Date issued: 21 February 2012
How can we raise productivity and increase prosperity in tertiary education? Leading industry stakeholders keenly debated these topics at a recent Australian Council for Private Education and Training event held in Sydney.
Citing his public and private education teaching experiences, CPA Australia CEO Alex Malley explained the need for all sectors of education to continuously address productivity in their respective environments. Alex referred to CPA Australia’s willingness to discuss partnering and accreditation with education providers. There was significant interest regarding the greater flexibility CPA Australia’s Foundation level program provides to those who would otherwise have not been eligible, and the need for curriculum innovation, notwithstanding the structural framework requirements. Alex concluded his discussion by stating that access, mobility and innovation would be key drivers of CPA Australia and the CPA Program.
Attendees discussed meeting the needs of business by providing suitable graduate employees. Enhanced communication between providers and industry skills councils was cited as a key opportunity within the tertiary sector and reference was made to the effectiveness of universities’ engagement with professional bodies in determining curriculum relevance to providing work-ready graduates.
A common thread among the panel was the need for the same emphasis on non-technical skills such as negotiation, teamwork, and cultural sensitivity as is required on technical competency.