A review of para-professional engineering education in Australia: exploring the VET-HE divide

Paper

Dowling, David. 2010. "A review of para-professional engineering education in Australia: exploring the VET-HE divide." Gardner, Anne and Jolly, Lesley (ed.) 21st Annual Conference for the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2010). Sydney, Australia 05 - 08 Dec 2010 Sydney, Australia.
Paper/Presentation Title

A review of para-professional engineering education in Australia: exploring the VET-HE divide

Presentation TypePaper
Authors
AuthorDowling, David
EditorsGardner, Anne and Jolly, Lesley
Journal or Proceedings TitleProceedings of the 21st Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE 2010)
Number of Pages8
Year2010
Place of PublicationSydney, Australia
ISBN9780646546100
Web Address (URL) of Paperhttp://aaee.com.au/conferences/AAEE2010/PDF/AUTHOR/AE100057.PDF
Conference/Event21st Annual Conference for the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2010)
Event Details
Rank
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
Event Details
21st Annual Conference for the Australasian Association of Engineering Education (AAEE 2010)
Parent
Annual Conference of the Australasian Association for Engineering Education (AAEE)
Delivery
In person
Event Date
05 to end of 08 Dec 2010
Event Location
Sydney, Australia
Abstract

The differences between the Vocational Education and Training (VET) and higher education (HE) sectors have been well documented over recent years, often in the context of the impact those differences have on student movement between sectors. In engineering, the differences between the sectors are exemplified by the different approaches each sector takes to para-professional education. Both VET sector Advanced Diplomas and HE sector Associate Degrees are Level 6 qualifications under the Australian Qualifications Framework, and are designed to educate para-professional engineers.

This paper describes some of the key features of the engineering programs offered in each sector and explores the differences between them. It then discusses the implications of those differences on student learning and student movement between the sectors. The final section describes some key changes occurring in the tertiary education sector and the impact they may have on para-professional engineering education.

Keywordspara-professional engineering education; VET engineering education
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020390303. Higher education
390114. Vocational education and training curriculum and pedagogy
390113. Science, technology and engineering curriculum and pedagogy
Public Notes

© 2010 David Dowling. This publication is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for the purposes of study, research, or review, but is subject to the inclusion of an acknowledgment of the source and permission from the author.

Byline AffiliationsDepartment of Surveying and Land Information
Institution of OriginUniversity of Southern Queensland
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