Higher Education In Australia Research Articles

Changing policy, changing plans: responses to the end of fee-free education

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to investigate the ending of fee-free higher education in Australia for overseas students in the 1980s, and the ways in which the government managed the diplomatic relationships that were affected by this policy shift. The introduction of fee-free higher education in Australia in 1974 was incredibly popular, and the end of the program in the late 1980s created difficulties for individuals, families and diplomatic relationships.Design/methodology/approachUsing a mix of secondary sources and archival documents, this paper has a historiographical element, and an element of analysis.FindingsThis research finds that the ending of fee-free education created significant diplomatic issues with a number of Australia’s regional neighbours. It also created issues for individual students and families. The solution to these problems was, in large part, a scholarship scheme called the Equity and Merit Scholarship Scheme (EMSS). The EMSS was designed, in part, to address the issues created by the end of the fee-free program. However, the design of the scholarship scheme also created its own diplomatic issues with a different cohort of nation states.Originality/valueThere is limited scholarly research into the history of international education policy in Australia. This research draws on the work of some scholars of international scholarships, as well as historians of universities and education more broadly. This research adds to a growing body of work in the field of Australian international education history.

Curriculum across the great divide: exploring a key problem of Australian tertiary education

ABSTRACT Tertiary education in Australia is dominated by a division between two large systems of provision: vocational education and training (VET) and higher education (HE). Over time, these tertiary education sectors have become distinct in several respects, including the way curriculum is conceived and practiced. In VET, competency-based training operates as a system-wide curriculum model. In HE, different professions and disciplines, in addition to university requirements, directly influence and shape curriculum design. The Australian competency-based model has been politicised over the last few decades, leading to fetishisation of the standards used to guide learning and teaching in VET and fostering distinct approaches to curriculum in the two systems. Schwab’s notion of curriculum commonplaces can be used to examine teaching and learning in VET to highlight ways in which an expanded concept of curriculum could lead to a renewal of VET and simultaneously promote generative articulation between the two tertiary systems.

Towards Social Transformation: An Exploration of the Divergent Histories of Radicalism and Corporatizing Higher Education in Australia

Towards Social Transformation: An Exploration of the Divergent Histories of Radicalism and Corporatizing Higher Education in Australia

The Humanities: What Future?

Higher education in Australia is in a period of crisis and transition. While COVID-related events and their impacts have made it difficult for all areas of university academic endeavour, among the hardest hit have been humanities. Drawing on live interviews with professors in a range of humanities disciplines, the paper elucidates various elements of the crisis, which includes a summary of the impacts of the last three decades’ rise in neoliberalist imperatives within the university sector. The paper then argues that a robust defence of the humanities needs to be made and uses literary studies as its focus. Today, we are more in need of the humanities than ever. But this is a complex undertaking as research in higher education and live interviews reveal; the dictates of measurement, accountability, and questions of value within the humanities remain vexed; and while the aims and requirements of humanities studies may be at odds with neoliberalist demands and corporatisation, the humanities themselves may also be contributing to their own demise. Therefore, I offer future directions: I argue for the urgent need for the humanities to reinvigorate their ethical and critical functions, the need to demonstrate the connections between the humanities and wellbeing, the imperative to slow down and to eradicate the over-casualisation of academia, and the necessity for the humanities to articulate more clearly their connections with employment outcomes for a dynamic and evolving future.

LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA

The article examines and analyses legislative support of higher education in Australia and compares it with the educational legislation of Ukraine. It is defined that Australia is a federal country and its education legislation is provided by the National and State Governments. The national government develops the national education policy and substantiates its guiding principles. The federal government is responsible for funding higher education and provides additional funding to the states. State and territory governments control all aspects of education except universities. The laws in this country are effective. In education, they are focused on improving the quality of professional training, forming such competences of higher education students that employers expect and that are appropriate for workplaces. Higher education in Australia is provided by universities and colleges, as well as institutions of the state-controlled TAFE (Technical and Further Education) system. Universities in Australia provide theoretical training for higher education applicants. Vocational education, focused on the development of specific skills for activities in a specific workplace, is provided by TAFE institutions. Their programmes are developed in partnership with business and industry communities. 
 In addition to the public TAFE system, there are also private vocational colleges. The legislative framework of higher education in Australia includes: Australian Education Act, Higher Education Act, Higher Education Support Act, Australian Qualifications Framework, Training Packages.
 The latter outline the standards of professional skills that can be used to train and assess the competences of education seekers. Training Packages were developed in the process of national consultations with industry. Their goals are to determine the match between the demand for qualifications and the supply; encourage the development of a flexible and relevant workforce and training; ensure national recognition of professional and technical training results; support people in the choice of education and career.

