The National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER) has today released the official discussion paper for the 27th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference ‘No Frills’, to be held in Sydney next week from 15-17 August.
Leading researchers and vocational education and training (VET) practitioners from across the globe will come together at this well-known annual research conference to explore the theme ‘Skills for a global future: working and learning together’.
The event is going international in more than just theme for the first time this year, with partners the Industry Training Federation and Ako Aotearoa travelling from New Zealand to co-host the event with Australia’s NCVER.
“By partnering with New Zealand, this year's conference will provide an excellent opportunity to highlight international evidence for benchmarking policy best practice in the VET sector,” said Dr Mette Creaser, Interim Managing Director, NCVER.
“The discussion paper builds on last year’s ‘No Frills’ theme by exploring the future skills Australia and New Zealand will need to operate and succeed in an increasingly interconnected world.”
The skills employers require are changing, driven by technological and economic transformations in the main, as well as demographic changes. The largest increases in demand for skills over the past three years in Australian online vacancies were digital skills, critical thinking and creativity.
“While these skills are not necessarily new, employers are increasingly requesting them in job vacancies,” Dr Creaser said.
The conference line-up also boasts two renowned keynote speakers. Professor Lene Tanggaard from the University of Aalborg, Denmark, will give a presentation on creativity in VET, which will be a necessary competency for future workers in light of Industry 4.0, while leading Australian economist Dr Andrew Charlton, whose company authored the report ‘The Automation Advantage’, will speak on future economic considerations for the VET sector.
The Hon Karen Andrews MP, the Australian Government Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills, will also give a Ministerial address.
To download the discussion paper Skills for a global future, visit: https://www.ncver.edu.au/publications
Registration for the 27th National Vocational Education and Training Research Conference ‘No Frills’ is still open. To view the program and register, visit: https://www.ncver.edu.au/NoFrills2018
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