Advancing youth pathways into advanced manufacturing (engineering) through a STEM-VET curriculum co-design partnership
Authors:
Ben Jenkins
Chisholm Institute
Theme: Pathways
Presentation:
This presentation will share practical findings from current doctoral research aimed at advancing STEM education pathways in VET Engineering (Advanced Manufacturing) through curriculum co-design. Acknowledging Australia's significant STEM industry workforce demands, including the related economic and educational policy imperatives, this presentation will outline how a partnership of STEM and VET experts from TAFE, Secondary Schools, Advanced Manufacturing industry and hi-tech 'Tech Schools' came together in 2023 to design and implement a new, engaging and sustainable pathway program to support the future supply of STEM-skilled and STEM-literate graduates in a Victorian manufacturing heartland.
This session will engage the audience with preliminary results and recommendations for modernising VET delivery to secondary students (VETDSS/VETiS) by bridging the curriculum and pedagogy gaps between Australia’s disconnected School, VET and Higher Education systems. The highly relevant and at times, provocative presentation is a must for conference delegates with interest in: contemporary educational research methods such as Design-based Research; enhancing Australia's future STEM industry workforce; promoting gender diversity in STEM fields; and transforming the youth experience of our nation's historically conventional VET study and career pathways into high priority fields such as Manufacturing (Engineering).