In 2007, The Institute for Trade Skills Excellence announced a Star Rating Scheme under its remit to advance the standard of training available to potential and current trades students.
Private and public VET providers are encouraged to attain a 3, 2 or 1 star rating for their trades-related courses.
The system will award high-performing Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). The ratings will assess the quality of courses as determined by independent assessors, including industry feedback. The program started in September 2007 following a series of pilots and trials at a number of public and private institutions.
Institute CEO Brian Wexham explains, “We are looking to help raise the quality of registered training organisations and TAFEs in Australia through the Institute.”
Benefits to community, students, employers
Similar to rankings used for University courses and business schools, the initiative is expected to increase competition and encourage RTOs to raise the quality of their courses if they want recognition via the Star Rating Scheme.
In addition, prospective students will benefit from knowing how good their chosen course and RTO is compared to others and how it is regarded by industry.
"The ratings system has been devised in conjunction with stakeholders including the Australian Industry Group, the National Farmers Federation, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, TAFE and private providers views, as we need the criteria to be both meaningful and purposeful,” Wexham said.
The stars make an easily identifiable system which will allow students, parents, career counselors, employers and industry to ascertain which RTO’s have been recognized by the Institute and Industry level, within their field of interest.
Box Hill Institute was one of the TAFEs in the pilot and CEO John Maddock is quietly confident the rankings system will be a success.
“It gives us the opportunity to lift the profile of the trades in the community and for industry to articulate what they need in terms of trade skills excellence.”
“We are a leading provider in the quarrying industry and we think it is important to be a part of this process to know if we are meeting industry expectations. It has got to be positive,” he said.
Benefits for RTOs
Becoming star rated means:
Your RTO will be able to announce, promote and market your rating status to attract and retain students.
Your RTO will be able to engage in continuous improvement to achieve higher star ratings if desired in future. Parents, students, career advisors and teachers can find your highly rated college and course options easier. Prospective students can be assured that your RTO has met the high standards set through an independent industry assessment needed to achieve a 1,2 or 3 star rating.
Employers seeking training partners will be better able to select high quality partners that have achieved star ratings.
The process
The Star Ratings Scheme requires self assessment completed by each RTO followed by independent assessments managed by the Institute's Industry Advisory Groups.
