The USI initiativeCurrently, it is not possible for students to obtain a complete record of their VET enrolments and achievements from a single online 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.

A USI is effectively an account or reference number made up of numbers and letters.  The USI will allow all of an individual’s training records, entered in the national vocational education and training (VET) data collection, to be linked. 

The USI will make it easier for students to find, collate and authenticate their VET achievements into a single transcript. It will also ensure that students’ VET records are not lost. 

The USI will be available online and at no cost to the student. This USI will stay with the student for life and be recorded with any nationally recognised VET course that is undertaken from when the USI comes into effect.
The USI initiative will:

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

There will be significant benefits for training providers resulting from the introduction of the USI. For example, the USI initiative will enable students to provide training providers with access to an online authenticated record of student attainment. This will assist with the recording of enrolment details and will help to streamline the assessment of course prerequisites, credit transfer and the assessment of eligibility for funding assistance. 

In the longer term, training providers will benefit from longitudinal data on course completions which will inform the development of future VET sector policy initiatives.

For more information please visit the Unique Student Identifiers website at www.usi.gov.au