The following table presents Framework funding opportunities for industry, business and registered training organisations (RTOs) to participate in business activities in 2008. Below is a list of business activities for which funding is available.

 
Funding for successful applications will be announced according to timelines for individual business activities, with project outcomes to be reported in November-December 2008.

As part of the 2005-2007 Framework Strategy, a framework of standards was developed for managing access to learning resources nationally, and a process for collaboratively agreeing and ratifying national standards was endorsed by the National Senior Officials Committee (NSOC). The key component of this process is the E-standards Expert Group (EEG), which comprises representatives from each state and territory as well as key vocational education and training (VET) stakeholders. These standards include a significant focus on supporting e-learning, but also include new and emerging information and communication technology (ICT) to support VET delivery.

Under the 2008-2011 Framework Strategy and 2008 Framework Business Plan, new standards research, development and trials will take place in emerging technology areas of significance to the national training system. This will include ICT standards to support managing learner information, recognition of prior learning (RPL) processes, personalised learning and knowledge management. In 2008, approximately $80,000 will be available for trials in this area, applications for which will be based on guidelines.

The Flexible Learning Toolboxes Business Activity aims to ensure that VET practitioners and learners continue to benefit from a national collection of learning and assessment resources (Toolboxes) that directly support the implementation of nationally endorsed training packages and meet state and territory e learning priorities.

In 2008, production of new learning objects will be streamlined to provide a more rapid response as urgent new training and assessment needs are identified. The Toolbox focus on modelling educational quality will be retained while incorporating online assessment and RPL tools where appropriate. E-learning and assessment resources will be developed in dual form - Toolboxes and Toolbox learning objects - to align with nationally endorsed training packages and cover high-demand training areas and identified skills shortages.

Under this business activity, approximately $1 million will be available for the development of five Series 11 Toolboxes.

The Framework's E-learning Innovations Business Activity is a $5.3 million activity to support e-learning solutions in the VET sector. It aims to stimulate demand for, improve access to, and increase the uptake of national e-learning infrastructure and resources.

This is a national program with competitive rounds conducted in each state and territory tailored to local priorities.

Individuals will benefit from greater access to a wider range of e-learning opportunities that will offer personalised e-learning solutions beyond those based on formal structures. Benefits available to RTOs include new opportunities to form partnerships with industry and business with regards to e-learning, and being better able to meet e-learning training needs.

Businesses will benefit by developing a strong relationship with a training provider who gets to know their business and tailors e-learning to their needs. All parties will benefit from increased access to strengthened e-learning infrastructure.

A total of $5.3 million has been allocated nationally for projects that:

• support business-provider partnerships that can drive the integration of e-learning into business and training
• empower individual learners through stimulating demand, providing greater choice, responding to the needs of disadvantaged learners, including Indigenous learners, learners with a disability and community groups, and through facilitating increased recognition of prior learning
• help RTOs to embed e-learning as a key aspect of their business strategy.

Each state and territory will conduct contestable selection processes under approved national guidelines within the context of their own identified e-learning and training priorities.

RTOs funded under this business activity will receive grants in the range of $10,000-50,000 and will be required to match this with funding and in-kind contributions. Successful applicants will also be required, as a condition of funding, to engage with and utilise relevant Framework products, resources and infrastructure in addressing the needs of learners and industry.

Approximately $300,000 will be available to fund three industries in the first year of the development of three-year strategic workforce development plans incorporating e-learning in those industries. Through a consultative process, and using the intelligence gained from research into market needs, three selected industries will develop long-term plans for the integration of e-learning.

This is a long-term strategy and depends on the Framework receiving funding to continue development beyond 2008. Funding will require matching by industry and will be allocated following consideration of applications made according to guidelines to be published on the Framework's E-learning for Industry website in mid-January.

A further amount of approximately $300,000 will be available for application by industries for up to seven business clusters to engage in one-year projects focusing on e-learning to deliver industry training. Again, funding will need to be matched by the business clusters and will be granted on the basis of the guidelines described above. While applicants for funding under this business activity must be businesses, there is further scope for business involvement in e-learning through partnering with a training provider applying for funding under the State and Territory E-learning Innovations Business Activity described above.