Access to Higher Education - Article Example

?Access to Higher Education Access Economics Increasing Australia’s productivity through the effective delivery of the government’s higher education attainment policy, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . According to Access Economics (2010) the government aims to make higher education more accessible and affordable to a higher number of people so as to meet the increasing demand for higher credentials in the labour market. It focuses on a demand driven framework that paves way for publicly funded students to attend private higher education to enable the government to meet its targets with regards to higher education. In other words, the report underscores the important role played by the private sector in attainment of the Australian’s government to improve access to higher education. The government has set targets to drastically increase the number individuals with at least bachelor level credentials. For example, the government aims to increase the number of adults with a university degree to 40 percent by the year 2025. This calls for an increase from 32 percent in 2009 to 40 percent in 2015 (Access Economics, 2010:6). Under previous targets, the attainment rate was expected to be 34 percent. The report points out that skilled migration is expected to give rise to over 240, 000 graduates and this mounts pressure on the government to train more graduates (Access Economics). The Australian government invests heavily in bachelor education. For instance, the government spent $ 8 407 095 000 towards bachelor level education in 2009 (Access Economics, 2010:7). However, this funding is directed towards public universities. Private universities on the other hand do not receive constant funding from the government and largely rely on fee revenue (Access Economics, 2010:3). The government should support private institutions as they play a key role in improving access towards higher education. In summary, the significance of this report is to show the important role played by to meet the increasing demand for higher education. Furthermore, it accentuates the imperative role it plays to help the government achieve the set targets with regards to increase the number of individuals with higher education qualifications to match the labour market requirements. Birrell, B. & Edwards, D. (2009) The Bradley review and access to higher education in Australia, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . The Bradley Review has recommended expansion of domestic level training universities in a move to increase competence in the job market. This report is an important milestone in the higher education arena. It recommends for a considerable increase in the number of adult students pursuing higher education from 29 percent to 40 percent by the year 2020 (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:7). It can be noted that domestic higher education was overlooked at the end of the 20th century had negative effects on the young generation. The recent times have presented numerous job opportunities requiring minimum university qualifications. Conversely, the growth of domestic undergraduate course completion has been minimal. The review asserts that demand for Vocational Education Training (VET) has decreased considerably owing to the changing trend in the economy where employers tend to favour those with higher education qualifications. In order for the government to achieve the 40 percent target enrolment rate in 2020, participate rate and demographic factors must be taken into account (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:4). If there is an increase in population, there will be a corresponding increase in the university enrolment rate. The participation rate is dependent on the number of young people who are attending universities. Recent censuses have revealed that the rate of young people attending college was 28.9 percent in 2006 which translates to the fact that there will be an increase in the number of adults enrolling for university education (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:6). In summary the review advocates for the increase in domestic level training institutions in Australia to cater for the projected increased demand for higher-level education. Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training (2002) Socioeconomic background and higher education participation: An analysis of school students’ aspirations and expectations, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . According to the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training (2002), there has been differential participation in higher education in Australia. Generally speaking, citizens from a lower socioeconomic setting have fewer chances to participate in higher education than those from middle class and high class backgrounds. This inequality has remained to be a major concern in the past decade in spite of the widespread equity programs across the system. To give more insight on the problem the report studies the attitudes students towards higher education. The findings are based on a previous research that was conducted on over 7000 students across 10 to 12 (Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, 2002:4). This study was representative and allowed for comparisons across varying geographic and demographic regions concerning higher education. According to the findings of this study 90 percent were interested in pursuing some sort of tertiary education all other factors being held constant (Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, 2002:4). Two thirds of the students showed a preference to go to university while a quarter was interested in enrolling for VET (Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, 2002:4).70 percent of the students from a higher background believed that they had a sure path to university education. 50 percent of the students from medium socioeconomic background thought so too while only 50 percent of the students from lower backgrounds believed that they would enrol in university (Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, 2002). The report shed some light on how socioeconomic factors impact on attitudes concerning access of higher education. It points to the education disadvantage for individuals from lower socioeconomic settings that are created by the lack of positive factors in their environment and the presence of stronger inhibiting issues. Universities Australia. (n. d.) A smarter Australia: An agenda for Australian higher education 2013- 2016, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . To mark the advent of a new era in the Australian higher education, a convention of 39 universities has developed A Smarter Australia: An Agenda for Australian Higher education 2013- 2016 (Universities Australia, n.d:3). This statement outlines the reforms that are required in the education system over a period of the next four years by paying more attention to long term changes. To begin with, Australia has one of the best education systems in the global scene and students from various parts of the world enrol in their universities in search of world class degrees. The first long term goal that is stated in the report is increase participation in the universities. This is to enable residents to respond to the employment demands in the labour market. This goal will ensure increased government participation in maintaining proper funding of the learning institution and equity initiatives. The second goal is aimed at maintaining a globalized university sector. The third goal is focused on maintaining effective research that strengthens economic and social progress. The last goal is aimed at improving efficiency, investment and regulation. This is by calling on the government to improve their funding by reviewing the process after every five years (Universities Australia, n.d:6). In conclusion, this statement gives a clear path that should be taken by the higher education system in Australia in an effort to improve access of higher education to a higher number of residents, improve government’s participation and improve the quality of higher education across all universities. References Access Economics (2010) Increasing Australia’s productivity through the effective delivery of the government’s higher education attainment policy, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . Birrell, B. & Edwards, D. (2009) The Bradley review and access to higher education in Australia, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training (2002) Socioeconomic background and higher education participation: An analysis of school students’ aspirations and expectations, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . Universities Australia. (n. d.) A smarter Australia: An agenda for Australian higher education 2013- 2016, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . Read More