37 results
Search Results
2. Higher education sector institutional diversity: an Australian case study.
- Author
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Krause, Kerri-Lee
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *POSTSECONDARY education , *GOVERNMENT policy , *LABOR market - Abstract
This paper revisits the issue of institutional diversity in Australian higher education, taking account of international trends and research on the subject. Drawing on empirical studies over the last three decades, I adopt a within-country case study approach to analysing institutional diversity in the Australian higher education policy context and consider post-COVID systemic implications. Catalysts for this analysis include revisions to the Australian provider category standards, government policy shifts influencing the undergraduate curriculum, and the systemic impact of a global pandemic. The paper concludes with three propositions, arguing that institutional diversity will be more important than ever to meet the diverse needs of students and the labour market; an ecosystemic approach to post-secondary education will be a key enabler of sector diversity; and a paradigm shift, enabled by such drivers as government policy and proactive institutional leadership, will be essential to achieve enhanced institutional diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2022
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
3. Chasing Phantoms? Innovation policy, higher education and the pursuit of a knowledge economy in Hong Kong.
- Author
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Lo, William Yat Wai and Tang, Hei-Hang Hayes
- Subjects
- *
INFORMATION economy , *HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *TECHNOLOGICAL innovations , *EDUCATIONAL change - Abstract
This paper provides a critical account of the role of universities in the development of innovation and technology in Hong Kong.To do so, the paper examines the political economy of Hong Kong's innovation and technology development. It outlines a finance-led regime, under which the vision of long-term innovation initiatives is transformed into short-term finance events, and the development of an entrepreneurial culture in society and in universities is neglected. The paper also suggests that the current research funding system and the rise of managerialism in the higher education sector restrict the development of academic entrepreneurship, though universities play a significant role in the innovation system. The paper closes by examining the recent changes in higher education policy and governance, the intensification of integration with mainland China and their implications for prospects of advocating a culture of innovation and promoting innovation and technology in Hong Kong. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2020
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
4. Reimagining student employability: a case study of policy and practice transformation.
- Author
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Campbell, Matthew, Cooper, Berni, Rueckert, Caroline, and Smith, Judith
- Subjects
- *
EMPLOYABILITY , *COLLEGE curriculum , *SERVICE learning , *CAREER development , *EDUCATION policy , *CASE studies , *DRIVERS' licenses - Abstract
Within Australian higher education, there has been an evolving of employability policy, realised in curriculum, at an intersection of the constructs of employment, work-readiness, life-long learning, and career development. The enactment of employability policy has driven an evolution in the practices of higher education in both curriculum and student support. This paper presents a case study of an Australian university which has reimagined the delivery of career and student support services through a framework that envisions preparing students for future worlds of work. The emergent policy framework has transformed organisational structures, human resources, and connections between student support practices and curriculum design. This transformation has generated new intersections of practice and is challenging institutional constructs of expertise. This case study provides transferrable learnings for broader considerations of higher education policy and practice as employability becomes the core driver of student success, and explores layered discourses of policymaking across an institution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2019
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
5. One size fits all? A different perspective on university rankings.
- Author
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Goglio, Valentina
- Subjects
- *
UNIVERSITY rankings , *HIGHER education finance , *BIOETHICS , *COLLEGE students , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
In roughly a decade, university rankings gained the foreground in the policy arena for higher education and their influence is not going to decrease. However, several methodological shortcomings and warnings about the unintended consequences for national higher education systems have been raised. Against this background, this paper stresses that the individual recipients of information contained in university rankings are currently overlooked. Indeed, university rankings are addressed to a generic recipient, but actually, there are multiple audiences for rankings, and each of these audiences has different needs and each one attributes a different value to information attached to rankings. Referring to a theoretical tool borrowed from bioethics, this paper highlights that the ranking game involves a variety of recipients and that the current setting of the ranking panorama leaves room for gaps to emerge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
