Accredited Course a structured sequence of vocational education and training that leads to an Australian Qualifications Framework qualification or Statement of Attainment.

Adult and Community Education 1 intended principally for adults, including general, vocational, basic and community education, and recreation, leisure and personal enrichment programs. 2 also organisations and providers who deliver adult and community education programs, including evening and community colleges, Workers Educational Associations (WEA),community adult education centres, neighbourhood houses, churches, schools, TAFE institutes, universities (continuing education).

Adult Education education programs designed for adults, often incorporating approaches to education which draw on the learner ’s life or work experiences, involve learners in planning the learning activities, encourage learning in groups, as well as more self-directed learning.

Australian Institute of Training and Development (AITD) a national association for people involved in training and human resource development.

Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) the nationally agreed recognition arrangements for the vocational education and training sector. The Australian Quality Training Framework is based on a quality assured approach to the registration of training organisations seeking to deliver training, assess competency outcomes and issue Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and / or Statements of Attainment and ensures the recognition of training providers and the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statements of Attainment they issue, across Australia.

Australian Training Awards a set of awards presented annually to recognise and reward students, apprentices, trainees, employers, training providers and other organisations who have demonstrated high levels of achievement or best practice in vocational education and training.

Best Practice management practices and work processes that lead to outstanding or top-class performance and provide examples for others.

Bridging Course a course designed to equip students to take up a new subject or course by covering the gaps between the students’ existing knowledge and skills and the subject or course prerequisites and assumed knowledge.

College  an institution providing post-secondary education, especially technical and professional training, e.g.TAFE college, business college.

Community College an educational institution for adults, offering a range of general, vocational, recreational and leisure courses, as well as subjects for the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education

Community Education education programs which are community-based and community-directed and intended primarily for the members of the local community.

Competency (also competence) the ability to perform tasks and duties to the standard expected in employment.

Competency-Based Assessment (or CBA) the gathering and judging of evidence in order to decide whether a person has achieved a standard of competence.

Competency-Based Training (or CBT) training which develops the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to achieve competency standards.

Competency Standard an industry-determined specification of performance which sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are made up of units of competency, which are themselves made up of elements of competency, together with performance criteria, a range of variables, and an evidence guide. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package.

Corporate Education educational programs or services offered by business and industry, either in-house or co-operatively with an educational institution.

Course a structured and integrated program of education or training, usually consisting of a number of modules (subjects) or shorter programs, and leading to the award of a qualification.

Credential formal certification issued for successful achievement of a defined set of outcomes, e.g. successful completion of a course in recognition of having achieved particular knowledge, skills or competencies; successful completion of an apprenticeship or traineeship. See also qualification

Credit the acknowledgement that a person has satisfied the requirements of a module (subject) or unit of competency either through previous study (credit transfer) or through work or life experience (recognition of prior learning). The granting of credit exempts the student from that part of the course.

Credit Transfer the granting of status or credit by an institution or training organisation to students for modules (subjects) or units of competency completed at the same or another institution or training organisation. See credit

Customisation tailoring to individual requirements; (in vocational education and training) the process of tailoring a program to meet the specific needs of clients.

Distance Education (also called external studies) a mode of education in which students enrolled in a course do not attend the institution, but study off-campus and may submit assignments by mail or email.

Dual Accreditation (also called dual recognition recognition of a course both academically (by a school or college) and vocationally (by an employer or industry).

Education (1) the process of imparting knowledge or developing skills, understanding, attitudes, character or behaviours. (2) the process of acquiring knowledge, skills, understanding, attitudes, etc. 3 the knowledge, skills, understanding, attitudes,etc. acquired. 4 the field of study concerned with teaching and learning.

Educational Institution any establishment providing education, including schools, colleges, universities and institutes.

Education Provider an organisation which administers or delivers education programs particularly, but may also deliver training programs. See also vocational education and training provider

Entry Requirements the qualifications, knowledge, skills or experience required for entry to an education or training program.

Experiential Learning learning through experience, either in a real situation such as a workplace or in role play.

Facilitator a person who helps students learn by discovering things for themselves.

Flexible Delivery a range of approaches to providing education and training, giving learners greater choice of when, where and how they learn. Flexible delivery may involve distance education, mixed-mode delivery, online education, self-paced learning, self-directed learning, etc.

Formal Education also formal training education or training provided in educational institutions such as schools, universities, colleges, etc.or off the job in a workplace, usually involving direction from a teacher or instructor.

General Adult Education education programs for adults undertaken for personal enrichment, personal development, general interest or recreation. General adult education programs do not have a specific vocational intent.

Nationally Recognised Training logo is the approved logo used to signify that training and assessment products and services meet the requirements agreed under the National Training Framework.

National Training Information Service (or NTIS) an online database (at http://www.ntis.gov.au) developed by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), providing information on vocational education and training in Australia, including details of training packages, competency standards, assessment guidelines, courses, qualifications, and registered training organisations.

National Training Reform Agenda (or NTRA) a term given to a series of reforms in vocational education and training designed to improve the competitiveness of Australian industry, which were introduced by Australian Government, state and territory Governments from about 1990, and later overseen by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA).

Online Education also online learning and online training learning or training conducted via a computer network, e.g. using the internet and the World Wide Web, a local area network (LAN),or an intranet.

