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education links e-news on higher education[ background ] [ index ] [ previous issues ] [ subscribe ] Issue 03Greenwich University review reportThe Greenwich University review report was finalised on 7 December 2000 and the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp, made the following statement on the report in the Parliament.
A copy of the report was tabled in the Senate Estimates Committee on Employment, Workplace Relations, Small Business and Education Legislation Committee on 22 February 2001. Higher Education Report for the 2001 to 2003 TrienniumThe 2000 Higher Education Report for the 2001 to 2003 Triennium, tabled in Parliament on 6 March 2001, shows that the Government continues to provide improved access to higher education and to enhance the income earning potential of universities. The Report outlines progress with important new higher education policy initiatives, including the new research funding scheme, the establishment of the new quality assurance framework and additional supplementation for salaries linked to management reforms. A major focus for the Government in 2000 has been the implementation of its Knowledge and Innovation White paper reforms for higher education research and research training. The reforms are designed to build the critical mass needed to support world competitive research excellence, to increase technology transfer from universities, and to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of research training. To support the policy objectives of Knowledge and Innovation around half of the $2.9 billion package of initiatives, Backing Australia Ability, announced by the Prime Minister in January 2001, will be directed to universities. The report is now available on DETYA’s website at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/he_report/2001_2003 Research ReinvigoratedIn an address to the Group of Eight Policy Forum on 16 February this year, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp, pointed out the great opportunity offered to universities by the Prime Minister's launch of Backing Australia's Ability: An Innovation Action Plan for the Future.
However, the Minister did sound a note of caution about the Backing Australia's Ability Postgraduate Education Loans Scheme.
www.dest.gov.au/ministers/Kempm+s.htm Staff 2000 selected higher education statisticsStaff numbers at Australian universities continue to grow according to a report soon to be released by the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp. The report, Staff 2000: Selected Higher Education Statistics, shows that the total staff full-time equivalence (FTE) in 2000 was 82,232. This is 1.7 per cent higher than in 1999 and is the second highest FTE figure for the sector for the period 1991 to 2000, being only slightly lower than the peak of 82,888 FTE recorded in 1996. While almost 30 per cent of this increase is due to an increase in full-time staff, with three-quarters of all staff employed in full-time positions in 2000, there has also been a significant increase in the number of casual staff, who now account for 15 per cent of all university FTEs. This increase in casual staff is clearly important as it gives universities greater flexibility. Many of the casuals employed by universities are also currently working in industry which helps to ensure that university teaching remains relevant to the labour market. The year 2000 saw a continuing trend towards a more even gender balance in all staff categories. Males continue to account for the majority of staff in most categories (full-time; academic; lecturer, senior lecturer and above senior lecturer), but there have been substantial increases in the FTE for female staff in each of these categories. Females account for most fractional full-time and non-academic staff, but in these categories there have been increases in the percentage of male staff. The largest percentage increase in female employment was at the most senior level of 'above senior lecturer' where, compared to 1999, there was an increase of 8.4 per cent in the number of full-time equivalent positions occupied by women. Staff 2000: Selected Higher Education Statistics contains summary statistics about staff at Australian higher education institutions - including information about staff numbers, gender, employment status, and State based data, gained from the 2000 and 1999 statistics collected by the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Previous editions of this report are available: www.dest.gov.au/highered/statpubs.htm Postgraduates' satisfactionThe project's objective was to conduct the first national level survey measuring postgraduates' satisfaction with their research experience. The project was conducted by the Graduate Careers Council of Australia, and the Australian Council for Educational Research was commissioned to write the report presenting the findings of the survey. A 28 item instrument, developed from earlier trial surveys, was sent to all research graduates completing their degree during the 1998-99 financial year. Thirty five Australian institutions and one New Zealand institution participated in the survey. In all, there were over 2,200 responses to the survey giving a response rate of 49 per cent. The characteristics of respondents broadly matched those of the population being surveyed indicating the results gathered from the survey are likely to be applicable to the wider research graduate population. The survey confirmed, through a range of testing procedures, that key dimensions of postgraduate research experience include supervision, intellectual climate, skills development, infrastructure, thesis examination and clarity of goals. The correlations between sub-scales were relatively low suggesting the sub-scales are measuring different constructs of