Good Practice Guide for VET Offshore Delivery Presentation

Good Practice Guide for VET Offshore Delivery Presentation on behalf of the NQC Moira Schulze & Sue Foster

Purpose of the workshop � To outline the findings of NQC policy and research into offshore VET delivery � Quality assurance of offshore VET delivery � Internationalising � To Australian VET qualifications introduce you to the Good practice guide on offshore VET delivery

Quality assurance of offshore VET � Offshore VET is growing for both public and private providers � Provides commercial opportunities & financial & reputational risks � This VET project developed a model for QA of Offshore

What should drive a system of offshore quality monitoring? � Protect & build reputation and confidence of the Australian VET system � Assure quality and parity of student outcomes and experience � Protect government interests � Protect individual provider reputation & business interests.

Characteristics of a ‘transition model’ � Based on accurate data (evidence) � Accurate risk assessment of all providers delivering offshore � Encourage and recognise efforts to monitor, review and continuously improve offshore delivery. � A national, streamlined approach with a single point of coordination & readily understood � Builds on what’s already there.

Model for QA of offshore VET 1. Improved information and badging to the offshore market – voluntary membership listing with strong incentives to achieve listing. 2. Compulsory national annual data collection from all public and private providers regarding programs, enrolments and location of offshore delivery. 3. Initial enhanced risk assessment – desktop audit based on enhanced/more detailed guidelines. High, medium and low risk offshore providers identified. 4. Detailed offshore site visits of high risk providers as per enhanced risk guidelines. –strong quality improvement focus, not only AQTF compliance –supplemented by AEI/AUSTRADE offshore intelligence –conducted by experienced specialist national audit team. 5. Results of offshore visits in public domain, as per current AUQA model. 6. Membership / badging informed by site visit results, eg. major noncompliance as a provider.

Trial to date – data collection � In 2009 � 105 private providers (2% of all registered private RTOs) � 37 public providers (61% of all Australian TAFE) � 73, 271 students � Largely in diplomas � Across 68 countries � Primarily in China (public & private providers) & New Zealand (private providers)

Internationalising offshore VET qualifications � Purpose of the policy � Maximise potential for Australian VET qualifications to support global mobility � Preserve the integrity, validity and fitness for purpose of Australian VET qualifications for Australian industry

Contextualisation of qualifications & units of competency � May substitute units of competency in a qualification Within packaging rules � Where it does not distort the vocational integrity or fitness for purpose of the qualification � If consistent with advice in the Training Package on contextualisation � � Contextualisation to individual learners or offshore contexts, must retain the integrity of the overall intended outcome of the unit � Must not deliver less than the full requirements of the unit � Can add material provided it does not – undermine vocational integrity, alter the AQF level, diminish the breadth of application of the unit or limit its portability and use.

The Good Practice Guide � The model outlines key challenges – risks - good practice in planning and delivering Australian VET qualifications offshore � The Guide is structured around a common set of issues � What is the issue? � The key considerations (for providers) � How are providers dealing with the issue? � Resources available to assist. � Appendix – includes sample resources � Using the Guide – different providers have different experience and issues – it is NOT a recipe

Go /No-go APPROACH / PLAN Preparation 2. Project inception / Business case approval Objective 3. Partner choice / due diligence 1. Initial Decision 4. Business planning Go /No-go 5. Detailed partner contracts & relationship management DEPLOYMENT / DO Exit strategy Delivery 6. Select appropriate offshore delivery models IMPROVEMENT / ACT Quality assurance 17. Monitoring, review & continuous improvement Project Management - Capability Ongoing monitoring & review 18. Project Management 7. Set quality requirements for offshore facilities 8. Ensure staff skills & qualifications 9. Student information selection & outcomes 10. English language competency 11. Contextualisation of VET programs 12. Provide learning resources RESULTS / CHECK Exit strategy Assessment 15. Assessment & validation 13. Determine provision of student information & support 14. Document educational leadership, coordination & support capacity 16. Certification Exit strategy

Sample of Step 1 � Initial decision: Go / No-go � Should � Do we be involved in offshore delivery? Why? we have a realistic idea of what it will involve? � Are commercial interests balanced by potential for educational quality?

Initial decision: Go / No-go Provider motivation Proposed partner motivation(s) Initial assessment of investment & returns Preparatory in-country research Initial Decision: Go / No-Go Initial assessment provider capacity Initial assessment – provider capacity & standing Capacity

Appendix 1. 1 Self assessment checklist

Sample of Step 2 � Project inception & business case approval � Before final decision – identify key risks - Commercial & reputational � Does the proposal have a strategic fit to overall strategic directions? � Does it take account of onshore and offshore regulation, culture, context � Have you conducted a site visit? � Gain approval at highest levels of the organisation

Project inception & business case approval Internal strategic fit Australian Provider Australian legal & policy context & decision making Detailed analysis of capacity Initial analysis of commercial viability Analysis of in-country legal & political context Project Proposal Approved Detailed research incountry conditions Partner analysis (Macro) Analysis of proposed delivery sites & staff Proposed Partner

Project inception & business case approval � Resources � Project identified inception outline � Business case development & approval model � Challenger TAFE Toolkit templates and guides for: strategic and legal analysis; global analysis; country analysis; RTO capacity analysis; Partner macro analysis; Partner onsite visitor analysis � Austrade contacts � AEI country profiles � Website at http: //www. transparency. org. au for information on offshore legislation

Other steps: Group activity � Consider the section of the guide : � Summarise the section with the rest of the group � What are the issues and risks being addressed? � What do YOU do or WOULD do? � What else might be useful?

Partner choice & due diligence Requests written proposal Australian Provider Assesses proposal & other documentation Assesses strategic & business ‘fit’ Sound Business Partnership Established Undertakes detailed due diligence Provides documented proposal Hosts site visit to assess facilities & establish relationships Proposed Partner

Quality – Facilities & equipment Planning Checklists Training Package or curriculum requirements Simulated environments Work with industry Facilities & Equipment Document in training & assessment strategy Monitor facilities and equipment Assessment Requirements

Quality - Staff Models Skills & Qualifications Eligibility Staff selection Staff induction Staff Skills Mentoring Staff exchanges Capacity Building

Quality – assessment and validation Quality assurance of assessment Planning assessment Continuous improvement & monitoring Validation Moderation Assessment Staff capability Workplace assessment Conduct assessment Clear roles Managing assessment

Go /No-go APPROACH / PLAN Preparation 2. Project inception / Business case approval Objective 3. Partner choice / due diligence 1. Initial Decision 4. Business planning Go /No-go 5. Detailed partner contracts & relationship management DEPLOYMENT / DO Exit strategy Delivery 6. Select appropriate offshore delivery models IMPROVEMENT / ACT Quality assurance 17. Monitoring, review & continuous improvement Project Management - Capability Ongoing monitoring & review 18. Project Management 7. Set quality requirements for offshore facilities 8. Ensure staff skills & qualifications 9. Student information selection & outcomes 10. English language competency 11. Contextualisation of VET programs 12. Provide learning resources RESULTS / CHECK Exit strategy Assessment 15. Assessment & validation 13. Determine provision of student information & support 14. Document educational leadership, coordination & support capacity 16. Certification Exit strategy