TAFE Industry Partnership: Towards More Effective Relationships in Course Development and Implementation. A Discussion Paper.

A study examined existing partnerships between Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and industry in Australia and explored possible alternatives or additional mechanisms and structures for cooperating on course development and implementation. The 9-month investigation included a study of the use of joint facilities in five states, a study of training models used in industry, and an examination of ways of integrating on- and off-the-job training within traineeships. The TAFE/industry partnership picture was found to be very patchy. Excellent examples of effective relationships in TAFE course development were found; however, these excellent relationships were not nearly so widespread in the area of TAFE course implementation. The following were identified as ways of improving TAFE/industry partnerships: (1) form the highest possible TAFE/industry/training policy committee at the state levels; (2) have industry commission TAFE to develop and help implement all components of publicly accredited industry training curricula and commission TAFE to help develop other training programs; and (3) have industry provide TAFE with modern equipment, either at TAFE colleges, skills centers, or industrial sites. (MN)