Job Discussion Forums

[arioch36]

I have been reading the TAFE sight. My understanding is that TAFE may or may not call itself a college, but if it does (DOES IT?) it is in the generic sense, and offers no B.S. degrees, but rather certifications from anything to hair cutting to welding to accounting to "you have paid us two years of tuition, and here's your receipt". If an accredited uni runs a TAFE "college/school" it also gives no B.S. degree.

This is vital to me because my students I suspect are being lied to. The CHinese middleman tells the parents, then the parent tells the student that they have been accepted into a college. And then I find that the college is called TAFE. WTF???? And it does not seem TAFE has any qualifications on who can enroll. Is this so? Doesn't seem like there is any TAFE office for them to directly talk to. Is it directly controlled by the government? Or in reality a for profit operation with branches everywhere.
I mean, you pay your fee, and any mom and pop can start their TAFE courses? Kind of like GAC now, only headquarters is a government office (but then GAC was started by Oz unis?) Also, is TAFE a generic term? Seems like TAFE means anyhting but a uni. is TAFE a copyrighted name?

What about SIBT. Not positive what it stands for. Maybe Sydney Institute of Business technology? In America, anyone can call themself an institute. Students were told that if they enter SIBT for a year, then this year could/would be transferrable to an accredited Australian uni. Maybe they are referring directly to Macquarie U? Because SIBT throws that name at the students. ALso that if they pass the year of SIBT, they would be admitted to the uni, which as far as I can use my brain, has to be B.S. I don't know any uni in America that would automatically accept someone just because they passed some other kind of course. The middleman makes it sound like Macquarie runs SIBT???

I did see a blurb from the supposed Macquarie vice-chancellor which was excellent at saying nothing. Another educational sell out for money, like England has done? Or a legit operation?

PS, a lot of SIBT's links simply did not open, were outdated, etc.

[lf_aristotle69]

TAFE Colleges are Australian government funded vocational training institutions with campuses Australia wide. They do offer personal hobby courses (e.g. Cake making, Typing for beginners, etc.), but they primarily offer nationally accredited certificate, diploma, and advanced diploma courses across a very broad range of disciplines.

They are often a pathway to university for people who didn't do well in school, or for mature aged people who want to advance their skills before seeking workplace promotions, etc.. Also, they are a major training institution for trade and technical workers.

T.A.F.E. means Technical and Further Education

In China various TAFE colleges are often responsible (contracted) to provide bridging programs for Chinese students who will study an Australian degree in China or Australia. They partner with another institution authorised to issue degrees.

The TAFE programs are almost certainly legit (they probably give the students a "Certificate III or IV in English" qualification, CSWE IV perhaps?, or it could be that students have to get a Cert or Dip of Business/Accounting/Management whatever, before pursueing the related degree), but as with any other foreign programs conducted in China they have the hurdle of student indifference to middle steps, and resistance to meeting the standards expected in an equivalent program taught in Australia. I've no idea if they have major or minor problems in that area. I'm not sure how much the Chinese host organisation comes into play there either.

I don't know about SIBT, I'm from Queensland...

LFA

[Songbird]

Ditto everything Aristotle said (including the I'm from Queensland part !)

Seems the issue here is that the students are mislead by misinformation. If the Chinese place (you didn't say if it was a high school or uni or whatever) has told the students they will go to a 'college' then in essence they are absolutely correct.

However, most likely the differences with colleges and unis in Australia are probably not explained to the students. Every man and his dog can go to TAFE. Uni is a tad different.

[englishgibson]

from the OP's post i smell a fine chinese marketing strategy with roots somewhere in australian desert

cheers and beers to the large market with opportunities on mainland

[clarrie]

[quote="arioch36"]I have been reading the TAFE sight. My understanding is that TAFE may or may not call itself a college, but if it does (DOES IT?) it is in the generic sense, and offers no B.S. degrees, but rather certifications from anything to hair cutting to welding to accounting to "you have paid us two years of tuition, and here's your receipt". If an accredited uni runs a TAFE "college/school" it also gives no B.S. degree.
quote]

arioch36 My guess is you are american and expect everthing to work per your rules!!

There is no surprise to me that a TAFE college would not offer a degree-level qualification, very few do!! The simple fact of the matter is my friend, a college is a college, not a university and if you want a degree - unless in one of the few possibilities mentioned - you will go to unversity.

In Australia, college = college - not necessarily with a degree

Univerity = university - you can access a range of degrees from undergraduate to post-graduate and various diplomas, usually graduate diplomas.

It may well be that the Chinese joint-venture program is offering a (vocational) diploma/certificate and by a "dipoma" I mean just that, a diploma, not a degree!

No surprises here!!!!

[clarrie]

Sorry missed this. Yes, correct "Institution" in this context will just form part of the registered business name to give an idea of its area of business. Their courses may articulate into TAFE/University courses depending on their accreditation and affiliations ... then again they may not articulate to anything and simply be stand-alone prepatory units!

Once again, for an Australian, no surprises here!

[arioch36]

I'm not saying pro and con on the TAFE system. In America we have several such systems, BOCES, Community Colleges (two year degees and various certifications.

The questions is of what my students are led to believe. For instance, many are presented a letter of acceptance by a college by the middle man they are paying reams of money to. At least it is represented as a college. Translation in their mind, translation in CHinese? Da Xue a college that gives a 4 yr degree. In fact this is not always the truth. But they are paying large amounts of money to go to a 4 yr college. Many times they are simply placed into a language class run or not run by a uni. Careful reading of the wording, upon successful completion they CAN not WILL be admitted into the college(4yr degre)

[Kram]

Arioch, I'd suggest your students are being deceived by the Chinese partner.

As mentioned previously, TAFE offers certification and diplomas. Some TAFE Colleges also offer pathways into certain Australian Unis (Edith Cowan is one) and some TAFE courses can also be awarded credit by some Australian Unis.

Macquarie Uni, from my limited experience and unless things have changed, do not give credit for TAFE courses.

TAFE Colleges in Australia are most certainly legit and are required to meet standards. However, in China that doesn't appear to be the reality due to the lust for revenue of the Cinese partners and the 'I pay money and get qualification' attitude of some students.

The idea that some students in China will be awarded a TAFE qualification after sleeping, plagiarising, refusing to work or even bringing pen and paper to class is both laughable and depressing.

[mikefriend]