Education Myths - Undermining Australia's Future
Australia 's higher education and training policies are misguided and based on myths that will not meet the future demands of the workforce, says leading Australian social scientist, Dr Bob Birrell, in a major new report released today.
Clearing the Myths Away: Higher Education's Place in Meeting Workforce Demands , from the Dusseldorp Skills Forum and the Centre for Population and Urban Research at Monash University, debunks three myths that have underpinned recent policy and debate:
Myth 1: Too much emphasis is placed on university education
The fastest growing areas of the workforce are in managerial, professional and associate professional occupations, most of which rely on workers with knowledge and skills derived from tertiary qualifications. However, over the past decade there has only been a marginal increase in university commencements by domestic students.
Myth 2: A choice must be made between trade training and university education
Australia can and should be expanding participation in both higher education and vocational training. Too many young Australians are not being adequately equipped for technical, analytical and managerial jobs, which are the strongest growth areas of the economy. In 2005, 46 per cent of school leavers were not enrolled in any post-school education six months after leaving school.
Myth 3: There will be declining numbers of young people entering the workforce
Australia is not running out of young people. Projections prepared for the report show that the number of 15-19 year-olds will increase from an estimated 1.4m in 2006 to an estimated 1.58m in 2051. Skilling young Australians offers the greatest potential source of additional skilled workers, and is the most efficient and productive policy approach.
"There is plenty of scope to increase the proportion of young people studying in both the higher education and vocational training sectors - and to do so on the basis of informed policy, rather than popular myths," Dr Birrell said.
Clearing the Myths Away argues that near universal engagement of young Australians in education and training is required. The report calls for:
- Sharp increases in the number of funded university places for domestic students
- Improved student accessibility to university campuses
- Better financial support for students from families of modest income
Dr Birrell said that during the Coalition's decade in office the potential of the higher education sector to contribute to Australia's workforce demands appears to have been neglected. "There has been plenty of sectoral reform to universities but little improvement in access or opportunity."
He said Australia's future national wealth will rely on productivity growth and increasing the skills of the Australian workforce.
"Policies that prioritise access and opportunity for young people within an attractive school, training and higher education system are the keys to boosting participation and productivity over the longer-term," he said.
The report is a partnership with the Dusseldorp Skills Forum, an independent public interest enterprise.
Almost all the growth in undergraduate commencements in Australian universities since 1996 has been among full fee-paying overseas students.
Availability
Clearing the Myths Away: Higher Education's Place in Meeting Workforce Demands by Bob Birrell and Virginia Rapson, Centre for Population and Urban Research, Monash University, can be downloaded from the the Dusseldorp Skills Forum website at www.dsf.org.au
For more information on CPUR publications contact:
Centre for Population and Urban Research
PO Box 11A
Monash University VIC 3800
Australia
Ph: (03) 9905 2965
Fax: (03) 9905 2993
Email: Bronwen.Perry@arts.monash.edu.au