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This Learning Lab was part of the BILT Learning Forum. It took place on:
26 October 2023.
09:10 – 09:55 CEST (17:10 – 17:55 AEST) the focus was on how Tourism Training Australia has developed a micro-credential platform which is using AI to target potential students and their learning needs.
09:55 – 10:45 CEST (17:55 – 18:45 AEST) a subsequent regional panel discussion took place looking at the role of micro-credentials across the three BILT regions (Africa, Asia and the Pacific, and Europe) and how policy-makers and social partners can work together.
As we move towards more circular and sustainable economies, the skills of our labour force must also follow suit. This not only affects those entering educational systems, but the reskilling and upskilling of existing labourers at a breakneck speed as never seen before. In order to accomplish this, our current technical and vocational education and training (TVET) structures need to embed new systems of flexibility while maintaining quality and certified curricula.
Digital micro-credentials are seen as a way forward, but are also controversial in their approach to education and current lack of overarching quality standards. Nevertheless, micro-credentials are having a massive impact on revolutionizing the way we learn, verify and certify knowledge.
For sectors like tourism and hospitality, which are still struggling to come back after the pandemic, skills-based learning methods offer a lot of potential. Working hand-in-hand with industry partners and the government of Victoria, Tourism Training Australia saw that potential and created an online micro-credential platform to address local labour market skills shortages.
But having the right tool is not enough, you also need to be able to reach the right audience. That is where AI comes in. Through using an AI-based trigger marketing scheme, Tourism Training Australia was able to reach beyond its current members to learners and TVET educators interested in such a flexible course model.
Discussions surrounding the flexibility offered by digital micro-credentials relates to not only the bite-sized nature and timeframe of the courses, but also the potential for permeability between TVET and higher education, as well as recognition of learning to bolster labour market mobility.
Deriving internationally recognized standards as part of the development of micro-credentials could make them an attractive option for individuals seeking to enhance their employability across different sectors and geographic regions. This means bringing policy-makers, industry partners, TVET and higher education providers together at the same table.
If successful, digital micro-credentials could prove to be a valuable learning 4.0 instrument in bridging the skills gap to meet the demands of the 21st century workforce.
Times are indicated in CEST.
26 October 2023
09:10 – 09:15: Welcome, Key concepts and Introduction of speakers
Digital Micro-credentials
Learning 4.0, future skills, and the role of AI in TVET – How to best target skills to where they are most needed and what have been the greatest challenges and rewards
Moderator: Ms Jessica Rosenfeld, BIBB
Panellists:
Online Chat Moderation: Ms Valbona Makovci, Student Assistant, BIBB
09:55 – 10:25: Regional Panel Discussion
Getting micro-credentials on the agenda: How can policy-makers, industry and TVET providers work together to develop digital credentials that target in-demand skills.
Panellists:
Mr Tuan Kee Aw, Deputy Principal & CEO, Temasek Polytechnic
Mr Aw serves as Deputy Principal/CEO at Temasek Polytechnic (TP), an Institute of Higher Learning under the Ministry of Education (MOE), Government of Singapore. He currently oversees a cluster comprising of Industry Partnerships, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Research & Technology, International Relations, Center for Transcultural Studies (CTS) and Enterprise Singapore’s Aquaculture Innovation Centre.
He previously served as Director at the Ministry of National Development (MND) Centre for Liveable Cities (CLC), a nexus and knowledge centre for liveable and sustainable cities, where he oversaw capability development programmes, initiatives, collaborations and advisory work. Prior to joining the MND-CLC, he was Director of Higher Education Finance at the Ministry of Education (MOE), where he oversaw the budget, funding and financing policies for the higher education sector, which includes the Institutes of Education (ITE), Polytechnics, Universities and other publicly funded institutions under Higher Education Division (HED). Mr Aw has also served as Deputy Director of Resource Division (RD) at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, where he oversaw industrial land related policies and policy desk-head role for JTC Corporation (JTC).
He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a Master of Science (SM) degree from the School of Architecture and Planning.
Ms Venessa Barnes, Marketing Lead, Tourism Training Australia
From her beginnings as a chef, Ms Barnes has successfully transitioned into influential senior business development and marketing roles with industry-leading companies such as Top Cut, Simplot, and Game Farm. In 2016, Ms Barnes was appointed as Business Development Manager – Foodservice Marketing for the producer-owned industry body, Australian Pork. With a focus on enhancing menu placement within the high-volume foodservice sector, she collaborated closely with chefs and major buyers for nearly four years, ensuring the success of products and programmes. As a dedicated advocate for the foodservice industry, Ms Barnes contributes her expertise to various boards and committees. She currently serves and advises prominent organizations such as World Chefs, Tourism Task Force, and the Royal Agricultural Society.
Mr John Hart, OAM, Executive Chairman, Australian Chamber - Tourism
John Hart is currently the Executive Chair for the Australian Chamber – Tourism, the peak national body of tourism organizations in Australia. Mr Hart has spent over 30 years working in the tourism and hospitality industry in operational, human resources and industrial relations roles. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Business Law and a Master of Business Law and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to tourism in 2021. He is Chair of Australian Grape & Wine and the National Tourism Industry Training Committee and a board member of the Australian Business Register, the Angus Knight Group, Food Standards Australia and New Zealand, and Rangelands NRM. Mr Hart joined Tourism Australia’s Board in November 2018 and remains a director.
Mr Anatolii Garmash, Senior Human Capital Development Expert - Qualification Systems, European Training Foundation (ETF)
Mr Garmash is a senior expert in qualifications systems at the European Training Foundation. He is following the development of micro-credentials and digitalization of qualification systems in the ETF Qualifications Team.
Before joining the ETF in 2020, he has been involved in the qualification system reform in Ukraine providing support to the development of the national qualifications framework, establishment of the national qualifications agency, creation of the national qualifications register and the implementation of independent assessment.
Mr Suresh Manickam, Chief Executive Officer, Restaurant & Catering Australia
Mr Manickam has strong association experience, previously serving as Secretary and CEO for the National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) and Executive Officer for Strata Community Australia (NSW). He has also held senior leadership roles with the Housing Industry Association, Group Training Australia and the NSW Minerals Council, been an industry appointee to different federal and state government panels and a former advisor to Senator the Hon. Marise Payne.
Mr Jim Syrmas, Project Manager of the Workplace Training and Innovation Fund, Syrmas Consulting
Jim Syrmas has worked at senior levels within the Australian and South Australian Governments and has extensive experience in VET matters with a particular interest in the transition of young people from school to work. This has included - Senior Manager within the Department of Education & Training in South Australia of vocational education in schools’ sector, and an executive level position with the C/W Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) responsible for the establishment of a national career and transition strategy.
Ms Zaahedah Vally, Research Officer, JET Education Services South Africa
Zaahedah Vally is an experienced researcher with JET Education Services. Her areas of expertise include skills recognition in the labour market, micro-credentials and digitalization in TVET. Ms Vally has experience in research and project planning as well as implementation and has worked in a number of countries including Ethiopia, Seychelles, Burundi, Uganda, Ghana, and Kenya. Her recent publications include Skills recognition mechanisms for selected occupational profiles of migrant workers in Ethiopia, Kenya and South Africa (ILO, 2022), and her current work includes a project with UNICEF on the recognition of non-formal and informal skills for young people in Eastern and Southern Africa through the innovation of micro-credentials. Ms Vally is currently enrolled in a master's with specialization in Development and Economics at the University of Witwatersrand.
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