You’re bad man! – comment by CEO Craig Robertson

Remember in your younger days your brother or sister congratulating you over the dinner table about something you had done at school – “you’re bad” – and your mother was confused!

Different meanings for the one word is part of modern life it seems.

This duopoly seems to be the case for some of the hip trends in education at present – micro-credentials and new learning platforms like Google Learning. In some circles they are being presented as a warning for VET to modernise, lest it’s left behind.

I take a slightly different view, although still tempered by these trends.

Micro-credentials present as the new wave of contemporary education policy – that’s the up-side anyway. They are attractive policy-wise as the hallmark of convenience and utility, the ultimate in serving the needs of the consumer. We need to look at current VET qualification policy and delivery for the down-side, however. Micro-credentials in VET are not new. The modular style of VET qualifications allows for them in a form as small as a statement of attainment or a skill set. National policy also dictates that all assessed units are transferable across providers for recognition.

Add this design and policy to other policies in Australia’s VET sector and a lethal mix is created, and those who need the most support to engage in deep learning are often the victims.

The contagion starts at the top. The narrative for the sector and its measure of success is a job (any job). This makes the next logical step aligning the training to the tasks involved in that job (any job). The tasks are expressed in nebulous competency terms, put in the hands of providers to bring to life. Add governments asking for more to be achieved from less – dressed as efficiency – mixed with students coveting convenience, it is inevitable for these bite sized learnings to be celebrated as the full extent of VET.

What long-term good is VET to students if the preferred option implied in policy promoted by government is bit-sized learnings which the individual needs to string together to create something meaningful? As I have said before, people are not well placed as consumers in this way, as they have little information at their disposal to make wise decisions given they don’t have the knowledge and skills for the industry. It’s like providing the ingredients but not the recipe.

Then what of these commercial learning platforms?

Fundamentally, a qualification is a form of regulation – albeit positive regulation. The capacity to create a qualification is a gift from the government. The ability to deliver them is also gifted by government, as is the power to award them. These are tremendous responsibilities as it impacts on the life chances of students. Oversight and regulation by government is therefore vital.

While these platforms are good, they are private and outside of government education regulation. Clearly, buyer beware. This sector knows well the dangers of runaway providers. The win of the ACCC against Empower (see below) is somewhat satisfying.

There’s good reason for regulated education. It’s akin to stable and predictable rule of law which underpins good economies. In our case, reliable quality control gives the public and employers confidence in the capability and skills of a person awarded a qualification. The more assurance there is, the more good providers can invest with confidence to develop their education services. That’s why we should be pleased ASQA is pursuing robust assurance across the sector, provided it is fair.

This doesn’t mean we ignore these new platforms – that would be at our peril. They are highly likely a portal to the future of learning. It would be silly to outlaw them, yet risky to embrace them. Equally, balance is needed to counter the downside of micro-credentials.

Without care both could easily create a more lethal mix in VET. My view? Let’s restore a genuine education approach above and beyond the here and now utilitarian approach to training which seems to dominate thinking. Then micro-credentials and private learning platforms can complement the sector, not bring it down.

When we get that right it’ll be bad, in the good sort of way, if you get my groove.

On a personal note, excuse my lack of attention this coming week. GWS has made it to the AFL Grand Final and I’ll be scrounging for a ticket!