Helping Training contribute to Economic Growth

1. Helping Training contribute to Economic Growth Using Group Training to link skill development with industry for sustainable economic growth and effective youth employment Presented by Sue Kent July 2012

2. But first, a question? Tell the person beside you how you first learnt to drive a car?

3. And did it end like this?

4. The lesson? • Learning by doing works best for most of us. • Apprenticeships are all about learning by doing. • It helps to have someone guide you along the way. • Group Training guides apprentices and employers through the learning process

5. Connecting industry to training

6. Tenth Malaysia Plan ST4.2 Mainstreaming Technical Education and Vocational Training Extracts from the Plan • In Malaysia technical education and vocational training is often the last choice due to perceived limited career opportunities. • The National Dual Training System (NDTS) programme needs to be expanded.

7. We need to improve the value proposition and attractiveness of technical education and vocational training to prospective student, providers and industries. • The contribution of the youth is critical to the nation’s aspirations. The young generation must be equipped with training and skills to ensure they play an important role in the country’s development.

8. Issues for Malaysia • High dependency on foreign workers • Only 25% of Malaysian students enrol in VET courses • 24% high school drop out rate • Skill certificates not recognised for employment within public system • 73% of Malaysian workforce is semi skilled or unskilled From Conference Briefing Notes

9. Both combine training with employment in a structured system. • The relationship between students and employers is pivotal to both these programs. • This relationship can be difficult to establish, hard to maintain and often ends in failure. The National Dual Training System The Apprenticeship System Group Training – a model to manage the link between the apprentice, the training provider and the employer.

10. Apprenticeships and Traineeship support industry in Australia They provide the entry point to many professions. The system is structured, with national standards for both components. Apprenticeships are built into our industrial relations system in the form of set rates of pay and conditions

11. The History of Australian Group Training • Back to the 1980’s • Support for Small to Medium Enterprises • Ownership by industry leaders • Structured support and safety net for young people • Keeps the flow of skilled people coming into industry

12. So What is Group Training? Group Training is an employment and training arrangement which: Step 1. employs apprentices Step 2. leases them to businesses for work Step 3. manages the training Step 4. makes sure these relationships are effective Step 5. manages employment processes such as payroll Step 6. shakes hands at graduation

13. And what are the benefits • Creating and facilitating communication between employers and training providers • Simplifying the employment of young people • Customising off-job and on-job training • Transitioning youth from school to employment • Monitoring student progress in training and in the workplace

14. The Group Training model provides opportunity for government TO • Support disadvantaged groups into training and employment • Place additional support into skill shortages • Provide the mechanism to “incentivise” the uptake of apprenticeship • Collect data about youth employment • Collect demand data from employers • Develop student & employer databases

15. So how do we make it happen? • Financial incentives to encourage employment of apprentices • Financial encouragement to take up and complete an apprenticeship Build industrial relations to value add to the qualification • Payment to training providers for training delivery • A marketing campaign targeting parents & community

16. Conclusion Apprenticeships and Group Training are adaptable to any situation where: • There is sufficient industry demand • There are people wanting to be skilled employees • There are sufficient training organisations to provide the appropriate skills training.

17. Can the successful Group Training model assist Malaysia meet the challenges of the Tenth Malaysia Plan?

18. MEGT’s Service’s • Group Training – MEGT employs 1,000 apprentices and trainees across Australia and the UK • Training – MEGT deliver training for apprentices, trainees and international students in the workplace and in our training venues. • Apprentice Apprenticeship Centre – management of the apprenticeship system on behalf of the government.