TAFE teacher wins fellowship to study composites OS
10 December 2003
Peter Owens, Aviation and Engineering teacher.
Peter Owens, teacher in the Aviation and Engineering Department at Kangan Batman TAFE, a local TAFE institute in Melbourne has won a prestigious overseas study fellowship. The $7,000 ISS Institute/TAFE Fellowship (sponsored by the Department of Employment, Training and Tertiary Education) is one of only four awarded to Victorian TAFE teachers each year.
The Hon. Lynne Kosky, Minister for Education and Training presented Peter the award at an awards ceremony held on 13 November at the RACV Club in Queen Street, Melbourne.
In 2000, the Victorian Government in conjunction with the International Specialised Skills (ISS) Institute established a fellowship program for TAFE institute staff.
The International Skills (ISS) Institute was established to redress skill gaps in industries. One of the ways it does this is by offering overseas fellowships to enable leading Victorian teachers to witness world best practice techniques and bring that knowledge back to their classrooms.
These fellowships assist teachers and trainers working in key areas of skill shortage to maintain the currency of their skills and to continue to develop professionally. They provide opportunities for Victorian TAFE institute teachers and trainers to observe best practice in their industry area from across the world and then integrate these leading-edge industry skills into their teaching in Victoria.
Peter will use his fellowship to help move the Australian composite industry from the back foot to the front foot in the goal of becoming a world leader in composite manufacturing and repair.
“The automotive, marine, agricultural and aerospace industries as well as many other industries could use this information to investigate new and innovative ways of manufacturing. For the manufacturing industries in general this will mean doing things smarter and faster, and in the global market this means offering a world-leading product,” says Peter.
“I feel that Australian industry, if given the chance and the exposure, could take composite technology to new horizons and help it reach its full potential. In industry this is a need of the future, but a rapidly approaching future, however for the vocational education and training sector this is a need of the present, a need that must be met proactively if we are to remain relevant in a rapidly advancing global setting.”
Peter will be travelling to the United States to Boeing and Airbus facilities as part of his training.
