EVERY YEAR SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN 2011, NATIONAL SKILLS WEEK HAS RECOGNISED, CELEBRATED AND INFORMED STUDENTS AND THE WIDER PUBLIC OF THE DIVERSITY, BENEFITS AND CAREER PATHWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING (VET).
National Skills Week runs this year from August 29th to September 4th with the theme New World, New Vision, Your Future, and once again we look at the many benefits of VET and upskilling.
VET is education and training that focuses on providing skills ready for the workforce. Thousands of courses are available through the VET sector in Australia. Qualifications gained through this system can lead to a variety of diverse and exciting careers.
Vocational Education & Training plays a key role in the shift towards a more knowledge-intensive society. According to recent studies, approximately half of all jobs in the year 2020 will require a medium level qualification, which will often be achieved by some form of VET.
VET is also imperative to advance Australia’s competitiveness and global opportunity. Dr Polidano of the National Centre for Vocational Education Research said “We know that investment in vocational education has widespread economic benefits, including increased employment and earnings.”
“We know that investment in vocational education has widespread economic benefits, including increased employment and earnings.”
For businesses, participating in VET programs offers them the chance to pass on their knowledge and skills to a new workforce, and also, a chance to gain employees that fit well into their workplace and industry. In 2012 there were approximately 1.36 million VET students participating throughout Australia with that number increased to over 4
million this year (2016).