Studying at TAFE: myths debunked
IS TAFE really university’s poorer, less educated cousin? From earning less to being taught by substandard teachers, we debunk five myths surrounding TAFE education in Victoria.
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WHEN it comes to further education and deciding between TAFE or university, it’s very rare to find any fence-sitters. They might even be your parents — four in five parents would prefer their children go to university than undertake a vocational pathway, according to a 2017 Skilling Australia Foundation report into the VET sector. Is TAFE really that bad? Is university really that good? Studying is studying. Isn’t it? Here are five of the most common myths about TAFE debunked by those in the know.
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TAFE graduates have to go on to university to make themselves more employable
At many TAFEs, including William Angliss Institute, students can progress from entry-level vocational programs through to career oriented undergraduate degrees ensuring that they have both really well-developed technical skills, as well as the more advanced skills like those you might get at university,” says Paul Whitelaw, associate director higher education and quality at William Angliss.
TAFE graduates won’t get a decent salary
“TAFEs deliver trained graduates for industries where demand is high and in most of these industries tradespeople and chefs are well paid,” says Stuart Walsh, associate director VET at William Angliss. “These industries offer TAFE graduates good employment prospects and good salaries from the start. Workers with certificates and diplomas from Australia’s vocational education and training institutions had starting salaries of $56,000 — $2,000 higher than university graduates — and were more likely to find work, according to research conducted on behalf of Skilling Australia Foundation.
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The teaching staff aren’t as good as those teaching at universities
“TAFE lecturers and teachers have formal teaching qualifications and are employed as specialists in their field. There is a national vocational framework which requires VET teachers to be formally qualified to teach and also qualified in their profession,” says Walsh. “Often they have many years of industry experience and careers outside their teaching commitments which enables teachers to share the latest industry standards and innovative developments with students’ first-hand. TAFE classes are also often smaller allowing a more personal approach with students.”
TAFE students don’t have to work as hard as university students
“Studying at TAFE has a heavier work and study load with 36 weeks per year training whereas universities have 24 weeks per year on campus,” says Walsh. “TAFE qualifications from certificate to degree offer theoretical skills combined with more practical hands-on learning to enable graduates to enter the workforce,” he says.
“Starting a career in any area of expertise is always tough and while some of the aspects of vocational training are practical this doesn’t mean they don’t require tireless commitment and perseverance. Often VET students are undertaking an apprenticeship or traineeship while studying, which also requires tenacity and long hours to acquire the best skills set to meet the industry requirements,” says Walsh.
TAFE is just for tradies
“Careers in the 21st century require both practical skills and higher order thinking skills for graduates to become leaders in their chosen industries. TAFE covers the full spectrum of vocational careers, including trades apprenticeships with pathways into degree and advanced applied research courses,” says Whitelaw.
William Angliss Institute for example, offers courses in food, tourism, hospitality and events and with a mix of vocational and higher education courses, we offer students the best start possible for their careers in these specialty areas, drawing on the significant industry expertise and knowledge of our teachers, he says.
Interested in studying at TAFE? Check out these upcoming Open Days:
When: 26 August, 10am-3pm
Where: Box Hill Campus
When: 19 August, 9am-3pm
Where: Geelong campuses (Waterfront and Waurn Ponds)
When: 26 August, 9am-3pm
Where: Burwood Campus
When: 27 August
Where: Berwick Campus
When: 9 October
Where: Frankston Campus
When: 12 December
Where: Berwick Campus
Please note: All Open Nights run 5pm — 7pm.
When: 26 August
Where: Camp Street Campus (Ballarat), Mt Helen Campus (Ballarat), Gippsland Campus (Churchill), Berwick Campus
When: 9 August
Visit the website to register.
When: 4 September, 2 October
Visit the website to register
When: 19 August, 10am-3pm
Where: Preston Campus
When: 5 August, 10am-4pm
Where: Monash University Clayton Campus
When: 5 August, 10am-4pm
Where: Bundoora Campus
When: 12 August, 10am-4pm
Where: City and Brunswick campuses
When: 5 August, 10am-2pm
Where: South Melbourne Campus
When: 5 August, 11am — 3pm
Where: City Campus
When: 8 August, 1pm-2pm; 15 August, 1pm-2pm; 22 August, 1pm-2pm.
Where: Sunshine Campus
When: 12 August, 10am-4pm
Where: City Campus
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