Feature Article: Tips for implementing effective industry engagement strategies in your RTO

Feature Article: How can compliance and quality functions work together in an RTO?

RTOs must engage with industry stakeholders relating to training and assessment strategies and practices as required by the SRTOs 2015 (1.5 & 1.6). Using a systematic approach will ensure your RTO is able to obtain appropriate input from industry about your training and assessment strategies & practices and trainer/assessor currency requirements. Here are some of the key components that your organisation should consider when implementing industry engagement strategies.

Industry Consultation Procedure:

A documented process that outlines your RTO approach to industry consultation will provide clear steps for staff in how they are to conduct their industry engagement activities.  Your process should ensure that the training your provide to students is industry current and relevant. The procedure should also ensure your RTOs industry consultation includes the periodic review of training and assessment strategies and practices so they accurately reflect the needs of industry and the expectations of employers. 

Industry Engagement Plan:

Your RTO’s approach to industry engagement should include development of an Industry Engagement Plan that outlines what industry consultation activities your RTO will implement for your specific delivery areas. This will ensure consistency in your strategy and identify appropriate activities that will result in meaningful feed from industry stakeholders being obtained. Industry engagement is an ongoing process which collates the data gained through your RTO’s formal and informal interactions with industry. Dealings with industry and employers, business development activities, business intelligence, market research and environmental scans all provide valuable information that contributes to ensuring your RTOs training and assessment remains relevant and reflects the changing and dynamic needs of your local industries.

Feedback Mechanisms: 

Data obtained from sources such as the Employer Satisfaction Indicator that RTOs are obliged to report on annually can be used to analyse feedback from employers on the relevance of the training your RTO provides. This process can contribute to your industry consultation strategies. Having a standardised industry engagement survey that your RTO can implement for use ensures you have a consistent mechanism to capture feedback from industry at scale that informs training and assessment strategies, academic planning, funding and business decisions.  

Recordkeeping:

The information you gather from your industry engagement activities should be documented and used to ensure that the training and assessment your RTO provides is industry relevant. Documenting feedback from industry in relation to training and assessment strategies and practices by using an Industry Consultation Record will ensure appropriate records are maintain that evidences meaningful industry engagement.

Other feature articles:

How to create an effective industry engagement plan

Tips for evidence that your RTO has engaged with industry

How to plan industry engagement activities effectively

References:

https://www.asqa.gov.au/standards/training-assessment/clauses-1.5-1.6

https://www.asqa.gov.au/faqs/what-evidence-do-i-need-demonstrate-i-have-engaged-industry-what-meant-range-strategies

https://desbt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/7774/srto-evidence-guide.pdf

https://desbt.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/12012/sas-evidence-guide.pdf