CHENNAI: CBSE students who want an international touch to their education need look no further than their school. CBSE schools will soon feature vocational courses designed in Australia, known for hosting international students pursuing vocational education.
The board has tied up with the Central Institute of Technology , a vocational education institution under the department of training and workforce development, Government of Western Australia, to design the curriculum and train teachers in vocational courses. The programme, ‘VET in Schools’ , will be conducted at the senior secondary level from next academic year onwards. It will cover four courses — design fundamentals , business administration , music technical production and beauty services.
“A lot of Indian students are interested in such courses in Australia. When you consider media reports of attacks on Australian students, I think it is a good initiative for these international courses to be taught here so students don’t miss out on their studies and parents can breathe easy,” said senior principal of Bhavan’s Rajaji Vidyashram J Ajeeth Prasath Jain. The cost is also likely to be much lesser than an overseas course.
The curriculum and resource materials, including assessment plans and templates for lesson plans for teachers and students for each of these courses will be provided by CIT, which will be contextualised by the CBSE to suit Indian needs. Master trainers will be trained by CIT in January 2013, while teacher training workshops will be organised by the board with assistance from the Australian institution.
The board plans to offer the programme as a pilot project in 100 to 150 schools from the next academic year. The board has called for schools to volunteer to take up these courses so students can be equipped with skills that are globally accepted.
Among the four courses offered by the board are a couple that are popular among Indian students going to Australia to pursue vocational education. The design fundamental course offers the foundation for a career as an artist, or an industrial or interior / exterior designer. The business administration course will provide specialist skills in business administration. The music technical production course will provide a practical introduction to recording processes.

The beauty services course will help candidates communicate effectively, sell products and establish and operate a business. Students who take up these courses will be eligible to pursue higher education at CIT in Australia.