Engagement for sustainable communities: industry as the driver in tertiary education pathway development

Using an action research approach, the Integrated Articulation and Credit Transfer project has explored the nexus between industry and the tertiary education sector for the purpose of the development of articulation pathways between vocational and higher education. As a result of this applied research a Workforce Driven Engagement Model has been developed, resulting in an engagement model with broader application than articulation pathways. The central driver of the model is workforce need, and in this model industry participates as an equal partner in a key negotiating role. A Workforce Driven Engagement Model involves tertiary education providers – both vocational and higher education – consulting with industry about what articulation pathway models will assist in meeting their workforce requirements, before providers collaboratively develop the pathway. It may be assumed that this is what normally occurs, but in fact our research indicates that it is not. Australia’s sustainable economic and social well-being depends on more graduates with the requisite skills entering the workforce, and this can best be achieved if industry, vocational education and training and higher education work together to formulate a solution.