The place of VET in the tertiary sector

• Francesca Beddie
• National Centre for Vocational Education Research

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09 July 2010The utilitarian spirit of Australian education has meant that since the nineteenth century the notion of tertiary education has embraced all post-school learning, delivered in sandstone universities or working men’s institutes or on the job. 

This is not the definition the peak bodies TAFE Directors Australia (TDA) and Universities Australia (UA) proposed in late April. They see:

‘Tertiary’ education qualifications as those at diploma level and above, including where these qualifications may embed pathways from the qualification level below. 

This paper argues that all vocational qualifications should be included in the definition of tertiary education.

The paper was delivered as a keynote address on 24th March 2010 at the VISTA annual conference: VET - The Invisible Sector.