Difference in school opportunity ‘alarming': Gonski

17/03/2013 by
Gonski

Sydney Morning Herald    |  16 March 2013 The difference in educational opportunities between the haves and have-nots is ''alarming'', according to David Gonski, the businessman who reviewed school funding for the federal government.  In rare public comments over education reform progress, Gonski says he sincerely hopes something comes out of his 18-month review, handed to the government in late 2011. Gonski says an extra $6 billion in funding each year was not a lot of money considering $1 billion is currently spent on schools each week. The plea comes amid doubts over whether the proposed school funding reform will be achieved amid brawling between state and federal governments … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, COAG, Commonwealth policies, Schools Tagged With: , , , ,

Research cuts mean saving cash only to ignore the future

17/03/2013 by

UNSW New Room    |    6  March 2013 When we discover the formula for something that does actually work why would we let it fritter away? In the case of the Future Fellowship Scheme there’s a lot at risk. The five-year scheme’s final round closed this month with nothing in the wings to take its place and nothing to ensure its benefits don’t simply evaporate when the current funding runs out. The Future Fellowships have brought 200 mid-career researchers a year into the Australian research sector, building a critical mass in research areas which address national challenges and help Australia secure its position in a globalised knowledgeeconomy.  At UNSW, Future Fellowships have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Commonwealth policies, Research, University of NSW Tagged With: , ,

NCVER Insight #48 March 2013

17/03/2013 by
NCVER logo

  Are we there yet? Youth transitions in Australia Latest research from the Longitudinal Surveys of Australian Youth (LSAY) is the focus of NCVER’s upcoming national forum on youth transitions. Featuring prominent speakers like the Gonski review’s expert panel member Bill Scales, The Australian’s John Ross, and Radio National’s Paul Barclay, this event is sure to appeal to anyone with an interest in the challenges faced by Australian youth in moving from school into further study, work and other destinations. More Completions forum sparks lively debate Does completing a qualification matter? What are the implications of performance-based funding? These were … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commonwealth policies, Community engagement, Conferences, Higher education policy, NCVER, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , , ,

Education as a pathway out of social exclusion

17/03/2013 by
competition

NCVER Insight    |     March 2013 Social exclusion is a complex concept.  In Educating oneself out of social exclusion, Heilke Buddelmeyer and colleagues examine the many dimensions of social exclusion and particularly focus on the positive role that education and training can play in overcoming it.  They find that social exclusion is much more than being on a low income; education is a ‘powerful marker’, and this gives policy-makers a strong incentive to find ways of reducing the number of people who leave school before Year 12. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey and the Survey of Education and Training, Buddelmeyer and his colleagues … [Read more...]

Filed Under: NCVER, Research, Schools, TAFE Tagged With: , ,

ATN in Profile March 2013

17/03/2013 by
ATN logo2

Following are the first paragraphs from each item - go to HERE to read items in full.   ____________________________________________________________________________________ Report to Lead Sustainable Higher Education Strategy The ATN has welcomed the release of the Australia Educating Globally report, and is supportive of its recommendations.   Among its 35 recommendations is to establish an Australia-Asia International Education Research Network, which we believe will be key to promoting collaboration within the region.  Policy Platform to Set Positive Future for Australian Higher Education The Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) welcomes the release of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ATN, Coalition policies, Conferences, Higher education policy, International, International students, Science, Universities Australia, University of South Australia Tagged With: , , ,

Workforce demand for graduates to soar: AWPA

17/03/2013 by

UA Media Centre    |    8 March 2013 The Australian Workforce Productivity Agency (AWPA) has projected that industry demand for people with higher education qualifications is set to soar with growth rates of between 3 and 4% every year to 2025. AWPA’s report, Future Focus: 2013 National Workforce Development Strategy, concludes that high quality tertiary education underpins the goal of boosting productivity and developing a culture of innovation. Belinda Robinson, chief executive of Universities Australia, (UA), says the report provides further evidence that an increase in investment in university education should be a strong priority if we are to drive higher productivity, economic … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Budget, Commonwealth policies, Higher education policy, Universities Australia Tagged With: , , , , ,

Commonwealth’s plan to improve teacher training

17/03/2013 by
PETER GARRETT BETTER SCHOOLS VISIT

Commonwealth Media Centre    |    11   March   2013 Following on from the announcement of  the NSW's government plan to "lift the bar" onteacher training, the Commonwealth governmen thas announced its own plan to introduce new, more rigorous standards for teacher training courses to improve the quality of teachers graduating from universities and being employed in Australian schools. The Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, Chris Bowen MP, and the Minister for School Education, Peter Garrett MP, announced the new standards as part of the National Plan for School Improvement. Under the proposal, teaching degrees will have to introduce an improved admissions … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Commonwealth policies, Teacher training, Universities Australia Tagged With: , , ,