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Combined Courses of StudyEquity group access and participation at the bachelor (honours/pass) level3.3 Women’s participation in combined coursesThe 1999 combined course participation indicators for women in the five non-traditional broad fields at the bachelor (honours/pass) level are presented in Table 3. To again facilitate comparisons, participation indicators for women in the same five fields across all course levels in 1997 have also been included in this table, together with relevant 1999 indicators for women at the bachelor (honours/pass) level generally. Table 3 Women’s representation in broad fields of study (Participation)
The participation indicators for combined course students in all major fields of study at the bachelor (honours/pass) level are reported in Tables 4a (below) and 4b (refer end of section 3.3). The first of these tables presents a summary of 1999 combined course enrolments in major fields of study where the number of institutions offering such courses was limited. Table 4b provides a more comprehensive picture of combined course enrolment patterns in all other major fields of study during 1997-1999.
Readers are reminded that these tables report combined course enrolment totals within each field of study and that the actual number of students (domestic Australian) enrolled in combined courses at the various institutions in 1999 can be found at the end of Table 4b. Relevant summary details for all overseas students in combined courses in 1999, including actual student enrolments at the various institutions, will also be found in Table 4b. The following discussion focuses on women’s participation in combined courses that encompass at least one non-traditional major field of study and is supported by Figure 5, which presents the relevant participation indicators in graph form. The tables in this section, together with Figure 6 which graphs women’s participation in all other major fields can, however, be used to investigate gender enrolment patterns within other fields of study.
3.3.1 Agriculture, Animal HusbandryCombined course enrolments in this broad field at the bachelor (honours/pass) level totalled 153 in 1997 and 186 in 1999. In the latter year, the major field of Agriculture accounted for the clear majority of such enrolments (163), with the remainder evenly spread between the General and Animal Husbandry major fields (see Table 4a). At 45% in 1999, the national participation rate for women in bachelor level combined courses in the major field of Agriculture was higher than that for all women participating in the broad field of Agriculture at the same level in 1999 (see Table 3). Combined course students in the Agriculture major field were primarily located at the University of Melbourne in 1999 and, here, women’s percentage share of enrolments in 1999 was 48%. This institution’s Science/Forestry Science dual degree combination accounted for more than 50% of all student enrolments in the major field of Agriculture, whilst its Agricultural Science/Commerce dual degree combination accounted for a further 28%. At the Australian National University, combined course enrolments in the major field of Agriculture were evenly distributed between Science/Science (Forestry) and Forestry/Economics dual degree combinations and the 1999 participation rate for women was 42%. In combined courses coded to the major field of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry - General, women remained under-represented in 1999 (33%), whilst in the major field of Animal Husbandry - which has historically appealed to women - they were clearly over-represented (70%). Combined course students who were enrolled in the former field were participating in a Commerce/Applied Science dual degree program at the University of Western Sydney. Those in the latter field were enrolled in Applied Science/Education dual degree combinations at the University of Queensland. 3.3.2 Architecture, BuildingCombined course enrolments at the bachelor (honours/pass) level in this broad field of study totalled 189 in 1997 and 232 in 1999. Women’s participation levels in the two major fields of study that attracted the majority of enrolments varied considerably in the 1997-1999 period. Moreover, in the latter year, their participation rate (34.5%) remained not only well below the 40% threshold target but also some distance below the 1999 rate for all women participating at the bachelor level in the broad field of Architecture (refer Table 3). A decline in participation was particularly evident in the major field of Architecture, Building - General but it would appear that the withdrawal of an Arts/Planning & Design dual degree option at the University of Melbourne might largely explain this. Deakin University attracts students into two dual degrees that span the major fields of Architecture - General and Building (Architecture/ Building and Architecture/Construction Management). In 1999, women comprised 30% of all enrolments in the first of these fields and 32% in the second. At the University of Technology, Sydney, where a very small number of students are combining either Building (Construction Management) or Building (Construction Economics) with Arts (International Studies) the participation rate for women in 1999 was 33%. In contrast, women’s percentage share of combined course enrolments in the major field of Architecture has progressively improved since 1997, reaching 54% in 1999 (enrolments totalled 26). At the institutional level in 1999, women comprised 80% of all enrolments in the combined Industrial Design/Arts (International Studies) dual degree at the University of Technology, Sydney whilst the University of Canberra, which offered dual degrees in Landscape Architecture/Law and Applied Science/Architecture, had a participation rate of 50%. Participation was lowest in the combined Design & Technology/Teaching dual degree at the University of Western Sydney (25%). 