For 2021, the curriculum and assessment requirements for the units in the individual VCE study are in accordance with the original, unadjusted study design. It is imperative that the revised 2020 Adjusted Study Designs are not used in the delivery of the VCE in 2021. The correct study design for 2021 can be located on each VCE study webpage identifiable by the blue box containing the link to the study design. The 2020 Adjusted Study Designs have now been removed from all VCE study webpages

VCE Industry and Enterprise requires students to undertake structured workplace learning in educational, community and/or industry settings. Please refer to the advice regarding undertaking SWL during coronavirus (COVID-19) published by the Department of Education.

On 11 November the Minister for Education approved the continuation of remote learning for online international students in Government and non-Government schools to study remotely in their home countries for Term 1 and 2 in 2021.

Queries about international students completing one or more VCE or scored VCE VET Unit 3-4 sequences overseas should be directed to the VCAA International Unit at vcaa.international@education.vic.gov.au

Ensuring VCAL students are enrolled in an eligible program

Schools are reminded of the importance of running an eligibility report in VASS to ensure a student is enrolled in an eligible program. This will help to ensure that you are delivering a VCAL program that matches the student's level of enrolment. For further information, refer to the Using the Victorian Assessment Software System (VASS) webpage. For support in interpreting an eligibility report, contact the VCAL unit on 03 9032 1725 or vcaa.vcal@education.vic.gov.au.

Carry forward of credit

While you are encouraged to deliver broad programs for all students, the qualification rules state that students must have completed a total value of ten credits, with six credits being at the level of the VCAL award in which they are enrolled or above. This means that students can either:

• carry credit from a VCAL level completed the previous year, as long as it is one level below that of the student's current enrolment. For example, a student currently enrolled in Senior level VCAL and who completed an Intermediate level VCAL last year, can carry four Intermediate credits (units) into this year's Senior VCAL enrolment
• enrol in a VCAL level, for example Senior level, but opt to do four of the units at the level below, that is, Intermediate.

It is important that you run an eligibility report to ensure that the qualification requirements are met. For more information, contact the VCAL unit via email vcaa.vcal@education.vic.gov.au  or consult the VCE and VCAL Administrative Handbook.

VET requirement for VCAL students

The VET requirement for VCAL students remains the same as in previous years. At the Intermediate and Senior VCAL levels, students must complete a minimum of 90 hours of units of competency to meet the Industry Specific Skills (ISS) Strand requirement. Foundation VCAL students have the additional option of completing selected VCE units to meet the ISS Strand requirement.

For specific questions about VET, contact the VET unit on (03) 9032 1737 or vet.vcaa@education.vic.gov.au.

SWL is a recommended but not mandated part of VCAL.

Schools are required to refer to the advice regarding undertaking SWL published by the Department of Education.

Delivery of VET to secondary students

TAFEs and other RTOs are continuing to support students accessing both on-site and remote learning options for VET delivered to secondary students. There may be some differences in the way classes are delivered and assessed which should be determined by the school.

Practical training and assessment is to be conducted according to the requirements of the unit of competency in an appropriately resourced training environment. In some cases this may see an amendment to earlier arrangements with the RTO.

VET qualifications and Units of Competency are part of the suite of nationally recognised training products and are to be delivered under the conditions determined by ASQA.

Where a student is undertaking a VET certificate and relying on credit from that certificate for the completion of their VCE or VCAL, schools are required to run an eligibility report to determine how credit from the VET certificate may impact on eligibility in the event that disruptions occur during 2021.

Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) provides a valuable contribution to a student's learning where it is aligned to a VET certificate. The VCAA strongly supports students undertaking SWL to enhance their knowledge and skills gained through undertaking a VET certificate.

All of the requirements for SWL published by the Department of Education and Training can be found on their website.

Workplace Learning Recognition and VET

The VCAA has determined that the time spent in a workplace on SWL related to a VCE VET program can provide access to credit towards the VCE or VCAL for Workplace Learning Recognition. Students are required to reflect on the number of units of competency identified in either the VCE VET program specific or generic Apprenticeship or Traineeship Workplace Learning Record.

Mandated SWL for VET qualifications or Units of Competency

In some VET certificates units of competency may contain a mandated workplace component, this is unable to be changed as it is an inherent part of the assessment requirements of that unit. In this case a suitable placement should be sought as soon as possible.