The Chair of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee, John Pollaers, has accompanied the Assistant Minister for Education and Training, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham on a successful visit to South Korea.
“Korea faces a remarkable challenge in ensuring there is an appropriate mix of skills within their economy to support continued economic growth,” Mr Pollaers said.
“The emphasis on university education in Korea is leading to a shortfall in technical level skills that are necessary to underpin economic growth.”
While in Seoul, Mr Pollaers chaired an industry roundtable with business representatives operating in Korea, discussing some of the skills challenges facing their operations.
“Ensuring industry-relevant skills, including job-specific technical skills balanced with 21st century workplace skills, including communication, problem solving and entrepreneurship, is vital for a country’s training system,” he said.
“This challenge is not unique to Australia, and there is much to gain from maintaining an international outlook.”
Mr Pollaers welcomed the Minister’s focus on strengthening bi-lateral relationships with South Korea and in particular the focus on increased technical exchange between the two countries.
Mr Pollaers also accompanied Senator Birmingham to visit a joint program involving Sydney TAFE and Korea Polytechnic, which has been established to improve the skills base of Korean trainers and assessors in competency-based approaches.
“High quality training requires clear training outcomes linked to industry needs, coupled with highly skilled and capable trainers and assessors,” Mr Pollaers said.
“The partnership involving Sydney TAFE is a great example of how the strengths of Australia’s vocational education and training system are contributing to the needs of our key international partners, and advocating for the Australian system as a whole.”
John Pollaers | Ph: Secretariat +61 2 6240 9105 | email: aiscsecretariat@education.gov.au