GIER members have recently had the privilege of working with a cohort of Bangladesh participants who have been completing a course focused on Competency Based Training Design and Assessment.

The program is being delivered by Griffith University in partnership with Accellier (Australian Registered Training Organisation) and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as part of the Australia Awards initiative, funded by the Australian Government.

Professor Sarojni Choy and Dr Sonal Nakar (GIER)

During an action-packed three week visit to Australia, the participants completed a large number of units of competency and took part in focused workshops lead by GIER members; Steven Hodge, Sarojni Choy, Sonal Nakar, Leonie Rowan and Stephen Billett.

Visiting TAFE Queensland

At the end of their three week stay in Australia, each participant put forward a plan for a work-place innovation that they will be implementing over the next three months. Each of these project proposals involved explicit reflection on the challenges and opportunities of implementing reform in a particular context, and the particulars ways in which the initiative will respond to issues relating to gender and diversity.

Group photo

The presentation of these return to work plans was the highlight of the last day of the visit and an invaluable opportunity for project mentors,  Sarojni, Steven, Sonal and Leonie.

In the coming months our Bangladesh colleagues will continue to work with their GIER mentors as they implement their plans. We look forward to this ongoing, generative and inspiring partnership and to learning more from and with each other about the links between gender, diversity and culturally appropriate vocational education and training in Australia and Bangladesh.