A stronger tertiary education system requires more than good will

The Skills and Workforce Ministerial Council backed a number of measures to strengthen the quality and integrity of vocational education and training, and others that will ensure the whole system is fit-for-purpose, including through ‘tertiary harmonisation’.

In the years since the concept of harmonisation was first canvassed in the Australian Universities Accord, much of our education system has remained anchored in an earlier time. The tertiary system was designed with a focus on more traditional knowledge and skills – and a relatively linear student journey from school to study to work. But that is no longer how most people learn, nor how the labour market operates.

The endorsements from the ministerial council meeting point towards a more coherent and connected tertiary education system that is better aligned to Australia’s future skills needs. But more work needs to be done.

Today’s students are increasingly balancing study with work, family and other commitments. Many are returning to education mid-career to upskill, reskill or change careers altogether. At the same time, employers are contending with rapidly changing technology, chronic skills shortages and growing pressure to lift productivity.

The system needs to become more responsive to national priorities, easier for students to navigate, and more useful for employers. In practice, that means the equal footing of vocational and higher education pathways, better credit recognition, and qualifications that reflect the skills our economy needs.

The challenge is most urgent in sectors under the greatest pressure. Housing supply requires stronger skills pipelines, the care sector will face increased demand as the nation’s population ages, and digital capability is fundamental as artificial intelligence reshapes our lives.

That’s exactly what I discussed at the CEDA State of the Nation summit at Parliament House, alongside experts from the construction, digital and healthcare sectors.

As the nation’s largest dual-sector university, offering both vocational and higher education pathways, RMIT is uniquely placed to drive harmonisation and to foster Australia’s future workforce. We have valuable insights into the barriers students face, the needs of employers and where policy settings can do more to support these changes.

We have longstanding partnerships with government and industry, including through co-designed learning models, like our flagship Earn and Learn program. This innovative program allows students to undertake their studies while employed with partner organisations, building skills in real-time while completing their qualifications. And it also helps employers by creating a pipeline of graduates who are ready to hit the ground running.

This type of model is sustainable and scalable – and it’s heartening to see other universities beginning to offer dual-qualifications or fast-tracked degrees for students with TAFE qualifications. But a more consistent national approach is required.

This work is already successfully happening elsewhere. Jurisdictions, like the United Kingdom and Switzerland, have shown that credit recognition, mobility between pathways, and lifelong learning make it easier for learners and employers and meet national demands.

Our future workforce won’t simply be created by doing more of the same. To meet the Accord’s 80 per cent participation target by 2050, the system will also need to open the door to people who have historically been excluded, overlooked, or poorly served by a rigid system.

Artificial intelligence and emerging technologies will be central to this mission. AI is already reshaping how we teach, how students learn, and the workplaces they will enter. The challenge for tertiary education is not simply to respond to that shift, but to get on the front foot. That’s why RMIT recently launched a new sector-leading AI framework which will support our educators and ensure our graduates have the capabilities they need to face these challenges head on.

The common thread is clear: we can’t do this alone or in isolation. Solutions require meaningful collaboration across the tertiary sector, government, industry, and community.

If we are serious about delivering on the Accord, and futureproofing Australia’s economy, it requires more than goodwill. The whole system must quickly adapt, and governments must provide the appropriate settings to support and accelerate these changes.

RMIT University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alec Cameron convened a discussion on workforce solutions at the CEDA State of the Nation summit in Canberra.