3.3.3 Business, Administration, EconomicsTotal combined course enrolments at the bachelor (honours/pass) level in the broad field of Business were substantial in all three years of the study period. Combined course enrolments in the major field of Business, Administration grew at a somewhat faster pace than did those in the General field and totalled 10,370 in 1999 (see Table 4b, page 37). Nationally, participation rates for women in combined courses in both major fields stood at 51% in 1999 and were thus on a par with the 1999 representation rate for all women in the broad field of Business at the bachelor level at the same point in time (refer Table 3). In the Business, Administration, Economics - General field, combined course participation rates for women at the state/ territory level during the 1997-1999 period were uniformly higher than the 40% threshold target and, indeed, most were considerably higher. Moreover, with a participation rate of 39%, Western Australia was the only state in 1999 to not reach the 40% target for women’s participation in the major field of Business, Administration, although it might be anticipated that the steady improvement in this state’s combined course access rates for women may soon see the target matched and then exceeded. At the institutional level, women had high representation in combined courses encompassing the major field of Business, Administration, Economics - General at the following universities: University of Canberra (66%), University of Southern Queensland (61%), University of South Australia (60%), University of the Northern Territory (60%), Queensland University of Technology (59%), and University of Technology, Sydney (59%). At the University of Melbourne, which had the highest number of combined course enrolments in this major field overall (2,293), women were participating at a rate of 44% in 1999. Only two institutions had combined course participation rates for women that were below target and these were Edith Cowan University (39%), which offers a combined Science/Business degree, and the University of Newcastle (8%). In the major field of Business, Administration, participation rates for women at the institutional level in 1999 were exceptionally high at the University of Technology, Sydney (76%) and the Australian Catholic University (71%) which offers an Arts/Business dual degree program. A high participation rate was also evident at the University of the Sunshine Coast (58%), which offered Arts/Business and Business/Science degree combinations for the first time in 1999. Whilst women’s percentage share of combined course enrolments in the Business, Administration major field at the University of Southern Queensland (11%) appeared to be very low in 1999, this was compensated for by a participation rate of 61% in the General field. A final point to be noted is that the RMIT University, which also had a low representation rate for women in the major field of Business, Administration (24%), offers its business degrees in combination with various engineering degrees (Chemical, Civil and Aerospace). Nationally, women’s percentage share of total enrolments in combined courses at the bachelor (honours/pass) level that encompass the major field of Economics was 44% in 1997 and 42% in 1999 (see Table 4b, page 38). At the state/territory level in 1999, participation patterns somewhat differed from those that were noted with respect to access. In Victoria, for example, the level of participation for women matched the 40% threshold target, while their level of access sat some distance below (34%). This was also the case in the Northern Territory, where the participation rate was 50%, compared with an access rate of 33%. The reverse was true in Tasmania, where women were comparatively over-represented amongst combined course commencers in Economics (44%) but under-represented in terms of total enrolments (36%). The Australia National University had the highest number of combined course enrolments in the major field of Economics in 1999 (654) and, here, women participated at a rate of 42%. Participation rates were higher again at the University of Sydney (65%) and Murdoch University (63%) where enrolments were much smaller and restricted to Law/Economics dual degree combinations. The rate for women participating in courses that combine studies in the field of Economics approached the 40% target at the University of Queensland (39%) and Monash University (38%), which both accounted for approximately 300 combined course enrolments in 1999. Participation was lowest at the University of Western Sydney, where enrolments totalled 50 (32%). 3.3.4 Engineering, SurveyingCombined course enrolments at the bachelor (honours/pass) level in the broad field of Engineering comprised 5,684 in 1997, 6,779 in 1998 and 8,079 in 1999. Nationally, the participation rate for women in the major field of Engineering, Surveying - General (see Table 4b, page 32) moved from a low of 8% in 1997 to 16% in 1999, at which stage it eclipsed the 1999 rate for all women enrolled in the broad field of Engineering at the bachelor level (refer Table 3). The highest participation rate for women in combined courses that encompassed this small field in 1999 was 40% at the University of Western Sydney (total enrolments were 5). Rates at the two institutions that accounted for most combined course enrolments in the General field - James Cook University and the University of South Australia - were 16% and 13% respectively. In the major field of Engineering, women’s percentage share of all combined course enrolments at the national level remained steady at 19% across the 1997-1999 period. Relative to the 15% target, and the 1999 rate for all women in the Engineering field at the bachelor level in 1999, high participation levels were evident in Victoria (22%), Western Australia (21%), New South Wales (18%) and South Australia (16%). Almost half the institutions offering combined courses in the major field of Engineering in 1999 had representation rates for women that were above the 15% threshold target. Amongst these were the University of Adelaide (33%) which offers dual degrees in Engineering (Information Technology & Telecommunications)/Arts and Engineering (Electrical & Electronic)/Science, and the University of New England (33%) which offers Natural Resources/Engineering. Combined course Engineering enrolments at the bachelor (honours/pass) level in these two institutions were, however, very small (12 in each). At the University of Sydney (total enrolments of 248) and the University of Melbourne (total enrolments of 1,940), the representation rate for women in bachelor level courses that combined studies in the major field of Engineering, was 25%. Combined course enrolments in the major field of Engineering were also high at the University of Technology, Sydney (1,207), which had a representation rate of 15%. Finally, at Queensland University of Technology, where the participation rate for women in 1999 was extremely low, (6%), almost three quarters of all students enrolled at the bachelor level in a combined course that encompassed the major field of Engineering, were participating in an Engineering (Electronics)/Information Technology dual degree. There was a noticeable improvement in the national participation rate for women in combined courses that encompassed the major field of Surveying between 1997 (21%) and 1999 (30%), despite an overall drop in total enrolments (see Table 4b, page 40). Women’s rates of participation varied considerably amongst the five institutions offering combined courses in this major field, with the highest being 45% at the University of Melbourne (total enrolments of 99). At the University of Newcastle, where combined course enrolments in Surveying totalled 44, women participated at the very low rate of 5%. 