Vocational Education and the Innovation Agenda: Towards the creation of effective innovation eco-systems

Abstract

Vocational education should have a more prominent role in supporting Australia’s transitioning to a services and advanced manufacturing economy. Given its proximity to the small and medium sized enterprise sector it can stimulate innovation through applied research and knowledge circulation. For this to happen serious capacity building and self-awareness are necessary and a different approach to education focussed on tomorrow’s needs and skills base is needed. This is to be complemented with stronger collaboration across vocational education and with higher education to stimulate effective innovation eco-systems.