultural
– Business chambers, shire councils, schools, community and cultural groups
> Raise the professional status of teaching - Continue to recruit and train great
teachers BUT then we must trust them and show respect for their time and
judgement.
– As a teacher, I and my colleagues must live up to the community trust
placed in us.
– Make sure that our systems and processes are no more complex or time
consuming than absolutely necessary
> Actively seek community projects where our students can work with their
communities. – IT work placements, Supporting libraries,
> Develop workplace assessments so students can choose to be assessed in the
workplace if they can
> Trial Otto’s SCRUM pedagogy approach for student projects
> Join international exchange programs for students and teachers

24. More information?
> Visit the Partners in VET – EU
http://partnersinveteu.blogspot.com
> George Holt on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/George.Holt.TAFE