Integrated Retail Management Qualification

Introduction

Service Skills Australia and the University of Western Sydney (UWS), together with retail employers, have initiated a pilot project to benefit employees, employers and the retail industry.

The outcome for those who enrol in the program will be a Bachelor of Business & Commerce (Retail Management), Certificate III in Retail and Certificate IV in Retail Management.

Background

A continuing concern of employers in the retail industry is the difficulty of retaining quality staff and promoting retail management as a worthwhile career. Addressing this issue is vital to retaining skilled employees in the industry.

Discussions with industry indicate that higher education and VET have not integrated well to benefit industry and, in particular, to meet the above needs. Although many employees from the retail sector work in retail during their education/ study, and many employers offer their staff the opportunity to undertake a VET qualification, the retail industry is rarely seen as a long-term career option.

The results of the pilot will be ground-breaking and will establish an innovative  model for how VET and higher education can work together to benefit industry.  For this reason it is being funded as a pilot project by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, which is interested in the potential benefit of the model to other industries and other registered training organisations and universities.

The course

The innovation is in the course being taught in a truly integrated way: students are simultaneously learning the theory, acquiring practical skills, and being able to practise those skills in the workplace.

This involves learners being simultaneously:

• enrolled in the Bachelor of Business & Commerce (Retail Management)
  enrolled in the Certificate III (Retail) and Certificate IV (Retail Management)
  employed in the retail industry in a structured placement.

The duration of this integrated course is four years.

The benefits

For employers and the industry generally, it provides potential managers who have integrated the applied skills and knowledge of practical experience in the industry, with the higher-level skills and understanding that a university course.  It gives them access to managers who can ‘hit the ground running,' while at the same time lifting the level of professionalism of the industry.

For current retail employees, and students considering a career in retail, it provides a concrete pathway to an accelerated career in retail, and a respected tertiary qualification to underwrite future career progression.

More information

Contact Alastair Wilson awilson@serviceskills.com.au or 02 8243 1200

UWS Handbook: Bachelor of Business/Commerce: Retail Management

Download the Employer Information

Download the Student Information

Project Partners

Service Skills Australia is a not-for-profit, independent organisation. We are one of 11 industry skills councils funded by the Australian Government to support skills development. SSA represent a range of industry sectors, including retail and wholesale, sport, fitness, community recreation, outdoor recreation, travel, tours, meetings and events, accommodation, restaurants and catering, caravans, hairdressing, beauty, floristry, community pharmacy and funeral services.

The University of Western Sydney, (and its Registered Training Organisation UWSCollege) is a major urban university spread over six campuses in Greater Western Sydney, a region of great opportunity, diversity, challenge and growth. The University shares many of the characteristics of the region, and closely identifies and works with the local community and businesses.

The project is funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.