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The Importance of Both TAFE and University
18 March 2006
It's been another week or two when universities have been
subject to some unnecessary criticism.
One national newspaper took from the Business Council of
Australia's report on innovation a slant that universities were
stifling entrepreneurship. Our local paper, on the basis of a small
survey, suggested trades are not being given a fair go, and that
university was not regarded by some as the only answer. The State
White Paper which generates more apprenticeship places also
prompted some comment about how more emphasis should be placed on
TAFE rather than universities.
There are some fundamental problems that face Australia that are
disguised not too thinly, in these kinds of views.
Let's put aside the usual criticism of the media who it is said
just want to sell papers or increase their audience, so
conveniently slant issues to suit their sales purposes.
Instead, let's unravel some of these issues because they are
extremely important and go to the heart of some more parochial
isolationism and our future in the world.
Firstly, universities are doing more than ever in their history
to connect with the worlds of work at the undergraduate level. USC
does more than most.
Secondly, I don't know of any informed people who have ever said
university is the only answer. The history of universities is that
they have been of and for an elite. Most remain so. Universities
still attract a minority of the age cohort. USC, however, has the
highest first-in-family and low socio-economic students in the
country, so we are broadening the applicant base more than most
here. Perhaps we should be denying entry to larger numbers of
students, as some commentators think?
Thirdly, there has for years, been many points of convergence
between the intellectually-driven universities, and the
skills-driven TAFE sectors. On the Coast, Mike Anderson and I are
as one in ensuring there are more links between our two
institutions.
But neither of us has ever engaged in a discussion about one
institution being better than another. He is an advocate for
Sunshine Coast TAFE and I for USC.
Many TAFE areas of study internationally are changing, and the
same is true in universities. On the one hand, just about every
skill area in TAFE is more demanding and computer-based than ever
before whether it's the motor industry, marine navigation,
photography, hospitality - they are all becoming more
intellectually demanding and IT-related.
At universities, undergraduate studies are no longer conducted
in splendid isolation, and work experiences are becoming
common.
If Australia is to retain or enhance its position globally, then
avoiding the false dichotomy that suggests either TAFE or
University is better than the other is an imperative.
To power this country we need people to think, to explore, to
discover, to enhance, to construct and a lot more. Most will be
better equipped to achieve if they undertake further studies that
they believe are best suited to them.
It is their choice and it is not either/or, nor is it a case
that universities have had a better deal than TAFEs. I know
first-hand how tough it has been at a new USC.
Let's together press the importance of further study because it
is the future of this still small country, still as tyrannised by
distance as it ever was.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of
the Sunshine Coast