Open Learning an approach to learning which gives students flexibility and choice over what, when, at what pace, where, and how they learn, commonly using distance education and the facilities of educational technology. See also flexible delivery

Open Learning Australia (or OLA) an educational organisation which enables people to undertake tertiary or vocational study wherever they live and beginning at any time of year, using materials supplied to their home, often supported by online study resources and television and radio programs.

Open Training Market a system of open competition among public and private providers in the provision of vocational education and training, giving users greater choice of program and provider; adopted by the ANTA Ministerial Council (MINCO) as a national policy to encourage diversity and competition among providers.

Outcome (in education or training) a result or consequence of participation in, or completion of an education or training program, e.g. employment, promotion, higher salary, further study.

Partnership (in vocational education and training) an association between a non-registered organisation and a registered training organisation (RTO) to achieve recognised training.

Performance Criteria the part of a competency standard specifying the required level of performance in terms of a set of outcomes which need to be achieved in order to be deemed competent.

Post-Secondary Education all education beyond secondary school level, including that delivered by universities, colleges, community providers, etc.

Post-Trade Course a course which provides further or more advanced training for qualified tradespersons. 

Pre-requisite (in vocational education and training) a requirement for admission to a particular course or module, e.g. satisfactory completion of a specific subject or course, at least five years in the workforce, etc.

Pre-vocational course a course designed to prepare people for vocational education and training or work, including bridging courses, basic literacy and numeracy training, or training in job skills.

Pre-vocational education education preparing students for the world of work, including counselling on career choices, training in general work skills and habits, and work experience.

Qualification certification awarded to a person on successful completion of a course in recognition of having achieved particular knowledge, skills or competencies.

Recognition the formal approval of training organisations, products and services operating within the vocational education and training sector (as defined by state and territory legislation).

Recognition of Current Competencies (or RCC) the acknowledgement of competencies currently held by a person, acquired through training, work or life experience. More commonly known as recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (or RPL) the acknowledgement of a person’s skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a subject or module.

Refresher Course a course which revises or updates previously acquired knowledge and skills.

Registered Training Organisation (or RTO) an organisation registered by a state or territory recognition authority to deliver training and/or conduct assessments and issue nationally recognised qualifications in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework. RTO’s include TAFE colleges and institutes, adult and community education providers, private providers, community organisations, schools, higher education institutions, commercial and enterprise training providers, industry bodies and other organisations meeting the registration requirements.

Self-Assessment a process in which learners or organisations assess their own performance against particular standards or criteria; (in competency-based training) a process in which learners assess their own performance against competency standards; (in quality endorsement) a process in which an organisation assesses the extent to which it satisfies the criteria for quality endorsement, identifying opportunities for improvement.

Self-Directed Learning  learning in which the learner is the principal driving force, deciding how, when, and at what pace learning takes place.

Self-Paced Learning learning undertaken at a student ’s own pace.

Short Course a course of vocational education and training which stands alone and does not usually lead to a full qualification. A statement of attainment may be issued on successful completion.

Simulator a device used especially in training to reproduce the conditions of the working situation, enabling tasks to be learned and practised safely and economically.

TAFE a publicly funded post-secondary organisation which provides a range of technical and vocational education and training courses and other programs, e.g.entry and bridging courses, language and literacy courses, adult basic education courses, Senior Secondary Certificate of Education courses, personal enrichment courses, and small business courses. Each state and territory has its own TAFE system.

Tertiary Education formal education beyond secondary education, including higher education, vocational education and training, or other specialist post-secondary education or training; sometimes used to refer only to higher education.

TESOL teaching English to speakers of other languages

Training  the development of skills, knowledge, attitudes, competencies, etc.through instruction or practice.

Training Organisation an organisation which provides vocational education, training and/or assessment services.

Training Program a set of education and training activities designed to achieve a specific vocational outcome, e.g.a course, module (subject), on-the-job training, etc.

Training Provider see vocational education and training provider

University an institution of higher education, usually offering degree and higher level courses. Some universities also offer vocational education and training courses.

VET in Schools allows school students to combine vocational studies with their general education curriculum. Students participating in VET in Schools continue to work towards their secondary school certificate. The VET component of their studies gives them credit towards a nationally recognised VET qualification. In this way, participants can keep their options open to pursue further full-time or part-time vocational training or to move into tertiary studies after school.

Vocational Education education designed to develop occupational skills. See also vocational education and training

Vocational Education and Training (VET) post-compulsory education and training, excluding degree and higher level programs delivered by higher education institutions, which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills. VET also includes programs which provide the basis for subsequent vocational programs. Alternative terms used internationally include technical and vocational education and training (TVET), vocational and technical education and training (VTET), technical and vocational education (TVE), vocational and technical education (VTE), and further education and training (FET).

VET Provider an organisation which delivers vocational education and training programs. In Australia, the providers of vocational education and training comprise the state and territory TAFE systems, adult and community education providers, agricultural colleges, the VET operations of some universities, schools, private providers, community organisations, industry skill centres, and commercial and enterprise training providers.See also registered training organisation (RTO) .

Vocational Programs are intended to develop skills of relevance to the workplace. Defined as those course/qualifications with vocational intent and those module/unit of competency enrolments not associated with a course/qualification with vocational intent.

Workers Educational Association (WEA) a non-government adult community education organisation, providing vocational and leisure courses.

Definition of terms thanks to  www.dest.gov.au (2007)