Audit of essential infection prevention and control content provided within undergraduate/postgraduate public health programs across Australian and New Zealand universities.

To describe and analyse the infection prevention and control (IPC) curricula within Public Health degrees across Australian and New Zealand Universities and identify foundational IPC knowledge deficits. A cross-sectional study of public health and related programs across tertiary education institutions within Australia and New Zealand was conducted to comprehensively illustrate the current inclusion of IPC core and elective courses and identify areas of IPC content deficit. Australian (n=32) and New Zealand (n=9) universities were audited, consisting of 217 public health/public health related degrees within Australia and 45 within New Zealand. Within Australia 41% of public health degrees and 49% in New Zealand did not offer any IPC content as core or elective subjects. Public health tertiary education in Australia and New Zealand is lacking in equipping and imbedding IPC skills and knowledge in public health graduates. This highlights the need for a framework guiding mandatory IPC content within Australian and New Zealand public health programs.

Geographies of COVID‐19

Geographies of COVID‐19

Casual Accounting Academics' Sense of Dignity and Inclusion in the Workplace

ABSTRACTThe delivery of accounting higher education in Australia has been heavily dependent on casual academic staff in light of increased enrolments of national and international students. Although research to date has emphasized the demanding aspects of casual teaching and the need for improvements to the working conditions of casual academics, little is known about casual academics lived experiences and the way they develop ethical understanding of their day-to-day working conditions. We provide in-depth empirical evidence about casual accounting academics employment experiences in Australian universities and highlight the factors that support and/or inhibit casual academics' sense of inclusion and dignity in the workplace. Using “workplace dignity” as our theoretical framework, we find that the stage of the casual academics' career and their aspirations for academia impact their views and experiences of dignity and inclusion in the workplace.

Demonstrating cultural diversity and inclusivity in selecting academics in higher education in Australia

Benefits of a diversified workforce is undeniable. This paper outlines research in progress into racial, cultural and gender influence on the selection processes of academic positions in higher education in Australia. We argue that a genuine aim of cultural diversity and inclusivity among students needs to be preceded and demonstrated by the same goal in selecting academics in higher education. This work is important as there is no study in Australia on how the university's academic selection is influenced by the decision-maker's personal and organisational characteristics and belief systems. This research aims to collect data from the university employees who have been interviewed for academic positions and from staff who have served on selection panels. The research will employ a survey followed by optional semi-structured interviews. Descriptive and thematic analysis will be carried out on the survey data. The interview data will be analysed using verbal data analysis. The result of this research would provide insight into how the cultural, racial and gender identity of the candidate and members of selection panels influence the selection process in academic recruitment in Australian universities and thus demonstrate the aim of cultural diversity and inclusivity among academic staff and students.

Narratives of financial assistance for university students and the emergence of HECS in Australia

ABSTRACT This article traces the development of four narratives of financial assistance for Australian university students – to encourage excellence; to meet public need; to build the stock of human capital; and as universal provision – and their effect on the development of a fifth narrative, centred on the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). Financial support schemes have been provided by governments, industry, philanthropic and religious groups, or a combination of these. These narratives reflect deep-seated ideas about the meaning and value of education, and the emphasis placed on public or private benefits. This article shows how these narratives have affected access to university and who has attended. It shows the influence of student support schemes in shaping higher education in Australia.

Applying Mixed Methods Research in Large-scale Programs – Tracing the Long-term Outcomes of Development Scholarship Alumni

Over the past 30 years, mixed methods research has become an increasingly popular tool in the social sciences. Mixed methods research can capture a diverse range of perspectives and levels of complexities not always possible with the use of a single methodological approach. It has been effectively implemented in a range of contexts to explore program outcomes and investigate research questions. This paper explores the application of a mixed methods approach in the evaluation of large-scale, long running international development scholarship programs. The particular focus is on a project implemented to consolidate evidence relating to the long-term outcomes of alumni who completed higher education in Australia as part of an Australian development scholarship. In reflecting on five years of implementation, the paper describes the benefits, complexities and challenges of this approach, with the aim of informing others embarking on large-scale, long-term program evaluations.

