Writing your Training and Assessment Strategy – Part 1 of Part 5

A Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) is the approach of, and method adopted by, an RTO with respect to training and assessment designed to enable learners to meet the requirements of the training package or accredited course (Glossary, Standards for RTOs 2015).
The Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) is a high-level view of a program that guides the learning requirements and the teaching, training and assessment arrangements of a VET qualification. It is a “how-to” guide that defines and explains the process of developing, delivering and managing a training program.
The Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) is also called a Learning and Assessment Strategy (LAS), Qualification Delivery and Assessment Strategy (QDAS) or simply; a helicopter document. We strongly suggest you name your document according to the terminology and words mentioned within the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015.
The Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) is used to convey information such as;

The qualification (if applicable) or unit of competency training product codes and titles
Requirements to enrol in the course (set by the RTO)
The core and elective units of competency in the course and a rationale
Details of the training product and alignment with the qualification packaging rules
Prerequisites (pre-existing knowledge and skills) to enrol in the training product (as per the training package)
Details of the training organisation and contact person
Any clustering (grouping) of units
The learner cohort/ training group (description of employment status, academic background, domestic or international, related industry experience)
The mode and method of training delivery
The mode and method of assessment
Entry and exit points
Pathways to, from and employment
Timeframes for delivery and assessment
Volume of learning and amount of training
Information regarding work-placement requirements, if applicable
Information how training and assessment is going to take place
Details of staff qualified to deliver and assess the training
Equipment, facilities and resources required
Explanation and outline of industry consultation
Explanation and outline of how industry feedback has contributed to changes in training and assessment, facilities and resources, training and assessment skills of trainers and assessors
How the program has been validated
Sequence of delivery of units according to a priority order
Review and approval processes for training and assessment strategies to both staff and regulators (in the case of nationally recognised training).

This information is initially constructed to form an overarching strategy which will allow the training organisation to validate that it possesses the organisational capacity to deliver the qualification; giving thought to any specific venue, access to equipment as well as qualified staff; both from a vocational and training and assessment perspective.
The Training and Assessment Strategy, therefore, outlines the macro-level requirements of the learning and assessment process.
The Training and Assessment Strategy tool or template can be developed using a Word document (.docx). It is an active document and should be modified and updated to match what, where, when and how the training organisation is delivering a training product.
How auditors use the training and assessment strategy
The auditors make sure the strategy provides the framework to deliver a quality training product. Their main focus stays on:

Where the training will be delivered
How the training will be delivered
What the method of the course delivery is
What resources and/or support services are provided to the student
Who is delivering the training and any skill-gaps
How clear are entry and exit requirements
How clear the instructions and information for trainers and assessors are when using the strategy

The regulatory body can ask you to provide a compliant training and assessment strategy at any time before, during or after an audit or any regulatory activity such as at the time of addition to scope application etc.
You must develop a training and assessment strategy before you start delivering training. The strategy should be validated to ensure it is “fit-for-purpose”. You need to develop training and assessment strategies when you are planning to deliver a course/training product.
You must have a fit for purpose training assessment strategy for:

each course and/or training product
each delivery mode (class-room based, online, workplace delivery etc)
each learner cohort
each location
or any other variation in teaching, learning, assessment and support arrangements

Where any variations occur in training and assessment you must provide a modified TAS. A common situation occurs where a training and assessment strategy has been developed for one learner cohort, however the training organisation is asked to deliver to a very different cohort. For example a TAS initially developed to deliver training to mature students with substantial industry experience with a shorter delivery time frame and assessment methods which utilise the candidates prior experience- or application to the workplace. If the RTO’s new learner cohort has little to no experience, the TAS will not be fit for purpose.
There is also no “single size” template for a TAS. All variations must be correctly recorded through a customised or new training and assessment strategy. The training organisation must consider:

How the revised or updated training and assessment strategy provides a clear framework for delivering a quality training product or course
Support needs and requirements to deliver a training product
How the course delivery suits the learner cohort or alternatively, referring to the opportunity to another provider if the cohort does not meet their business model.

In our next editions, we will discuss: