As one of the partner institutions of Beijing TAFE Education Mode Reform Project, Beijing Business School (BBS), collaborating with AVEA and Melbourne Polytechnic (MP), has organised three consecutive IST courses from 2019 to 2021, to deepen the education reform, up-skill their teachers and prepare them for the establishment of China-Australia International College (CAIC).

The training process included lectures, discussions, question and answer, tests, assignments and practical tasks, which enabled teachers to further understand Australia vocational education system, the concepts of the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF), training packages, Unit of competency, and competency-based training and assessment.

During training, BBS provided huge support to the participants, ensuring them actively attending all lecturing and mentoring sessions and encouraging them to complete their assessment tasks on time. As a result, all the 78 participants were 100% competent and obtained their TVET Trainer and/or TVET Assessor certificates.

The IST courses have helped BBS to train a group of outstanding teachers with TAFE education concepts, proficiency in TAFE teaching models and assessment methods, and leading teaching standards, which will promote the international development of vocational education in a more open and inclusive manner.

Certificate IV in Training and Assessment from TAE training packages is the most popular entry level qualification for vocational education teachers in Australia, and it was selected and integrated into China-Australia Vocational Education Cooperation TAFE Education Model Reform Project.

From 2015 to 2016, Beijing College of Finance and Commerce organised three groups totally 75 teachers to participate TAE training in Australia. All participants obtained their Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

In Australia, all teachers working in vocational education sector are required to hold this certificate. The certificate has a large amount of contents and strict assessment requirements. Training and assessment of this course must comply with Australia Training Package and other related standards and policies.

In addition, Beijing AVEA has also partnered with Beijing Vocational Transportation College, Beijing Qiushi Vocational School and Beijing Jinsong Vocational High School in delivering TAE training. As of July 2021, Beijing AVEA has trained and certified over 300 teachers.

In August 2018, Beijing Vocational Transportation College and AVEA jointly established China-Australia Teachers Competency Development Centre. The Centre has launched various training courses and international exchange programs to facilitate the professional development of vocational teachers.

On the 23rd August 2019, commenced 2-weeks training of “International Training on Australian Competency Based Training and Curriculum Development”. It was hosted by Beijing Vocational Transportation College (BVTC), co-organised by China-Australia Teacher Competency Development Centre, AVEA and Melbourne Polytechnic (MP).

The opening ceremony of the course was held at the Principal’s Building of the National Institute of Education Administration! There were around 50 backbone teachers from different vocational colleges all over the country, such as Heilongjiang Vocational College, Jiangsu Vocational College of Agriculture and Forestry, Jiangxi Environmental Engineering Vocational College and of course the host, Beijing Vocational Transportation College.

During valuable training journey, participants learned more about Australia’s practical experience in competency-based training and curriculum design,  developed global perspectives and reflective thinking, and improved their skills in training, assessment and innovation.

In order to enhance the effectiveness of the training and integrate the Australian vocational education model into teaching practice, the training was divided into five phases: preparation, intensive training, independent design, teaching practice, and demonstration and exchange.

The whole program provides opportunities for the participants to learn, understand and practice, applying what they have learnt into practice. It also cultivates innovative teachers with a global perspective and international training and assessment skills.

Beijing College of Social Administration (BCSA) is directly affiliated to the Ministry of Civil Affairs of China. It is the first higher educational institution in the country to train high quality talent in the fields of social work, social management and social services. It is also the site of the Training Center, Professional Practice Certification Center, and Social Work Research Center of the MCA.

The college currently runs 16 majors to educate students with advanced knowledge and practice in the area of civil affairs and social service. Care and Services for the Elderly is one of the key majors in BCSA. 

In 2021, a total of 30 participants attended the Aged care training, which was organised by BCSA, Beijing AVEA and Melbourne Polytechnic. The training introduced the aged care industry and system in Australia, the different roles at workplace, positions and responsibilities, ratio, legal requirements, government support, typical health issues, industry and professional development and so on.

Objectives

Beijing TAFE Education Mode Reform Project aims to deeply investigate the key components of Australia vocational education system including Competency oriented Curriculum and competency based training and assessment, and most importantly to contextualise and integrate those concepts, methodologies into the teaching practice of Beijing vocational colleges and schools.

The project provides the opportunities for vocational teachers, colleges and schools to test out new ideas that have been used in other countries and develop their own education system that can be recognised internationally while represents Beijing and China. 

Project Scale

Led by Beijing Municipal Education Commission and accompanied by Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, this project involved 8 vocational colleges and schools in Accounting and 9 vocational colleges and schools in Early Years Study. 

Dozens of TAFE pilot classes were established, which benefit more than 100 vocational teachers and more than 1,000 vocational students.

This project has been highly supported by Beijing Municipal Education Commission,Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, Australian Federal and State Government, with efficient integration of resources from government, research institutions, universities and social organisations.

It also attracted the attention of Australian Embassy in Beijing. Brooke Hartigan, the Minister Counsellor for Education, has attended many events to provide support and discuss any opportunities of exchange and cooperation between Australia and China in vocational education.

Achievements

The Project has been running since 2018, with continuous training and mentoring provided to teachers working in Accounting and Early Childhood Education faculties from 11 vocational colleges and schools. Through this project, approximately 70 teachers obtained Certificate IV in Training and Assessment. A total of 23 TAFE pilot classes were offered in the project schools, covering nearly 830 students.