Teacher presence through the lens of kindness

In March 2020, one Australian higher education provider, like many others, found itself pivoting into fully online teaching as the nation managed the COVID 19 pandemic and campuses closed. Bespoke professional learning workshops were offered to all staff, many of whom demonstrated the professional willingness to change their practices in order to offer students the highest quality learning experience that was possible in the demanding and unexpected conditions inherent in the pandemic. There were many challenges revealed through ongoing discussions amongst staff as a community of learners. Throughout the discussions, the concept of presence (Garrison, 2007, 2017) was recurring - teacher and student presence in the newly mandated online teaching context. The centrality of kindness was identified as a second concept that mediated academic discussions and emotions. Both concepts form the focus of this paper. The positioning of kindness within Garrison’s framework of inquiry (2017) will be proposed as a proposition that is worthy of further research particularly if higher education in Australia continues to be uncertain and fraught with change.

‘I'm broken but I'm alive’: gender, COVID-19 and higher education in Australia

ABSTRACT This paper reports on a project conducted between July 2020 and March 2021 that was developed within the context of COVID-19 and explored the ways in which Australian universities responded to the pandemic and the gendered effects of these responses. This paper demonstrates that sexist and gender discriminatory practices were amplified by the pandemic and that the gendered division of labour within higher education was made more apparent. We contribute to a growing body of work on gender and the COVID-19 crisis by reporting on a survey conducted in Australia. The survey asked participants to reflect on their experiences qualitatively. It is this qualitative element that has been missing from much of the research in the field thus far. In addition, the diversity of participants means that we bring an intersectional lens to the ongoing effects of the pandemic upon higher education, including exploring the experiences and reflections of academics who identify as culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), LGBTIQA+, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experiences and reflections. This paper, therefore, reports on some of the key findings from the survey and focuses upon the gendered dimensions of the pandemic, domestic life and pandemic living-working, and affect, emotion and wellbeing.

TRENDS IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA

The study of foreign experience is necessary for innovative modernization of domestic higher education. Education in Australia guarantees successful studying, mastering of the latest technologies, promising development, and successful employment of graduates in the future. That is why interest in the development trends of higher education in this country is justified. The purpose of the article is to outline the main trends in the development of higher education in Australia. In the preparation of the article a number of theoretical methods were used. Among them are general scientific (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, specification, which contributed to the identification of the main ideas for determining the key trends in the development of higher education in Australia) and specific scientific (cause and effect analysis, which helped to study the influence of international and state educational policies on the development of higher education in the country). The following main trends in the development of higher education in Australia have been identified: higher education sector is developing with state funding and on the basis of forward-looking government laws, improving conditions for the provision of educational services; the Australian system of higher education successfully cooperates with the European Higher Education Area, whose integration is based on thorough observance of national traditions and trends; there is close cooperation among enterprises and universities, support and development of scientific research; The National Workforce Strategy (2022–2027) defines a coordinated approach to solve the problem of personnel control (student employment and further professional development); lifelong learning is a link to educational success. Highlighting the main trends in the development of higher education in Australia will help to further determine the specifics of the professional training of specialists in English Philology at the country’s universities.

Digital transformation of higher education in Australia: Understanding affordance dynamics in E-Textbook engagement and use

This paper addresses digital transformation in higher education by exploring the engagement and use of e-textbooks through an affordance theory lens. Drawing on the insights from in-depth interviews (n = 18), focus group discussions (n = 15), a pilot survey (n = 83) and the main survey (n = 344) in Australia, we developed and validated an affordance actualisation model for the engagement and use of e-textbooks. The partial least squares (PLS) technique was used to validate the dimensions of affordance actualisation and its relationship with e-textbooks engagement and affordance effect. The findings indicate the efficacy of the two affordance constructs, as well as the significant mediating effect of engagement. An important lesson for the e-textbook industry is that firms need to consider affordance actualisation dimensions (i.e., portability, accessibility, searchability, highlighting, copying, browsing, hedonic and utilitarian value) when enhancing digital engagement and use of e-textbooks.

