The Productivity Commission’s interim report has reinforced the role universities play in training Australia’s workforce, with many of its recommendations echoing proposals long put forward by Universities Australia.
Chief executive Luke Sheehy said changes around credit transfer, recognition of prior learning and closer collaboration across the tertiary system would help Australians gain skills more easily. “Ninety per cent of new jobs in the coming years will require post-secondary qualifications,” he said. “The only way we will meet that challenge is if people can move more easily between different types of learning and back into education throughout their working lives.”
Sheehy said universities already educate more than 1.5 million students each year, covering disciplines from nursing and teaching to climate science, IT and engineering. “We’re already training the workforce Australia relies on, and we’re ready to go further – partnering with government, industry, and the TAFE and vocational sector to open more pathways, integrate microcredentials and deliver training for people changing careers or returning to work.”
He highlighted the experience of dual-sector universities, which deliver both vocational and higher education, as models for how seamless transitions can work in practice. “Our dual-sector members are living examples of how seamless movement between VET and higher education benefits students and employers. Their experience will be vital in building a truly connected tertiary system,” he said.
Sheehy said a national system for recognising prior learning and transferring credit would reduce red tape and expand opportunities. “Education should be a lifelong right, not a one-off experience, and pathways between VET and higher education must be open, visible and easy to navigate.”
The report’s emphasis on lifelong learning and targeted training incentives for small and medium businesses was also welcomed. “With the right policy settings, we can do even more – partnering with small and medium businesses, supporting innovation and helping workers adapt to technological change. This is exactly the kind of collaboration we’ve been calling for. We look forward to engaging further in the consultation process ahead of the Commission’s final report,” Sheehy said.
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