Media Release
THE REAL STORY BEHIND UNMET DEMAND FOR UNI PLACES
1 December 2005 MIN 2056/05
New research released today by the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) has revealed that the main reason for a university applicant to miss out on a place is a lower academic result – not a shortage of places on offer.
The research included an analysis of data for Year 12 students in 2001 and showed that those who did not receive an offer for university in 2002 had an average ENTER (Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank) score substantially lower than those students who gained a place.
The data also found that very few applicants with ENTER scores of 70 or over failed to get an offer of a university place. Of the 10 per cent who did apply for a course and did not end up attending university, half had scores that were too low for an offer (on average, 54 compared with an average of 80 for those who received an offer) and the other half rejected their offer to take up employment or Vocational Education and Training courses.
This report again underlines the Howard Government’s strong belief that no young person should feel that the value of their life is determined by the educational choices they make. Apprenticeships, TAFE or university must be equally valued.
Interestingly, the report also found that 90 per cent of those Year 12 students who did not get a university place went on to further study or employment, including New Apprenticeships.
All students have a right to professional, accurate and balanced careers advice that allows them to find and achieve that which they know in their hearts they are best suited to.
That commitment has been reinforced by the Government’s investment of an additional $143 million to establish the Australian Network of Industry Careers Advisers (ANICA) which will see:
- teachers receive industry placements to improve their knowledge of career options for their students;
- every 13 – 19 year old access quality career advice and support through newly expanded Local Community Partnerships;
- 57 regional industry career advisers who will liaise with schools and industry to provide advice that is informed by both national and local expertise;
- 10 national industry career specialists who will provide key industry specific advice and information to the regional advisers; and
- Career Lighthouse Schools Projects allowing schools with best practice in career advice to share knowledge with other schools.
A young person’s aptitude for the range of options available to them as they move from the classroom to the next stage of his or her life should not be measured simply by their ENTER score. Experience gained while working, employability skills gained through a VET in Schools course and a young person’s attitude to work and education are equally important.
The report: Unmet Demand? Characteristics and Activities of University Applicants Not Offered a Place was based on 7,762 young people from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) who were in Year 9 in 1998 and most of whom were in Year 12 in 2001. The analysis followed these young people through their educational and labour market experiences over 2002 and 2003.
The report is available at http://www.acer.edu.au/research/LSAY/research.html
Media Contacts:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Yaron Finkelstein 0414 927 663
Dept of Education, Science & Training: Sally Harris (02) 6240 8363
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