We've long known that skills are a key part of unlocking improved productivity, which is as vital to the success of our key industries as it is for the profitability of an individual business. Our standard of living will only improve if we're able to continually improve our productivity and we can't do that without a skilled workforce. So, if we all know how important skills are for individuals, businesses and our nation, why are we so bad at delivering them? In my view, there is a lack of certainty amongst employers, workers, students and the community about what the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system is for. Are we aiming to develop a highly skilled, agile and mobile workforce based on recognition of portable and transferable skills? When it comes to higher education, the answer seems to be "yes". However, when it comes to vocational training, the system seems to be designed to specifically to meet the narrow interests of individual employers rather than that of industry or the nation.
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