George Holt, Head of Department, summarizes key learnings from his visit to educational institutions in Finland and Austria as part of the Partners in VET-EU program. He observed that Finland's education system is ranked #1 by the OECD and focuses on developing well-rounded, respectful citizens through social partnerships between community, businesses, and educators. Students in Austria receive high-quality workplace training led by industry, with the Vorarlberg state having the highest living standards. Future projects discussed include strengthening social partnerships and community involvement in education, increasing teacher professionalism and respect, and developing more work-based learning opportunities for students.

1. Partners in VET - EU
George Holt
Head of Department
Level 2, D Block
Cnr Coleman & Macleay Streets (PO Box 2231)
Wagga Wagga 2650
Phone 02 6938 1290 Email: george.holt1@tafensw.edu.au

2. NSW Premier’s
scholarship

3. Partnerships

7. OECD Education rankings

8. Assumptions are dangerous things
> Build and sustain relationships - Process, Roles.
> Negotiate to balance the needs of stakeholders
> Review, Audit and consultative practices – QA,
> Build collaborative tools and techniques
> Finland - parallel dual university sector - academic and/or vocational
qualifications. -
> Austrian VET - world leader in work place training.

9. Finland
> Parliamentary constitutional republic
> Autonomy within Russia 1809
> Independence 1917
> Joined the European Union 1995
> Area: 338,424 km2 Riverina approx. 50,000km2
> Population 5.5 Million

10. Vorarlberg
ViennaSt Poulten
Austria
> Federal parliamentary republic
> Margraviate of Austria 976
> Joined the European Union 1995
> Area: 83,879 km2 Riverina approx. 50,000km2
> Population 8.6 Million

11. 11 Educational institutions visited:
> Austrian Fed Ministry of education and womens affairs
> FH Studiengangsleitung Informatik, Vorarlberg
> FH, Fachhochschule St. Pölten
> Helsinki Business College
> Landesberufsschule Bregenz
> Luovi, Helsinki
> OPH, Finnish National Board of Education
> TASTAFE
> TGM Die Schule der Technic, Vienna
> United nations
> WKO, Vorarlberg Chamber of Commerce , Industry Division

12. 22+ Key contacts/experts consulted:
> • Andreas Dvorak
> • Antti Loukola
> • Christoph Lang-Muhr
> • Emma Broadbent
> • Gernoth Dolinar
> • Harri Hautala
> • Hubert Hosp
> • Kerryn Meredith-Sotiris
> • Klaus Nylamo
> • Mari Kontturi
> • Mario Kempf
> • Markus Nesensohn
> • Minna Balint
> • Otto Burman
> • Pawel Bulenda
> • Regine Bolter
> • Reischer Karl
> • Simon Tjoa
> • Tuija Laukkanen
> • Vesa Jokela
> • Vitovec Gerhard
> • Wolfgang Scharl

13. Wagga + 30 hrs of flights
= Helsinki, Finland
> first meeting is booked for 1230. Landing + 6hrs
> Helsinki is a lovely harbour side city dating back to the late
1700-early 1800’s.
> partly modelled on the architecture of St Petersburg
> people are obviously affluent, well-educated and stylishly
dressed
> warm and hospitable

15. Helsinki Library - a summary of the Finnish
Education System

16. Finland: education system
> #1 - world OECD education rankings
> We, citizenship, respect, consultation, trust, entrepreneurial thinking, holistic well-being
of the student.
> Social partnerships = community, businesses and educators “More to life than skills,
knowledge, rules and processes.”
> You must learn and be assessed in the workplace. Marks are a 3 way negotiation
between employers, the teacher and the students own self assessment.
> Students have great skills are knowledgeable, are respectful citizens and they get jobs.
> Teachers are highly respected professionals.
> The Finnish people are hospitable and very responsible in their thinking.
> I don’t know if homework is banned but I know Finnish kids learn through play.
Everywhere we went we saw kids from 5+ on public transport with their teachers on
excursions.
> Libraries are full of people. Education is grounded in their communities .
> They have a strong commitment to exchange programs.

17. Austria
> 8 Million people
> Highest rate of workplace training in the world
> Very high standard of living
> Vorarlberg state has the highest standard in Austria

20. Austrian VET Education System
> Grounded in industry with strong
leadership from major employers
> Business chambers are
mandatory and provide leadership
and funding
> History based on renewable power
and High tech manufacturing
> Mandatory Work placements eg IT
+ Electronics
> workplace training is one of the
best ways to recruit staff

21. UN in Vienna

22. TASTAFE
> Tassie stats: Population:
517,000, Hobart = 205,000
– Area: 68,401 km²
> cross section of courses with
a mix of generalist and
networking specialist courses
eg Support, Programming,
DBA, Helpdesk.
> joint program with their
electrotechnology department
> Webconferencing classes
> TASICT industry link

23. Future Projects
> Social partnerships – communities + education
– Communities - Business, towns, cultural
– Business chambers, shire councils, schools, community and cultural groups
> Raise the professional status of teaching - Continue to recruit and train great
teachers BUT then we must trust them and show respect for their time and
judgement.
– As a teacher, I and my colleagues must live up to the community trust
placed in us.
– Make sure that our systems and processes are no more complex or time
consuming than absolutely necessary
> Actively seek community projects where our students can work with their
communities. – IT work placements, Supporting libraries,
> Develop workplace assessments so students can choose to be assessed in the
workplace if they can
> Trial Otto’s SCRUM pedagogy approach for student projects
> Join international exchange programs for students and teachers

24. More information?
> Visit the Partners in VET – EU
http://partnersinveteu.blogspot.com
> George Holt on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/George.Holt.TAFE