Unique Student Identifier (USI) initiative for VET

Currently there is no way for vocational education and training (VET) students to obtain a comprehensive and authoritative transcript of their VET achievements online.

In April 2012, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) agreed to the implementation of a specially designed tool called the Unique Student Identifier (USI) to address this issue. COAG also agreed that the Standing Council on Tertiary Education Skills and Employment (SCOTESE) take forward the implementation of the USI.

Commencement of the USI

From 2014, all new and continuing students undertaking nationally recognised VET courses will need to have a USI to receive their certificate of attainment or qualification. 

About the USI

The USI is a randomly-generated alpha-numeric code that is available online and at no cost to the student. That code will stay with that individual student for life and be recorded with any nationally recognised VET course that is undertaken from 2014 onwards.

From 2014, the USI initiative will:

• Seamlessly link information about a student’s VET achievements, regardless of where they studied
• Enable students to access secure digital transcripts of their achievements
• Give students access to, and more control over, their educational information.

Student convenience

Students often need to provide evidence of their academic achievements – for example, when applying for a job or to undertake further study. 

Currently, it is not possible for students to obtain a complete record of their VET enrolment and achievement history from a single source. This is inconvenient not only for students and employers, but can also make it more difficult for training organisations to assess pre-requisites, credit transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).  Incomplete data about access to and use of the VET sector also inhibits the development of evidence-based VET programs.

The USI will make it easier for students to find, collate and authenticate their VET achievements from 1 January 2014 onwards into a single transcript. It will also ensure that students’ VET records are not lost if their training institution ceases to operate.

Features and privacy of the USI

The USI system has a number of features built into the design to ensure both privacy protection and that students have control over their USI, for example:

• Personal information (such as name, date of birth, etc.) will be quarantined and stored separately from education and training records
• The USI will be stored with a student’s personal information and be held by the Student Identifiers Agency
• The USI will also be attached to a student’s training records which will be held by the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER).

Using the USI, the personal information would only be linked to the educational information when a student asks to see his or her own records or when a student authorises someone else to do so (such as a training organisation) or as otherwise authorised by Commonwealth legislation.

Further information

If you have any questions or need more information, you can email the USI Taskforce at: USITaskforce@innovation.gov.au

Read more about the USI initiative:

• About the USI - background information, USI reference group and benefits for governments.
• Information for students and parents - benefits for students, applying for a USI and protection of students privacy.
• Information for training providers - benefits and requirements for training providers.
• Technical information - Technical Service Contracts and compliance requirements for Student Management Systems.
• Legislation and progress - legislation and consultation information.
• Privacy and security - privacy and security of personal information and compliance requirements.