Impact of the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) on participation in higher education in Victoria and Western Australia in 1989 [EIP 90/150]
This report assesses the relative importance of factors affecting key decisions related to higher education participation, and to assess compositional differences, if any, between groups making different decisions and the influence of HECS thereon. The report studies five distinct populations of interest ranging from Year 12 students in 1988 to post graduate students in 1988. Control groups were selected to provide a basis for comparison and interpretation of results: C1 undergraduates enrolling for the time in 1989; C2 undergraduates in 1988 who re-enrolled in 1989; C3 new and continuing honours and post-graduate students. Basic methodology was to compare two groups at the key decision points outlined above. The task was to tease out any additional impact attributable to the introduction of HECS.
Abstract
The effects of HECS can be divided into two categories: quantitative and qualitative/compositional. The report was not directly about assessing the quantitative impact of HECS, although estimates are given of the orders of magnitude of the proportions whose decision have been significantly affected by HECS. This report was principally concerned with possible compositional effects of HECS, particularly at key decision points associated with higher education participation. The key decision points were as follows: the decision to apply to enter a higher education institution; the decision to accept an offer of a place at a higher education institution; the decision to re-enrol in an undergraduate course; the decision to undertake an honours degree of post-graduate course; and the decision to re-enrol in a post-graduate course. This research was funded under the Evaluations and Investigations Programme (EIP).
Author(s)
Frances Robertson; Judith Sloan; Neil Bardsley
Publication Details
| Type : |
Reports |
| Published : |
1990 |
Topics Covered
| Sectors : |
| Higher education |
| School education |
|
| Detailed :
|
| Education policy |
| Student participation and achievement |
|
Availability
This publication is available from DEST library services via inter-library loan through your local library.