International student mobility: Pacific Islander experiences of higher education in Australia

AbstractTertiary education scholarships for individual students from developing countries, including those in the Pacific Islands, are a key pillar of Australia's development policy. Understanding students' experiences of these scholarships are important in identifying both positives and challenges, which can help foster improved future opportunities. This is especially the case for Pacific Islander students engaging in the Australia Awards Scholarship programme for which there is limited understanding of experiences. As such, this paper identifies that although educational mobility programmes can offer a wealth of opportunities for students, the COVID‐19 pandemic has highlighted the challenges of such programmes which can inhibit students from reaching their full potential. Educational mobility programmes that effectively address the needs of students and empower them to achieve their goals are required to better facilitate transformative development pathways for Australia's Pacific Island neighbours.

Retention in rural speech and language therapy: The impact of rural tertiary education in Australia

BACKGROUND: Recruitment and retention of skilled health workers into rural areas is a major challenge to achieving equity in health between rural and urban populations. OBJECTIVE: This study explored the impact of rurally-based tertiary education in promoting the recruitment and retention of speech and language therapists (SLTs) in non-metropolitan areas and intention to remain in the profession. METHODS: Participants in this cohort study were 133 graduates from a rurally-based speech and language therapy course in Australia who completed the course between 1998 and 2018. Data were collected via an online survey. Data were analysed using inferential statistics, ArcGIS mapping software and content analysis in NVivo12. RESULTS: 65.0% of the graduates practiced in rural or remote areas with just 21.1% practicing in major cities. Most participants’ ideal work location was in a rural area. Benefits of rural practice included seeing a mixed caseload, living near family, work/life balance and loving their location. Challenges of rural practice included limited opportunities for specialist caseloads and career progression. In total, 93.2% of the rural graduates intended to remain in the speech and language therapy profession for the next 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that SLTs who are trained in rural areas with a focus on servicing rural populations are highly likely to enter and remain in rural practice, consistent with the rural pipeline model.

Endless Study, Infinite Debt: On study inside and outside the university classroom

This paper begins by considering the state of higher education in Australia, following structural changes facilitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. We consider the longer-term effects of neoliberal ideology on the sector, charting the way that ongoing crises of/in higher education work to co-opt university workers and students into a position in which they are required to defend the idea of the university as a site of enlightenment. We then discuss the erosion of funding in the arts and argue that in concert with the diminished resourcing of the university, ad hoc social spaces within contemporary art have become temporary communities for study. We analyse a project of our own – Endless Study, Infinite Debt – which seeks to engage in the collective study of infrastructure, settlement, and racial capitalism. We consider how the university and art might be ambivalently engaged to practise forms of care and study against privatisation/professionalisation and towards solidarity.

Delivering Employable Event Studies Graduates: Student Perspectives on the Benefits of Experiential Learning

The past decade has seen increasing competition between graduates for jobs, and universities are now frequently scrutinized and evaluated on their graduate employment success rates. This study reports on student perceptions of a revised event management course designed to enhance graduate employability through the use of experiential learning, based on the new Threshold Learning Outcomes for event studies in higher education in Australia. Thematic analysis of individual student reflections (the final assessment piece in the course) finds that students perceive significant benefits from the experiential learning activities, and most are able to articulate these in relation to employability. Professional skills and personal attributes developed include communication, problem solving, collaboration, leadership, and confidence. Students also perceive value in being able to link theory to practice and immerse themselves in a hands-on "real world" events industry experience that cements both events knowledge and events processes.

The pursuit of ‘the good life’: Muslim masculinities and the transition to higher education in Australia

ABSTRACT Within the social imaginary of Australia’s dominant ‘White’ culture, ethnic minority men, particularly Muslim men, are often depicted as ‘folk devils,’ resistant to the cultural norms of mainstream society. Muslim masculinities have been problematically conflated with notions of radicalisation, terrorism and violent extremism. There has been decidedly less attention to Muslim men’s acclimatisation to the secular mainstream. This article presents a longitudinal case study of two second-generation young Australian-Muslim men who have attended an Islamic secondary school and spent most of their lives within a cloistered Islamic community. We document their experiences and aspirations as they come to be in higher education. The article considers the discursive production of identities of these men during a liminal time in their lives and how they construct their identities in relation to familial and community-based expectations around success and failure.