Harmonisation of vocational and higher education is a “complicated piece of macroeconomic reform”, and credit transfer is “not the whole story”, according to the newly appointed permanent boss of Australia’s higher education steward.
Barney Glover said a “joined-up” tertiary education system would help drive productivity in the “disrupted global labour market”. And while improved credit transfer arrangements were an “important part of the puzzle”, other elements – including reforms to qualifications, funding, regulatory arrangements, data compatibility and “national skills taxonomy” – would be vital.
“We need to get…the enabling architecture right,” Glover said. “Taxonomy is a crucial part of that because it allows universities to think skills [as well as] knowledge. It’s directly related to having a common language between employers, employees, education and training providers, universities. If we understand the skills base, we have a better chance of aligning our education and training system with the jobs of the future.”
Glover, who became acting head of the interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission (Atec) in January, has now been appointed statutory chief commissioner of the fully legislated body. He will step down in June from Jobs and Skills Australia, which he has led since 2024.