research experience. The findings of the report serve national accountability requirements concerning the quality of postgraduate research training. For example, the results from the 1999 national survey show that postgraduate research students are broadly satisfied with the quality of their training. In relation to the overall satisfaction item, 83 per cent of graduates stated they were satisfied with their training. Nevertheless, the report highlights a possible need by institutions to apply closer scrutiny to some aspects of postgraduate research training to ensure they are meeting the needs of students. While research graduates demonstrated relatively high levels of satisfaction with regard to skills (90 per cent) and goals (88 per cent), they were less satisfied with the standard of supervision (69 per cent), infrastructure (67 per cent) and intellectual climate (55 per cent). The results confirm findings from the earlier trial surveys that the PREQ instrument has the capacity to discriminate between the experiences of different groups in the research graduate population. For example, males, older, overseas, non-English speaking, full-time and PhD graduates tend to report that they are more satisfied with various aspects of their research experience than are other relevant groups for comparison purposes. Similarly, the PREQ has the capacity to discriminate by field of study since arts graduates report relatively lower levels of satisfaction in the areas of intellectual climate and infrastructure than do science based graduates. There does appear to be some institutional variation, particularly in the area of intellectual climate. The report suggests that the discrepancy between best practice and institutional practices in some areas may warrant further investigation to provide a better understanding of the reasons for institutional differences. The report 1999, Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire is due for release in April 2001. For background on the PREQ see: www.dest.gov.au/archive/highered/eippubs/eip99-10/99_10execsum.htm publications and websitesrecent releasesECU Service 2000: A client-centred transformation of corporate services (EIP 00/16)This paper describes the process and final form of restructure to ensure the expectations and needs of students were met through the provision of high quality services, in which eight divisions with traditional and compartmentalised functions were transformed into four client-focused service centres. The implementation phase of the restructure is described, including the important principles and processes used to manage change. The final section of the paper has the advantage of hindsight, and examines ECU's relative success, and some of the pitfalls, in moving to the new philosophical approach of a client-centred focus. www.dest.gov.au/highered/eippubs/eip00_16/default.htm due out soonA Study to Develop a Costing Methodology for Library and Information Technology Activities for the Australian Higher Education Sector This report highlights in its discussion and recommendations, that the framework and systems for studying costs through such methodologies as ABC should continuously be challenged to ensure relevance in the data and activities, and that the overall focus is informed as strategies change to meet competitive pressures and opportunities. It is reported that ABC can assist managers and staff to better understand their actions and decisions by focusing attention on those activities that help them achieve their goals, through a structured and methodical process. It is anticipated that A Study to Develop a Costing Methodology for Library and Information Technology Activities for the Australian Higher Education Sector will be released on the Internet within the next week. favourites
to grab a copyInternet versionsMost of our publications—from October 1996 onward—are available in full on the DETYA website at: www.dest.gov.au/highered/repts.htm Hard copiesCopies of most of our publications can be purchased from AusInfo’s Government Information Bookshops. Locations and contact details for the AusInfo bookshops are available at: www.dofa.gov.au/infoaccess/infoaccess/ia_infoshops.htm EnquiriesGeneral enquiries about publications can be emailed to Websites, links & updateswebsites
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www.dest.gov.au/highered/links.htm updatesDETYA’s website has new information posted to it on a regular basis. You can keep up with changes via the free Site Change Subscription Service (SCSS). This Service notifies subscribers of significant updates and additions to DETYA websites. how it worksInterested parties need to register to the subscription service. Registration involves providing your email address and selecting the parts of DETYA’s website you wish to be notified about. what it doesOnce registered, subscribers will be sent a weekly email (usually on Monday evenings) with a brief description of any changes and the address for such pages. At www.dest.gov.au select Site Change Subscription Service Copyright© Commonwealth of Australia 2001 This work is copyright. It may be reproduced in whole or in part for study or training purposes subject to the inclusion of the source and no commercial usage or sale. Reproduction for purposes other than those indicated above, require the written permission from the Commonwealth available through AusInfo. Requests and inquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Manager, Legislative Services, AusInfo, GPO Box 1920, Canberra ACT 2601. The views expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. Contacte-news on higher education editorial enquiries: e-news on higher education e-news is available on the Internet at: Full PDF [ background ] [ index ] [ previous issues ] [ subscribe ]
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