Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
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Submission 3
Coffs Harbour Education Campus
Department of School Education North Coast Institute Southern Cross University
Inquiry into Appropriate Roles of Institutes of TAFE
As Chair of the Governing Board of the Coffs Harbour Education Campus,
I wish to make a brief submission to the above inquiry. CHEC, established
in 1995, is a partnership between Department of School Education (DSE),
TAFE NSW (TAFE) and Southern Cross University (SCU).
It might be said that there are two main purposes for the partnership,
the first being to maximise the facilities available to the partners for
the delivery of Courses to students. In such a way as each of the
partners has access to facilities which are equal to or better than facilities
which it may have had on an independent site. The second is that it would
provide opportunities to develop collaborative learning across the sectors
where students can pursue a greater range of study and training options
through articulated programmes.
The partnership functions under an operational structure through
which each of the educational sectors is separately accountable:
the university component, to the Council of SCU; the TAFE component,
to the NSW TAFE Commission; and the senior secondary college
component to the NSW Department of School Education. By these means, the
integrity of the admission processes, curriculum assessment and the academic
awards from each of the three sectors will be assured. All matters relating
to awards, award courses including accreditation. advanced standing. and
continued appointment of approved staff remain the responsibility of the
appropriate partner institution.
In this setting I do not think it appropriate for me to address your
first term of reference on the roles of institutes of technical and further
education but I do wish to comment on your second term of reference
regarding which of the technical and further education roles should overlap
with the roles of the university.
Within this working partnership we do not see these roles overlapping;
rather. do we see them as being complementary. The interaction between
TAFE and SCU on this campus is illustrative of what can be achieved through
a close working relationship. It should be noted that, on its Coffs Harbour
campus, SCU is operating only the Schools of Business, Human Services,
Information Technology/Multimedia and a developing School of Tourism and
Hotel Management. While there are TAFE programmes on campus which do
not match university areas of study, there are some areas which are common
and which could have resulted in overlapping or confusion.
As a result of our approach, four joint degree programmes have
been developed by TAFE and SCU, with up to ten other programmes involving
articulation in one form or another being developed.
Accredited joint programmes in operation are as follows:
Business/Commerce: SCU/TAFE
TAFE graduates with Diplomas in Accounting. Business (Banking &
Finance). Marketing Management. Asia-Pacific Marketing have advanced
standing of up to 50% credit in SCU Bachelors of Accounting. Finance
and Banking. and Marketing. Articulation units designed by
SCU Schools of Business and Commerce will be developed as required.
Agribusiness: SCU/TAFE articulated curriculum has been
finalised and approved. The marketing of the programme is now being
addressed.
Human Services and Welfare Child Studies:
SCU/TAFE
Associate Diploma in Social Science (Community Welfare), Bachelor
of Social Science SWAP (Social Welfare Articulation Pathway) provides
articulation between the two programmes, with up to 50% credit
or advanced standing.
Tourism and Hospitality: SCU/TAFE
Bachelor In Hotel Management
TAFE Diploma will attract 50% credit to SCU. TAFE undertaking teaching
on behalf of SCU.
Joint courses under development include:
Retail: SCU/TAFE
Bachelor of Business (Retail)
Diploma of Retail Management
This is a priority initiative. The concept is to provide articulated
pathways to TAFE and SCU programmes for retail employees.
Information Technology and Multimedia: SCU/TAFE
Diploma of Information Technology Systems
Bachelor qf Information Systems
First components of the degree will be offered by TAFE, thus enhancing
articulation and credit transfer. Multiple exit points form part of
the programme.
Visual Arts: SCU/TAFE
Certipcate IV Fine Arts/Creative Technology
The partners have prioritised this programme development which involves
Fine Arts and Technology applications. Possible link with Bachelor in
Visual Arts In Lismore.
It must be emphasised also that the development of these joint articulated
programmes contributes greatly to the effective and economical use of
public funded facilities. There is no duplication nor, indeed, overlapping
in physical facilities but. rather, a rationalisation which sometimes
involves a flexible approach from the partners in modifying their standard
requirements.
In this submission I am suggesting that wherever possible there should
be a policy which encourages joint developments of new education facilities
to provide opportunities for collaborative learning across the two sectors
in order to make best use of available public funds and to enhance curriculum
outcomes for students.
Yours faithfully
Lionel E. Phelps
Executive Chair
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