Standing Committee on Employment, Education
and Workplace Relations
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Submission 54.1
MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TEXTILES
Mail to Brunswick Campus. 25 Dawson St, Brunswick Vic 3056, Australia.
Pascoe Vale Campus. 25 Cumberland Rd. [Area Code within Australia 03,
International +613] Tel 9389 9111; Fax. 9389 9129
24th March, 1998
Dear Mr Chairman,
Thank you again for the opportunity of appearing before the House of
Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training
during its recent hearings in Melbourne on the Role of Institutes of TAFE.
You will recall that at the hearing, the Institute was asked to provide
some further information and/or comment on two issues --- the proposal
for a 'global intelligence' unit and the establishment of a National Training
Innovation Fund.
Anticipating future training needs
The present system of assessing training --- both the delivery and relevance
of -- is geared towards meeting the needs of the present and the past.
One of the biggest challenges facing the training system is anticipating
and responding to future training needs being able to see what lies towards
and over the `the horizon'. For the Institute it is about 'training for
free trade', that is, being in the position to develop and deliver the
training required for the industries' we serve to compete successfully
in the free trade environment that we know is coming in 2010.
Success will depend on a number of factors --- being able to gather,
analyse, communicate and act on the best information available; put in
place long-term priorities for skills formation, research and product
development activities; gain access to funding to do what is needed and
retain the flexibility to act quickly to meet unanticipated events and
demands. The skill with which the industries we serve are able to gather
and analyse and plan for their future, will be important.
The role of a 'global intelligence service'
To operate effectively in a global marketplace requires 'global intelligence'.
M.l.Text. believes there is a need to establish a TCF global intelligence
service to encourage the industries' ability to operate in an international
environment. The service would provide user-friendly, accessible international
data on industry and retail policy in other countries, the latest fashion,
styles and marketing trends, technology, research and development, trade,
etc., to assist TCF industries to position themselves in the global market.
Data on the investment, technological, HRD and other business strategies
of competing companies will also be tracked.
There are a number of examples in other parts of the world including
the Textile Outlook Economic Intelligence Service (European Community)
and the Nottinghamshire European Textiles and Clothing Observatory. This
Observatory is designed to do two things:
Provide policy makers with strategic intelligence on developments within
the textile and clothing industry;
Provide local companies with a market intelligence service.
An Australian TCF Intelligence Unit or Observatory could: (1) bring together
the existing `global intelligence' efforts in government and industry
circles; (2) provide strategic information for policy makers within government
and within the industry generally, and companies in particular; and (3)
provide companies with the information they require to increase competitiveness
within the current market environment. The unit could also link up with
the range of organisations currently researching within the textiles and
clothing industry; promote the importance of R&D and help exploit
the R&D capacity of our universities and other research organisations.
Such a unit could also provide information and research vital for the
ongoing planning of industry education and training programs and the development
of new training products and information programs.
An Australian Textile Partnership
Melbourne Institute of Textiles sees the 'global intelligence' unit as
a key part of an Australian TCF partnership involving industry, government,
research and education and training organisations.
This partnership is based on a number of overseas models and in particular
the American Textile Partnership (AMTEX) model from the United States.
(More detailed material is available in the submission and HomePage material
attached.)
Under the Australian model, the 'partners' with the help of the global
intelligence unit, look to the future and develop and refine 'action agendas'
which include R&D and education and training priorities. This process
informs and is informed by Government policies in these areas and progress
is reviewed on a regular basis.
To build a greater sense of ownership, the TCF Intelligence Unit and
the TCF Partnership would be funded in varying degrees by the partners
industry, government, research and education and training organisations.
The funding to implement the activities of the partnership would come
from Government industry and education programs. Already in TCF, the Federal
Government has proposed a $10 million Technology Development Fund.
A potential model is attached. This model could be replicated across
key industry sectors.
Funding of training development
Gaining access to funding to do what is needed and being able to retain
the flexibility to act quickly to meet unanticipated events and demands
are also vital to success.
M.l.Text. supports the establishment of a National Training Innovation
Fund to support the development of training to meet the needs of the future.
Access to the fund would need to be prioritised and include a mechanism
encouraging contributions either in 'cash or in kind' from those wanting
access to it.
The success of such a fund will also rely on the streamlining of existing
curriculum development and accreditation processes. These processes are
duplicated (but not replicated) on a state and national basis. Streamlining
would promote the ability to respond quickly to emerging and future needs.
Articulation
Articulation arrangements between TAFE and Higher Education were also
mentioned at the hearing. Attached is material relating to the Melbourne
Institute of Textiles/RMIT University Diploma/Degree in Textile Manufacturing.
CHRIS COOKSON
Director & Chief Executive Officer
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