Industry Partnership Benefits
Industry/education partnerships provide many benefits for both parties and for students involved. Processes for effective consultation and planning are essential. It is important to involve employers in the early planning stages and in school council discussions of proposed programs.
Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is a highly recommended and, in some cases, mandatory component of a VCE VET program. Details can be found in the program booklets for each program.
In general terms, some of the issues which schools need to consider are:
- Existing programs use SWL to enhance training.
- Where assessment of competence is intended to occur in the workplace, it is important that the supervisor and teacher are suitably qualified.
- Students must understand employer expectations in relation to factors like behaviour, attendance, personal presentation etc.
- Work placement in a VET in the VCE program is not the same as the old work experience programs. Students are engaged in a training program which expects them to receive some structured training.
- Procedures to be used for recording completion of assessments and the need for meetings between teachers and workplace supervisors. Where a three way partnership is operating, teacher, RTO and workplace supervisor will have to meet and monitor programs and student progress.
Relationship Between School and Workplace
The working relationship between the school coordinator of students in the program and the supervisor of students in the workplace is most important. The success of a program depends on cooperation and understanding between schools and industry. Each setting is responsible for helping students to complete the program and develop a constructive approach to working in the industry.
Teacher and supervisor should regard each other as co-educators in equal partnership.
The two parties need:
- effective channels for communication
- mutual understanding of procedures, expectations of students in classroom and workplace, and requirements of the program
- efficient and time saving methods of assessment and recording of achievement
- planned periodic meetings to review progress
- clear understandings about disciplinary procedures
- agreement on timelines and due dates for completion.
The school coordinator will typically:
- liaise with the supervisors/mentors on selection and placement of students
- monitor student progress in the workplace
- inform parents of workplace procedures
- discuss problems with students
- facilitate the resolution of problems arising in the workplace through interaction with the supervisor
- oversee the recording of assessment results.
The workplace supervisor will typically:;
- provide students with an introduction to the workplace and its industry
- clarify skills and tasks required on-the-job
- train students in the required competencies or assist other employees to do so
- assess achievement of competencies
- help and counsel students
- monitor progress and advise students on progress
- liaise with the school to promote the effectiveness of the program
- complete assessment and reports on achievement of modules/units of competence.
Benefits for Employers
Employers currently involved in VET in schools programs have observed that, apart from ongoing funding questions, they can identify a number of immediate and longer term benefits:
- They appreciate being part of a network managing an educational program which is concerned with quality assurances for training.
- They see the value in having access to groups of students educated and trained for the needs of their industry.
- They value contact with these students for selecting individuals for further training.
- They value the opportunity to help make education more relevant to industry and to be involved in the evaluation and future development of curriculum to meet their needs.
- They perceive benefits for their own employees being involved as supervisors and mentors of young people entering the workforce.
- They appreciate the fact that trainees have achieved a higher level of education and have combined training with their senior secondary certificate.
- Employers are highly conscious of the opportunity to make a constructive contribution to the social and educational welfare of youth in their community.
Some issues identified by employers:
- Teachers need to become more knowledgeable about industry; how it works and what its expectations are.
- Planning for work placements should occur early in the introduction of programs and should involve employers from the outset.
- Communication between school and employer is important in relation to questions such as:
- attendance and behaviour of students
- making clear links between content covered in class and content covered at work
- both groups understanding assessment requirements
- keeping track of student progress
- cooperating in the counselling process.
Benefits for Students
Students can gain:
- a better understanding of what a workplace requires of them
- access to a broader range of learning contexts and experts
- awareness of links between school and work
- work-related skills
- enhanced self-esteem and communication skills.
