Innovation, Skill Needs and Training in a Rural Community英文资料.pdf

Prometheus, Vol. 23, No. 3, September 2005 Innovation, Skill Needs and Training in a Rural Community CHRIS SELBY SMITH FRAN FERRIER FranFerrierPrometheusMonash UniversityACER Centre for the Economics of Education and TrainingMelbourneAustraliafran.ferrier@.au200523Taylor and Francis LtdTaylor Francis LtdOriginal ArticleCPRO121070.sgm0810-9028 (print)/1470-1030 (online)000000September 2005310.1080/08109020500210878 Abstract Difficult challenges face the Gannawarra Shire in northern Victoria, including competing increasingly in global markets, environmental degradation and changing consumer preferences. Education, training and skill development are one way of addressing the chal- lenges. A survey of 68 enterprises (distinguishing between growing, consolidating and declin- ing enterprises) suggested, inter alia, that innovation is an essential element in Gannawarra’s response to the challenges it faces and that enterprises requiring more training differ signifi- cantly from those requiring different types of education and training. The ‘story’ of Gannawarra’s challenges and its efforts to address them provide insights which are likely to be useful elsewhere. Keywords: Innovation; skill needs; enterprises; education and training providers; regions. Introduction The Gannawarra Shire in northern Victoria is facing some difficult challenges. Education, training and skill development are one way of addressing them, for example by raising efficiency, increasing flexibility, facilitating change and support- ing innovation. The challenges facing Gannawarra, and the contributions to addressing them which education and training can make, are not unique to this region, but typical of those confronting many other areas of non-metropolitan Australia