“We’re not here to teach you, but to share and help.” said out trainers. By sharing experiences in vocational teaching and working in related industry, observing and providing feedback and suggestions, and open communication, our trainers have built up respectful and trust relationships with the participants and constantly provide support and mentoring through the process of reform and improvement. The results of this project is significant and obvious.

On the other hand, with the support of Beijing Academy of Educational Sciences, we were able to get the project off the ground through interactive seminars and workshops, collaborative research, curriculum design, and resources development.

Project Prospects

In 2021, to consolidate the achievements of The Project, AVEA will continue working with the project colleges and schools, to explore international benchmarking and integration innovation in the areas of teachers’ professional development, talent training and teaching evaluation, and to apply international concepts, standards and methods to promote the internalisation of vocational education in Beijing and other provinces and cities.

In order to promote educational and scientific exchanges between China and Austria, to promote the educational vision and economic development of the two countries, and to facilitate academic exchanges between the two universities, the University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien and Anyang Institute of Technology established the cooperative undergraduate education program in “Mechanical and Electronic Engineering” in 2020.

Anyang Institute of Technology is located in Anyang City, Henan Province, one of the eight ancient capitals of China. The college is a public full-time ordinary undergraduate college. It has been awarded as “Provincial Civilized Unit”, “Henan Higher Education’s Most Influential Model Universities”, “Henan Top Ten Model Universities for Innovation and Entrepreneurship”, and “Henan’s Best Model of Higher Education Employment Quality” “Henan Top 20 Universities with Comprehensive Strength”, “Henan’s Most Employment Competitive Leading University”, “China Industry-University-Research Cooperation Innovation Achievement Award”, “Top Ten Universities Satisfied by Henan People at the 70th Anniversary of New China”, “New The 70th anniversary of the founding of China, Henan has the most domestic employment competitiveness colleges “and other honorary titles. The university adheres to the international development path, constantly strengthens the exchange and cooperation with foreign high-level universities and introduces foreign high-quality educational resources.

University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien was founded in 1994 and is one of the largest universities of applied sciences in Austria. The university has experienced teaching staff, advanced teaching facilities and strong ability to serve local economic and social development. The mechanical and electronic engineering program with Anyang University of Technology is one of the university’s strongest majors and the highest degree can be offered is master’s degree.

As the official partner of University of Applied Sciences Technikum Wien in China, Beijing AVEA is responsible for the promotion and cooperation of the program in China. After over a year’s hard working and coordination, the two universities have agreed to offer a joint program that allows students to study Austrian courses in China and provides them the opportunity to further study in Austria.

The implementation of the Joint Program will promote the training of talents in mechanical and electronic engineering at Anyang Institute of Technology to be in line with international standards, which is of great significance in enhancing the vitality of the school, improving the level of discipline and professional construction, accelerating the pace of international development and promoting the construction of a distinctive applied university. There are also chances to develop new courses through cooperation, with the two universities working hand in hand to achieve co-development.

Australia’s vocational education system are well-known by it’s “systematic foundations, flexible processes and standardised outcomes”, with TAFE Institute as the representative. It is one of the two typical vocational education model in the world, and the other is the Dual System in Germany.

In December 2018, the delegation from Vocational and Continuing Education Department of National Institute of Education Sciences were invited to Australia. Focusing on topics of Australian vocational education system etc, the delegation conducted research and in-depth discussion with the International Division of the Australian Federal Department of Education, the headquarters of the Australian TAFE Presidents’ Union, the Director of the Australian Vocational Education Alliance, and visited TAFE New South Wales, University of Technology Sydney and other institutions.

Vocational and Continuing Education Department of National Institute of Education Sciences (NIES) is based on the overall arrangement of national education planning and strategic research, in accordance with the construction plan of modern vocational education system, relying on the professional and resource advantages of NIES, collaborating with relevant ministries, research institutes, schools, industry associations and enterprises, to expand the field of vocational education research, integrating resources, and to develop into a high-level vocational education research institute, a training base for vocational education researchers and a think tank for national vocational education macro policy-making.

During the visit, Australian Vocational Education Alliance built an effective bridge between Australia and China in vocational and continuing education. Through face-to-face discussions, confusion in some vocational education terms was resolved and a more comprehensive understanding of the differences between the Chinese and Australian vocational education systems was gained.

Under the trend of global economic integration and internationalization of vocational education, in order to accelerate the pace of international cooperation and exchange, promote the internationalization process of schools and enhance the overall core competitiveness of schools, universities and colleges have been paying attention to provide opportunities for teachers to have training and visits overseas. 

These programs can provide a platform for international exchange and study for school managers and front-line teachers, improve their ability of solving complex problems and coping with changing international situations to enhance the overall core competitiveness of schools and accelerate their international development.

In 2019, a delegation of key teachers from Shaanxi Polytechnic Institute went to Australia for a 2-week training. The delegation travelled to Melbourne Polytechnic to learn more about Australia’s advanced concepts and experiences in vocational education and training, and to lay the foundation for further improving the teaching and management skills of the teachers in Shaanxi Vocational Institute of Technology. 19 teachers gained a lot from the intensive program and learned some new concepts and practical methods of training and assessment. 

Besides, through purposefully designed learning activities, the participants were able to observe Australian classes, communicate with Australian teachers and students, visit industry and talk to industry experts, observe practical training facilitates, experience cultural difference and improve English skills.