1301.0 - Year Book Australia, 2007  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 24/01/2007   
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Contents >> Education and Training >> Higher education

HIGHER EDUCATION

INSTITUTIONS

In 2005, there were 74 public and private higher education institutions that received Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) funding on behalf of students in the form of student HELP loans from the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). Higher education student tables in this section include enrolments from these institutions. In contrast, in 2004 there were 41 higher education institutions which received operating grants from DEST.

Apart from the Australian National University and the Australian Maritime College, which are established under Commonwealth legislation, Australian universities operate under state or territory legislation. However, they are autonomous bodies responsible for their own governance and make their own decisions on allocation of funding, staffing and academic courses.

Most higher education institutions provide both full-time and part-time courses, and external or distance education courses. In addition, some institutions offer courses which associate full-time study with periods of employment.

STUDENTS AND COURSES

Table 10.18 shows the number of higher education students and their mode of participation at higher education institutions. The number of such students enrolled during the twelve-month period 1 January to 31 December 2005 was 957,176, an increase of 12,200 (or 1%) on that for the period 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004. The greatest increase in numbers of students occurred among those choosing multi-modal (a mixture of face-to-face and external) tuition (up by 8,826 or 17%). Students choosing internal mode (face-to-face) increased by 7,141 (1%). Some 63% of multi-modal higher education students in 2005 were female, compared with 55% of all higher education students.


10.18 HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS(a), By mode(b) and type of enrolment

2004
2005


Males
Females
Persons
Males
Females
Persons

Internal
Full time
260,404
296,535
556,939
265,219
300,916
566,135
Part time
92,408
105,481
197,889
91,185
104,649
195,834
Total
352,812
402,016
754,828
356,404
405,565
761,969
External
Full time
11,237
13,702
24,939
10,708
14,195
24,903
Part time
48,896
63,630
112,526
46,060
62,734
108,794
Total
60,133
77,332
137,465
56,768
76,929
133,697
Multi-modal
Full time
13,316
24,502
37,818
17,173
28,661
45,834
Part time
5,296
9,570
14,866
5,503
10,173
15,676
Total
18,612
34,072
52,684
22,676
38,834
61,510
Total
Full time
284,957
334,739
619,696
293,100
343,772
636,872
Part time
146,600
178,681
325,281
142,748
177,556
320,304
Total
431,557
513,420
944,977
435,848
521,328
957,176

(a) The scope of the data in this table is students enrolled at any time within the twelve-month period 1 September 2003 to 31 August 2004, and 1 January to 31 December 2005.
(b) This relates to the delivery of education to the student. 'Internal' is where the delivery of education is done entirely within the institution, 'external' refers to delivery of course material to students off-campus, and 'multi-modal' is where at least one, but not all units, are provided at the institution.
Source: Department of Education, Science and Training, 'Students: Selected Higher Education Statistics'.


The basic undergraduate course at most institutions is a bachelor degree of three or four years duration. At some institutions, courses may also be offered at the diploma or advanced diploma level. Most institutions also offer postgraduate level study. One to two years of full-time postgraduate study are required for a master's degree and three to five years for a doctoral degree. Postgraduate diplomas and certificates are offered in some disciplines. In 2005, 68% of higher education students were enrolled in bachelor degree courses, with a further 28% enrolled in higher degree and other postgraduate courses.

Higher education institutions offer a wide variety of courses. The most commonly chosen fields of education for award course students in 2005 were: Management and commerce; Society and culture; Health; and Education (table 10.19).


