Author Description

The Mapping Australian higher education series of reports aims to provide information on trends, policy and performance in the Australian higher education sector. The 2016 report is the fourth in this series. Chapter one explains how higher education is defined in Australia, the different types of higher education provider, the various types of qualification, and what makes universities distinctive among higher education providers. Chapter two reports on student trends including enrolment numbers, courses chosen, and the mix of students on campus. It also discusses how students enter the higher education system. Chapter three looks at the higher education workforce, including why people become academics, their employment arrangements, and their pay. Chapter four looks at research in Australian universities, including what topics are researched and research outputs. Chapter five provides information on how higher education is funded, including overall levels of funding, the income contingent [Higher Education Loan Program] HELP student loan scheme and research funding. Chapter six outlines how per student funding levels are determined, and how student places are distributed among higher education providers. Chapter seven describes the expanding scope of the Commonwealth Government in higher education, the key government departments and the higher education interest groups. Chapter eight examines higher education's social outcomes, including whether the disciplines studied meet employment needs, the quality of university research, and public satisfaction with Australian universities. Chapter nine covers outcomes for students, including academic standards, student satisfaction with teaching, and graduate employment and earnings. Chapter ten looks in more detail at science, IT and engineering enrolment trends and employment outcomes. [Introduction, ed].