Australia Awards South and West Asia

Twenty Bhutanese professionals from diverse public institutions working in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) are currently participating in an Australia Awards Short Course on Supporting Capacity Development in TVET. The Short Course, which is being delivered by the VET Development Centre (VDC) and Australian Institute of Management, began on 30 May 2024 and will conclude on 10 October 2024.

The Short Course supports Bhutan’s prioritised efforts in strengthening and revolutionising its TVET sector to develop a skilled and productive workforce that can meet both local and international market demands. The course shares contextually-appropriate examples of Australia’s best practices and approaches in TVET to develop relevant vocational qualifications to meet labour market needs. It also imparts pedagogical skills to improve teaching and learning methods based on student-centric learning and competency-based assessment, and encourages the development of flexible modes of delivery as pathways for upgrading qualifications. Finally, it offers participants opportunities to network with Australian professionals involved in TVET policy and service delivery.

The second batch of participants attending the course at the VDC in Melbourne.

The course is structured into three components: the Preliminary Learning Activities (conducted online), the Core Learning Elements (delivered in Australia) and the Applied Learning Activities (to be delivered online).

Following the Preliminary Learning Activities, which took place on 30 May – 20 June 2024, participants experienced the Core Learning Elements in two batches of 10 participants each. The first batch undertook the training on 8 –19 July 2024, while the second batch followed on 26 July – 9 August 2024. These trainings were delivered in Melbourne and Adelaide; participants engaged in workshops and listened to presentations on good teaching practices, current industry standards, leveraging technology in teaching, and incorporating Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) in TVET. In addition to the classroom learnings, participants also visited William Angliss Institute and the Office of TAFE Coordination and Delivery in Melbourne to understand their operations. Outside of their studies, participants connected with Australia by visiting popular tourist attractions and exploring the cities during the weekends.

Participants enjoying some downtime at the Maru Koala and Animal Park in Melbourne.

Following the completion of the Core Learning Elements in Australia, participants completed a survey about the course. Their responses included comments that the networking opportunities and expanded knowledge regarding inclusivity in TVET were the highlights of the course. The participants expressed their appreciation for the timely course and are looking forward to improving their Return-to-Work Plans during the Applied Learning Activities sessions, which will take place on 13 August – 10 October 2024.