10.19 HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS, By level and field of education - 2005


Field of education
Level of education of study

Post-graduate
degree
Graduate diploma/
Graduate
certificate
Bachelor
degree
Advanced
diploma/

Diploma
Other
education
Total
courses
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000
'000

Natural and physical sciences
11.4
1.9
62.2
0.2
0.3
76.0
Information technology
17.9
2.5
43.7
0.3
0.1
64.4
Engineering and related technologies
12.6
2.4
48.9
1.0
0.5
65.4
Architecture and building
2.4
1.2
16.1
0.1
0.0
19.9
Agriculture, environment and related studies
3.9
1.0
11.2
1.0
0.1
17.2
Health
16.2
9.5
81.3
0.6
0.2
107.8
Education
17.1
13.9
63.7
0.5
0.2
95.3
Management and commerce
75.2
17.5
178.6
1.8
1.0
274.0
Society and culture
33.8
14.2
152.8
4.6
2.9
208.3
Creative arts
6.6
2.5
50.6
0.5
1.0
61.2
Food, hospitality and personal services
-
-
0.1
-
-
0.1
Mixed field programmes
-
-
-
-
1.9
1.9
Non-award
-
-
-
-
22.4
22.4
All students(a)
196.8
66.7
652.7
10.4
30.5
957.2

(a) Students undertaking combined courses are counted in each field they are studying. Because of this, the field of education component will not necessarily add to All students.
Source: Department of Education, Science and Training, 'Students 2005: Selected Higher Education Statistics'.

Table 10.20 shows the number of higher education students by age group. Between 2004 and 2005 the growth in higher education student numbers (1%) has been strongest among 20-24 year olds (4%).


10.20 HIGHER EDUCATION STUDENTS(a), By age group

2003
2004
2005
Age group (years)
'000
'000
'000

MALES

19 and under
88.3
88.2
89.6
20-24
152.9
163.1
170.6
25-29
65.4
65.6
65.5
30 and over
117.5
114.7
110.1
Total
424.1
431.6
435.8

FEMALES

19 and under
122.2
120.6
121.8
20-24
176.9
186.4
194.3
25-29
70.0
69.7
68.7
30 and over
136.8
136.7
136.4
Total
505.9
513.4
521.3

PERSONS

19 and under
210.5
208.8
211.4
20-24
329.8
349.5
364.9
25-29
135.4
135.3
134.3
30 and over
254.3
251.4
246.6
Total
930.0
945.0
957.2

(a) The scope of the data in this table is students enrolled at any time within the twelve-month period 1 September to 31 August (2003 and 2004 data), and 1 January to 31 December 2005. Includes students in enabling and non-award courses.
Source: Department of Education, Science and Training, 'Students 2005: Selected Higher Education Student Statistics'.


STAFF

Higher education staff may be classified as academic or non-academic. In 2005, as in previous years, there were more non-academic than academic staff. The largest number of academic staff were at the lecturer and senior lecturer levels.

Table 10.21 shows the ratio of male to female staff has turned around over the past decade. Males were 54% of all staff in 1994, but only 49% in 2000. By 2005, 53% of higher education staff were female.

Growth in female representation occurred at all levels of academic staff, but was most notable at senior lecturer (from 22% in 1994 to 35% in 2005) and above senior lecturer (from 12% to 21%) levels. Despite this, men still outnumbered women at all levels of academic staff except at below lecturer level. In 2005, 60% of all academic staff were male, compared with 64% in 2000 and 68% in 1994.


10.21 HIGHER EDUCATION STAFF

Staff classification
2000
2005

MALES (%)

Academic staff
Above senior lecturer
83.9
78.5
Senior lecturer
70.6
64.6
Lecturer
55.9
52.0
Below lecturer
47.0
46.4
Total
63.7
59.9
Non-academic staff
38.8
37.3
All staff
49.5
47.0

FEMALES (%)

Academic staff
Above senior lecturer
16.1
21.5
Senior lecturer
29.4
35.4
Lecturer
44.1
48.0
Below lecturer
53.0
53.6
Total
36.3
40.1
Non-academic staff
61.2
62.7
All staff
50.5
53.0

PERSONS (no.)

Academic staff
Above senior lecturer
6,972
8,759
Senior lecturer
8,217
9,379
Lecturer
11,467
13,193
Below lecturer
6,458
7,621
Total
33,114
38,952
Non-academic staff
43,764
51,455
All staff
76,878
90,407

Source: Department of Education, Science and Training, 'Staff: Selected Higher Education Statistics'.



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