VPRS 8536 General Subject Correspondence Files : Multiple Number System

Full description

The series documents the planning, administration, accreditation, development and co-ordination of the provision of post-secondary education (TAFE and advanced education) in Victoria.

The series comprises a centrally controlled correspondence filing system maintained by the Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) (VA 721) for its own use and on behalf of the following agencies:

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Board (VA 1176): 1980-1987.
Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) Accreditation Board (VA 4085): 1980-1987.
Victorian Post Secondary Education and Accreditation Board (VPSEAB) (VA 3066): 1987-1990.

The filing system was controlled by VPSEC's registry but each agency's portion of the series was physically located at and maintained by each individual agency. Therefore the series was spread over a number of locations and agencies. Note that the files in the VPSEAB portion of the series (Consignment P4) were passed to the State Training Board (VA 3002) and then to the Office of Training and Further Education (OTFE), within the Department of Education and Training (VA 3098). The State Training Board added to the files during the period 1991-1992. OTFE added to the files from 1992 to 1996 (probably only to January 1996). It appears that OTFE created some new files up to 1993. Note too, that more VPSEAB files are available in VPRS 8539. This series should be part of VPRS 8536.

The agencies which recorded the series were as follows:

Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) VA 721:

The Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission was the premier decision making body responsible for the coordination of post-secondary education in Victoria. The Commission provided advice to the Minister on all matters relating to higher education including funding, the establishment of post-secondary education institutions, the provision of courses and the making of awards. It was charged with the responsibility for negotiating these matters with the appropriate agencies. VPSEC was responsible for course approval based on the need, desirability and demand for a particular course, geographical location and resource capacity of individual institutions.

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Board VA 1176: Consignment P2:

The TAFE Board was established in July 1980 as a Board of the VPSEC. It replaced the State Council for Technical Education. VPSEC did not have the right to over-rule or modify decisions or recommendations of the TAFE Board. The TAFE Board was responsible for all courses outside tertiary education which were taken after leaving school including formal apprenticeship training. It was responsible for all policy matters relating to TAFE, funding, the accreditation of new TAFE courses (delegated to the TAFE Accreditation Board), and it provided advice to relevant Ministers on any matters relating to TAFE. The Post-Secondary Education (Amendment) Act 1980 established the TAFE Board in its own right in 1983.

Victorian Post-Secondary Education Commission (VPSEC) Accreditation Board VA 4085:

The Accreditation Board was established as a Board of VPSEC in December 1980. It was responsible for the accreditation of courses offered at Colleges of Advanced Education and Institutes of Technology. The Board was concerned with the quality and standard of courses.


Victorian Post-Secondary Education Accreditation Board (VPSEAB) VA 3066:

VPSEAB was established in July 1987 by an amendment to the Post-Secondary Education Act. It replaced the TAFE Accreditation Board and the Accreditation Board. The Amendment Act invested responsibility for the accreditation of TAFE courses and advanced education courses in the single Board, VPSEAB. In 1990 the VPSEAB was abolished. The implementation of the National System of Higher Education removed responsibility for the accreditation of Higher Education programs from VPSEAB. The responsibility gradually passed to the colleges in the Higher Education sector. Responsibility for accreditation in the TAFE sector went to various industry accreditation boards established by the State Training Board (VA 3002).

Office of Training and Further Education (OTFE):

OTFE was established in December 1992 as a Division of the Department of Education (VA 3098). OTFE administered Government programs and services for the provision of vocational education and training and of adult, community and further education in Victoria in accordance with Government policy.