In the revised Standards for RTOs, Standard 3.3 introduces a shift in expectations regarding who can deliver training and assessment in the vocational education and training (VET) sector. Instead of requiring trainers and assessors to maintain industry currency, the new standard focuses on ensuring they have an understanding of current industry practices. While this may seem like a minor change in wording, it represents a significant departure from the previous focus on active, up-to-date industry engagement—and it may have far-reaching consequences for the quality of VET delivery.
What Does Standard 3.3 Say?
Under the revised standard, RTOs are required to ensure that training and assessment are delivered by people who:
- (a)(i) Have industry competencies, skills, and knowledge that are relevant to the training product being delivered and/or assessed.
- (a)(ii) Maintain an understanding of current industry practices rather than actively working to maintain industry currency.
In addition, if RTOs engage industry experts to support trainers and assessors, there must be a system in place to ensure that these experts work under the oversight of a credentialed trainer or assessor and that their involvement in assessment is closely monitored.
Why This Change Is a Step Backward
1. Dilution of Industry Currency
The shift from requiring trainers and assessors to maintain current industry skills to merely having an understanding of industry practices represents a dilution of the concept of industry currency. In the VET sector, the goal is to equip students with practical, up-to-date skills that they can immediately apply in the workplace. Trainers and assessors must possess real-world experience that reflects the current demands of the industries they are teaching about. Without industry currency, there is a risk that trainers may fall behind on the latest trends, technologies, and workplace practices.
Having an understanding of industry practices is not the same as having firsthand experience. It allows for trainers and assessors to be less actively involved in industry environments, which can lead to a disconnect between what is taught in the classroom and what is expected in the real world.
2. The Risk of Outdated Training
The VET sector thrives on providing industry-relevant education. If trainers and assessors are not required to maintain current industry competencies, the risk of delivering outdated training increases. Industry currency ensures that trainers are regularly exposed to the latest tools, methodologies, and workplace practices, which in turn informs how they deliver training. Without this ongoing engagement, students may not be receiving the most up-to-date knowledge and skills, which could negatively impact their employability.
As industries evolve, particularly in sectors such as technology, healthcare, and engineering, keeping up with advancements is crucial. Trainers who merely have an understanding of practices rather than actively participating in them may struggle to keep up with rapid changes, leaving students at a disadvantage.
3. Less Pressure for Professional Development
Under the previous standards, there was a strong emphasis on continuing professional development (CPD) as a means of maintaining industry currency. This encouraged trainers and assessors to stay actively engaged in industry settings through placements, projects, and collaborations. The revised standard, however, places less pressure on RTOs to ensure trainers remain industry-current through such hands-on experiences.
This reduction in the need for ongoing professional development could have long-term consequences for the quality of training. Trainers who are not incentivised to maintain industry currency may become complacent, relying on outdated knowledge while the industries they teach about move forward.
The Role of Industry Experts: A Supplement, Not a Replacement
While the revised standards allow for industry experts to support training and assessment, they do not replace the need for trainers and assessors to be industry-current. Industry experts may provide insights and practical examples, but they often lack the formal training and assessment background required to ensure quality education delivery. Moreover, Standard 3.3 requires that industry experts be overseen by credentialed trainers and assessors, which ensures that the primary responsibility for training remains with those formally qualified.
The risk here is that relying too heavily on industry experts without ensuring that core trainers and assessors maintain their current industry skills could lead to gaps in both the quality of training and the relevance of assessments.
Why Industry Currency Still Matters
1. Aligning Training with Industry Needs
Maintaining industry currency ensures that trainers are not only knowledgeable about industry practices but are also actively engaged with the industry itself. This alignment is essential for ensuring that training remains relevant and adapted to the needs of employers. By maintaining current industry skills, trainers can better prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce.
2. Enhancing Student Employability
Students depend on VET programs to provide them with the skills and knowledge required to secure employment. If trainers are not current with industry expectations, students may graduate with outdated skills, making it more difficult for them to compete in the job market. Industry currency ensures that trainers are teaching what is relevant now, not what was relevant years ago.
3. Supporting Continuous Improvement in Training
Trainers who maintain industry currency are in a better position to engage in continuous improvement efforts within RTOs. They are more likely to bring fresh ideas and innovative approaches to the table, helping RTOs refine their training products and stay ahead of industry trends. Without this regular engagement, trainers may not be as proactive in identifying areas for improvement in training delivery.
Reaffirming the Importance of Industry Currency
While Standard 3.3 introduces flexibility in how RTOs can ensure trainers maintain an understanding of industry practices, this change may come at the cost of delivering the most up-to-date and relevant training possible. By shifting away from the requirement for active industry currency, the revised standards risk creating a gap between what is taught in the classroom and the realities of the modern workplace.
RTOs must ensure that they go beyond the minimum requirements of Standard 3.3 by prioritising industry engagement for their trainers and assessors. Maintaining current industry skills and ensuring that trainers stay connected to the industries they teach about will ultimately safeguard the quality of training and improve student outcomes.
