Gippsland Education Precinct
The Gippsland Education Precinct (GEP) is a key initiative
of the Victorian Government with three broad goals:
- Address the low educational and employment outcomes of young people
in the Gippsland region, with particular emphasis on the Latrobe Valley.
- Tackle high levels of youth disengagement and low level of transition
from school to tertiary education, training and employment.
- Redress the drift of secondary students to institutions outside the
local area.
Located on the Gippsland campus of Monash University the $14 million
post-compulsory education development centre will bring together Monash
University, GippsTAFE, Kurnai College (Year 11 and 12 students) and Gippsland
Group Training (GGT). Gippsland Group Training and GippsTAFE intend to
start offering courses at the new site in 2004. Kurnai College students
will relocate to the new structure on the Monash University campus in January,
2005. When fully operational, the Precinct will have the capacity to educate
750 secondary students.
In 2003 an additional $2m was being provided by the Federal Government
through the Australian National Training Authority ANTA, for a Technology
Training Centre to also be built as part of the Gippsland Education Precinct.
The funding was provided to Gippsland Group Training through the "Infrastructure
Program for Industry based Skill Centers and Skills Centers for School
Students.
Modelled on a dynamic paradigm that embraces change and actively initiates
innovation and diversity, multiple pathways and linkages, the Precinct
also accommodates new approaches to learning, including the use of Information
Communication Technology (ICT).
Development of the Precinct is expected to benefit not only students,
but also the community. The centre will facilitate longer-term economic
growth, improve economic and social opportunities in the region and draw
investors into the region.
Key Features
- A single facility linking year 11 and 12 students with GGT,
GippsTAFE and Monash. This centralized facility will minimize barriers
when transferring between courses and allow Year 11 and 12 students to
customize their education to best meet needs, interests and abilities.
For instance, the facility will provide:
- an extensive range of articulation pathways between
the different sectors - secondary school, TAFE, Group Training
and University.
- Direct entry into Monash Gippsland undergraduate
courses for students who study at the facility and meet the
appropriate pre-requisites.
- Access to a challenging accelerated learning program
for high-achievers.
- A natural bridging program for international students
who are looking for safety, English language skills and innovative
pathways to continue their education in Australia.
- The centre will also have specific programs aimed at school
leavers and those looking to continue their education in the region including:
- Customized vocational programs for those not in
the secondary school system.
- A Certificate of Professional Studies (Monash
and GGT) for students currently in employment who wish to undertake
tertiary studies but do not have the necessary educational background.
This would parallel the existing Diploma of Foundation Studies
which is for school leavers.
- Ongoing leading-edge professional development
for teachers, including assistance with ICT
- Programs to better support all students. These support systems
will include:
- Career planning assistance as a result of the
innovative pathways between secondary school, TAFE, GGT and
University.
- A strategic on-line environment offered by the
ICT Hub. Within this environment students will have a larger
numbers of computers, be able to access the system from outside
the centre and attain an education using new methods specifically
designed for on-line learning.
- A student support service built upon the existing
university model and accentuated by local Latrobe City programs
that encourages growth and independence.
- Programs to support teachers. The Precinct will establish
itself as a centre for professional development offering teachers in
leading-edge training, including assistance with ICT.
|
Precinct Partners
General Information
Questions and Answers
Information about Gippsland
|