3.3.5 ScienceCombined course enrolments in the broad field of Science stood at 11,686 in 1997 and 13,912 in 1999. In this latter year, the participation rate for women in bachelor level combined courses encompassing this broad field was 43.3%, compared to a rate of 41.9% for all women (refer Table 3). It would appear, then, that the opportunity to combine studies in Science with study in another area holds considerable appeal for women. Nationally, women’s share of all combined course enrolments in the Science - General field during the 1997-1999 period was consistently high (see Table 4b, page 42), and most recently stood at 49%. Additionally, all state/ territory participation rates for women in combined courses in this major field, with the exception of Western Australia (33%), easily exceeded the 40% threshold target. Women were particularly well represented in combined courses in the Science - General field in the Australian Capital Territory and South Australia (both 57%), although overall enrolments in the latter state were low. Institutions with particularly high participation rates for women in the major field of Science - General included the University of New England (65%), the University of Technology, Sydney (63%), the University of Queensland (60%) and Deakin University (58%). Relative to the 40% threshold target, women were under-represented in bachelor level combined courses in this field in a total of five institutions, but participation rates in two of these - the University of Southern Queensland (39%) and Griffith University (38%) - were very close to target. At the University of Western Australia, where approximately 85% of all students combine studies in the Science - General field with engineering, women participated at a rate of 29%. Between 1997 and 1999, the national participation rate for women in the major field of Computer Science, Information Systems increased from 20% to 25%. Queensland’s participation rate markedly improved in the same time period, moving up from 13% to 24%, and strong gains were further evident in South Australia and New South Wales (see Table 4b, page 42). Overall, women’s percentage share of combined course enrolments in Computer Science, Information Systems in 1999 ranged widely, standing at 6% in Western Australia (enrolments totalled 108) and 44% in the Northern Territory (enrolments totalled 9). Table 4b also clearly shows variable participation rates for women in combined courses coded to the major field of Computer Science, Information Systems at the institutional level in 1999. In all, women’s participation was high in a total of four institutions. With enrolments totalling 22, women’s participation in combined courses encompassing Computer Science, Information Systems at James Cook University was rate of 64%. Low enrolments but high participation rates were further evident at the University of Queensland (55%), the Northern Territory University (44%) and the University of Technology, Sydney (43%). Amongst those universities with very high enrolments in the Computer Science, Information Systems field, participation rates were as follows: the University of Melbourne (27%), Queensland University of Technology (22%), Latrobe University (31%) and Monash (34%). Total enrolments in combined courses coded to the Life, General Sciences field at the bachelor (honours/pass) level moved up from 1,436 in 1997 to 1,851 in 1999 and, concurrently, the national participation rate for women increased from 55% to 56% (see Table 4b, page 43). Amongst the states and territories, combined course participation rates in 1999 for women in the Life, General Sciences field ranged from a low of 20% in South Australia to a high of 62% in Western Australia, and South Australia was the only state to not achieve the 40% threshold target. Combined course enrolments in the Life, General Sciences field in these two states were very low, however, as they were in most institutions. Participation rates in institutions where enrolments in the major field of Life, General Sciences exceeded one hundred were: University of Newcastle (53%), Deakin University (66%), the University of Melbourne (25%), Griffith University (49%), Queensland University of Technology (61%) and the University of the Sunshine Coast (62%). Relative to the 40% threshold target, women were consistently under-represented in combined courses at the bachelor (honours/pass) level that encompassed the major field of Mathematics during the 1997-1999 period (see Table 4b, page 43). The national participation rate in 1999, for example, was 34% and rates at the state/ territory level were, in most instances, considerably lower Significantly however, women’s representation in New South Wales - where enrolments in the Mathematics field were highest (349) - matched the target in 1999. Institutions with high participation rates for women included the University of Technology, Sydney (61%), the University of New England (60%) and the University of New South Wales (43%). At Macquarie University, where combined course enrolments at the bachelor level in Mathematics totalled 164, women participated at a rate of 41%. Although combined course enrolments steadily climbed between 1997 and 1999, women’s representation in the major field of Physical Sciences did not improve (see Table 4b, page 44). Indeed, at the national level, women’s percentage share of combined course enrolments in this field declined from 23% in 1997 to 20% in 1999. Amongst the states and territories in 1999, participation rates ranged from 11% in South Australia (enrolments totalled 81) to 25% in New South Wales (enrolments totalled 122). The participation rates for those universities with comparatively high combined course enrolments in the Physical Sciences field were as follows: Curtin University of Technology (21%), the University of South Australia (12%), Macquarie University (35%) and University of Technology, Sydney (11%).
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