University-Industry Collaboration in Teaching and Learning Review 2021

Final Report

The final report was released in December 2021. It recommends seven short-term actions government, higher education providers and industry can take to promote greater collaboration across the sector. These recommended actions are:

1. Accelerate the development and use of the Australian Skills Classification as an open access national skills taxonomy.
2. Expedite the reform of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) to facilitate better collaboration between higher education providers, vocational education providers and industry.
3. Build a unified credentials platform to surface current and emerging skill shortages, provider guidance to individuals to make informed learning decisions, link to quality micro-credentials and act as a bridge to labour market opportunities.
4. Providers and industry to build a stronger culture of partnership in the delivery of industry-focused micro-credentials – accelerated through targeted investment fund.
5. Roll out a flexible higher education cadetship program combining an employment contract and a learning program.
6. Enhance higher education’s engagement with industry through the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) and the National Strategy on Work-Integrated Learning.
7. Build stronger partnerships between higher education, vocational education, and schools, including the introduction of a cross-sectoral teaching and learning innovation fund.

Documents

• Final report
• Terms of Reference

Background of the review

On 3 June 2021, the former Hon Alan Tudge MP, Minister for Education and Youth, and the former Hon Stuart Robert MP, Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, announced the University-Industry Collaboration in Teaching and Learning Review. The review was led by Emeritus Professor Martin Bean CBE, former Vice-Chancellor of RMIT, and Emeritus Professor Peter Dawkins AO, former Vice-Chancellor and President of Victoria University.

The review’s aim was to advise how universities, industry and government can increase industry engagement in teaching and learning through improved course curricula, more systematic engagement, and expanded opportunities for students to gain work experience and industry relevant skills.

The review and its findings will build on work currently underway to improve research commercialisation, innovation, and job-ready graduates.

The Australian Government’s initial response to the review, including the announcement of a micro-credentials pilot, is below.

• Summary of Review's Actions and Australian Government Response
• Offshore and Higher Education Microcredentials Factsheet

Reference Group

• Tom Bentley (RMIT University)
• Jeff Borland (University of Melbourne)
• Adam Boyton (National Skills Commissioner)
• Linda Kristjanson (former Swinburne University Vice-Chancellor)
• Megan Lily (Ai Group)
• Peter Noonan (Victoria University)
• Jennifer Westacott / Mike Pope (Business Council of Australia)

Stakeholder Consultation

From June-August 2021, Professors Bean and Dawkins held targeted consultation sessions with higher education providers and peak bodies, industry peak bodies, employers, professional body associations, academic experts, and government representatives.

Over 30 submissions were received from institutions and individuals in response to the review’s terms of reference.

Supporting Research

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment commissioned the following research projects to support the review.

Hurley, P., Coelli, M., Ta, B., Knight, E., & Hildebrandt, M. (2021), ‘Industry experiences and their role in education to work transitions’.