As the vocational education and training landscape continues to change, Hunter TAFE has provided a roadmap that it believes will continue to see it lead the region’s skills needs now and into the future.
On Friday Hunter TAFE CEO, Phil Cox, presented to more than 120 of the region’s leading business people at its first Business Lunch of the year. He gave the group a report card of what Hunter TAFE has achieved over the past 12 months while setting a clear direction on how Hunter TAFE would work to ensure the Hunter had the right skill levels to grow and diversify.
Hunter TAFE is one of the region’s largest businesses injecting almost $200 million into the economy in 2013. It employed just over 2,000 people across its 15 campuses to deliver 450 job ready qualifications to about 60,000 enrolments.
Phil said that Hunter TAFE would continue to work with the region’s large and small businesses to ensure that Hunter TAFE provided the right skills training.
“Last year we had a 75% increase in the number of agreements signed with businesses,” Phil said. “Online skills training delivery increased by 20% and there was an increase in pre-apprenticeship training delivery.”
“We also know that the employment and skills landscapes continue to change and we are working with our industry partners and the wider business community to ensure that we are providing the right skills training now and for the future.”
As part of its forward planning he outlined how Hunter TAFE was increasing its global commercial business in delivering specialised trade skills into new markets including India.
“Hunter TAFE also has its eye firmly upon the needs of local business. Enrolments in the areas of health services, children’s services and emerging study areas in renewable energy and business services continued to be in demand. Hunter TAFE was also working closely with the manufacturing and mining sectors which continued to weaken slightly,.” He continued.
“We are cutting red tape, we are applying business systems that make us more efficient, we have customised our communication and we have developed new ways of connecting with our customers which includes the Hunter TAFE Business Lunch series.”
“Most importantly, we remain focused upon delivering a high quality service. Hunter TAFE’s industry experienced teaching staff are amongst the best. They are a critical element in our ability to provide the right education and training outcomes for our region.”
