RTOs must engage with industry stakeholders relating to training and assessment strategies and practices as required in the SRTOs 2015 (1.5 & 1.6). The information you gather from your industry engagement activities should be documented and used to ensure that your delivery is industry relevant. If your RTO does not have a systematic approach in planning how these interactions are conducted it can result in non-compliances with the relevant clauses. Part of implementing a managed and consistent approach to industry engagement includes development of an Industry Engagement Plan that outlines the activities your RTO will implement to ensure an appropriate level of contact with industry is maintained in specific vocational areas.

Strategic Engagement:

RTOs should have a strategic approach in how they engage with industry, employers and businesses to ensure they are seeking meaningful input regarding their delivery:

To inform RTO training and assessment strategies and practices including validation processes
To assist trainers and assessors to maintain currency within their vocational areas
To enable RTOs to understand their clients and provide training that meets their needs

Part of this approaching should be identifying relevant industry advisory bodies for specific delivery teams. These could include industry committees, skills alliances, centres of excellence and regional skills summits. Ensure identification and planning of regular contact with these groups either through attendance at meetings or via other methods of participation.

Industry Reference Groups:

RTOs can create industry reference groups to facilitate regular engagement with local employers. Delivery teams can form industry reference groups made up of a number of local employers and meet regularly to ensure discussions and feedback from attendees is recorded and used to contribute to planning of delivery. Linking in with existing local engagement groups such as Chamber of Commerce’s is another way to develop relationships with local employers for the benefit of your programs

Informal Industry Engagement Activity:

Other informal ways to establish links with industry include identifying other forums or local networks that do not constitute formal industry reference groups. These could include:

Local user groups or clubs
Large employers
Conducting industry breakfasts

Validation Activity:

Including your RTO’s validation activities in an Industry Engagement Plan ensures meetings with key industry contacts for the purpose of moderation/validation activities are scheduled and co-ordinated strategically. Be sure to also identify opportunities for your staff to visit workplaces to inspect new practices or equipment that may contribute to your RTOs resource planning.

Monitoring Apprentices and Trainees:

If your RTO delivers apprenticeship or traineeship qualifications you can plan contact at regular intervals with employers to ensure you routinely gather input on your training and assessment strategies and practices while discussing student progress with employers.

Work Integrated Learning:

Your RTO should plan all of the Work Integrated Learning activities such as Vocational Placement, Work Experience, and Live Work in the Industry Engagement Plan and further document activities in training and assessment strategies that confirms industry stakeholders have been consulted regarding these arrangements. Gathering feedback from employers on these activities should be strategic and conducted on a regular basis.