Tasmania’s growing friendship with China presents great opportunities for our state’s economic prosperity and job creation, especially through education.
While the Premier Will Hodgman and Minister for State Growth Matthew Groom this week continue to promote Tasmania as part of the trade and investment mission in China, we are also building relations with our largest trading partner here in Tasmania.
Today, 30 senior vocational education and training officials from Eastern China are joining a forum in Hobart to discuss strengthening educational ties between Australia and China.
The two day Sino-Australian VET forum is hosted by the Department of Education’s Government Education and Training International, Global Link China International and TasTAFE.
TasTAFE already has strong ties with China and I hope that this forum will lead to further opportunities for TasTAFE to work with VET organisations in China.
This is a fantastic opportunity for Tasmania’s education sectors to form closer friendships with China and highlight excellence in the Tasmanian VET sector.
It gives delegates the chance to learn more about the Australian system, how it differs from the Chinese system and what they need to consider if they wish to work with Australian VET institutions.
Discussions at the forum include VET reform in China, what Australians need to understand about the status of VET in China, and running joint venture training programs with China.
This is a tremendous opportunity for TasTAFE to build its relationship with Chinese VET officials and showcase what TasTAFE has to offer.
During the forum delegates will also have the chance to attend a business breakfast where they can network with TasTAFE staff and industry professionals.
On Friday delegates will attend one of four tours in the areas of Children’s Services, Aged Care/Nursing, Horticulture/Agriculture and Hospitality/Tourism.
The tours include industry visits and visits to TasTAFE campuses. The hospitality tour will include the opportunity to visit back-of-house at MONA and dine at the TasTAFE Drysdale restaurant where delegates will be served by students and staff.
The Sino Australian VET forum will run in parallel to the TAFE Directors Australia National Conference which is being held at Hobart’s Hotel Grand Chancellor from September 9-11.
The full program for the forum and the TDA conference is available at: http://www.tda.edu.au/
Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Education and Training
