VET Sector's Persistent Quality Issues Exposed by Mulder Analysis
A recent analysis by Dirk Mulder has shed light on persistent issues in the international Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, particularly concerning language and problems. Meanwhile, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled over 25,500 qualifications due to non-compliant providers, raising questions about the regulator's risk understanding.
In 2009, both the Baird Review and a Senate inquiry exposed regulatory failures and unsatisfactory Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) in the VET sector. Despite these findings, serious quality problems continue to this day. A striking example is the use of generic email addresses by providers, with 15% of CRICOS-registered VET providers still employing such services today. This practice was previously identified as a risk factor by Victorian regulators in 2009.
Moreover, ASQA's approach to re-registration audits has been called into question. Only 1 in 10 critically non-compliant RTOs with cancelled registrations was CRICOS registered, and no international students' qualifications were cancelled at that provider. This suggests a potential gap in ASQA's understanding of risk and its impact on international students. Mulder's analysis also highlights a disconnect between ASQA's claims about the sector's 'shonks' and 'crooks' and its actual actions.
The ongoing use of generic email addresses by VET providers and the cancellation of thousands of qualifications indicate that quality issues in the VET sector remain unresolved. ASQA's approach to risk assessment and its impact on international students warrant further scrutiny. Stakeholders must work together to address these persistent problems and ensure the integrity of the VET sector.
