Archived News for Education Sector Professionals - March, 2011
An ABS report has found the level of Year 12 attainment rates has increased significantly over the last nine years.
The study found that the proportion of young adults who had graduated at a Year 12 level had increased from 71% in 2001, to 78% in 2010.
However, a discrepancy has been identified between regional and metropolitan graduation rates, with only 67% of students achieving their Year 12 diplomas. Only 62% of students with a disability or long term health condition complete their Year 12.
Catholic and Independent Schools funding continued
New legislation passed by the Senate has guaranteed the continuation of existing level of funding through to the end of 2013 and capital expenditure until 2014.
Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan under development
An expert panel has been established by the Victorian Government to develop a Tertiary Education Plan for Victoria's Gippsland area.
New NT centre to promote indigenous education
Charles Darwin University (CDU) and the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education (BIITE) have signed a formal partnership agreement to establish the Australian Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Education.
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency legislation introduced
Legislation has been introduced to the Australian Parliament to establish the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as a new national regulatory and quality assurance agency for higher education.
VET Regulator established under new laws
Legislation has been passed establishing the National Vocational Education and Training (VET) regulator.
Griffith University and CCIQ establish Work Integrated Learning partnership
Griffith University has established a Work Integrated Learning partnership with the Chamber of Commerce & Industry Queensland (CCIQ).
According to Griffith Institute for Higher Education (GIHE) Director and Dean of Student Outcomes, Professor Kerri-Lee Krause, the project makes it easy for employers to access a pool of talent from throughout the University.
“This is a valuable program and one that has benefitted many industries for some time, although with this latest arrangement it is now something that can be utilised simply by any business,” Professor Krause says.
“Through the newly established web portal, making a placement offer and being connected with a range of opportunities is now only a few clicks away for employers,” she says.
“For businesses, this type of placement can act as a unique recruitment opportunity, allowing them to closely examine the skills of a student and their ability to integrate into the workplace before they actually graduate.”
Logan City Council, Thiess, Gold Coast City Council, Parsons Brinckerhoff, QR Network, the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads and DHI Water are just some of the businesses which have already participated by providing work-integrated learning placements for students.
University of Melbourne launches business and economics foundation
University of Melbourne students will have greater access to support scholarships to study business with the launch of the Melbourne Foundation for Business and Economics.
Revised National Safe Schools Framework released
Every school in Australia will be able to audit how safe they are under the release of the revised National Safe Schools Framework.
Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes underway
A hundred engineering students are about to sit for a test that represents the first step towards a global measure of the knowledge passed on to graduates.
Queensland to establish Teacher Education Centres of Excellence
The Queensland government has announced the establishment of another four teaching colleges in the state.
Tasmanian eSchool to provide 'flexible learning opportunities'
Tasmanian Premier Lara Giddings has announced the launch of the new eSchool initiative. The program, an amalgamation of Distance Education Tasmania and the Online Learning Network, aims to offer a variety of programs to students around Tasmania.
School numbers drop over decade
The most recent statistics published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows an overall drop in the total number of schools in Australia by 132 over the recent decade.
Four Australian universities in top 100 worldwide
Four Australian universities are in the top 100 of the new Times Higher Education World Reputation Rankings 2011.
MySchool data sparks war of words about public and private school funding
A war of words has broken out between private and public school lobby groups over the fairness of schools funding, following the publication of the new My School website data.
Federal Opposition petitions to save Australian Learning and Teaching Council
Shadow universities minister Brett Mason has launched a petition to save the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.
Edith Cowan University first to receive SAF grant
Edith Cowan University will receive $6.9 million to tailor its teaching program to produce job-ready graduates from the Federal Government.
University of Melbourne vice-chancellor to chair Universities Australia
University of Melbourne vice-chancellor Glyn Davis will be the next chair of peak body Universities Australia.
New My School website launch
The new look My School website is being launched this week by the Federal Government.