6. Australian higher education reforms – unification or diversification?
- Author
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Coombe, Leanne
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATIONAL change , *EDUCATION policy , *HIGHER education , *PORTFOLIO diversification , *ECONOMIC development - Abstract
The higher education policy of the previous Australian government aimed to achieve an internationally competitive higher education sector while expanding access opportunities to all Australians. This policy agenda closely reflects global trends that focus on achieving both quality and equity objectives. In this paper, the formulation and implementation of the policy are examined according to the policy cycle approach, drawing on additional theories and analytic frameworks as applicable. The analysis explores why such an ambitious policy approach was taken, how it was implemented and factors affecting its achievability. Indicators suggest the policy was not delivered successfully within the term of the Labor administration. It also highlights an ongoing policy trend to unify the higher education sector, despite evident divisions within the sector and between levels of government administration. The paper concludes with recommendations to diversify the system so that the equity and quality policy agendas can be implemented concurrently. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
7. Quality assurance policies and practices in Scandinavian higher education systems: convergence or different paths?
- Author
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Kalpazidou Schmidt, Evanthia
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATIONAL quality , *EDUCATION , *EDUCATION policy , *EDUCATIONAL change - Abstract
Because there is close cooperation on quality assurance in the Scandinavian countries, one would expect there to be convergence of quality assurance policies and practices in Scandinavian higher education. Few studies have analysed these quality assurance policies and practices from a comparative viewpoint. Based on empirical evidence produced in connection with studies of recent quality reforms in Scandinavia and an approach based on linking diffusion and translation theories with institutionalist perspectives focusing on path dependency, the paper contributes to the current debate on Scandinavian quality assurance. The debate is compelling with regard to the Swedish case in particular, with its ‘one size fits all’ approach and exclusive focus on outcomes which has been heavily criticised by the higher education institutions and has turned out to be controversial from the European viewpoint. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2017
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
8. Factors favouring or impeding building a stronger higher education system in the United Arab Emirates.
- Author
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Ashour, Sanaa and Fatima, Syeda Kauser
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION policy , *EDUCATIONAL quality , *EDUCATIONAL objectives , *UNIVERSITY rankings , *HIGHER education - Abstract
The paper examines the inherent strengths and weaknesses of the higher education system in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Using a literature review, three elements were examined: its development and structure, quality, and research capacity. The findings reveal that the UAE’s higher education sector has witnessed remarkable growth since 1997, guided by the state’s policy commitment, and few restrictions on foreign universities opening branches in the UAE. This situation has led to substantial growth in the supply of higher education opportunities for the Emirati and expatriate population. Despite the UAE having achieved a high ranking for ‘quality indicators’ on the global level in the World Economic Forum’s Competitiveness Reports, the quality of graduates, education, and research engagement is still debatable. Significant efforts are needed to ensure that these critical issues, as well as the understudied expansion of higher education institutions, are being addressed to erase the misalignment with the UAE’s strategic goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
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9. Far away from home: the housing question and international students in Australia.
- Author
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Obeng-Odoom, Franklin
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION & globalization , *EDUCATION policy , *FOREIGN study , *STUDENT housing , *FOREIGN students - Abstract
It has become commonplace for scholars and education managers to talk of the globalisation of higher education. How to provide housing for the growing numbers of international students, however, remains contentious. This paper presents the situation in Australia by analysing the results of two large surveys and official reports published by student associations, housing authorities, the University of Sydney, and the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations. It shows that the authorities have not succeeded in providing an answer to the international student housing question. In turn, accommodation remains a difficult issue for most international students and threatens to undermine the quality of higher education. Understood only as an accommodation problem, it may be argued that the situation could be improved if more affordable student housing was provided. However, this paper argues that until the problem is framed in socio-economic terms and analysed from a broad perspective, a solution will remain elusive. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
10. Higher and further education institution policies on student and staff involvement in commercial sex.
- Author
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Cusick, Linda, Roberts, Ron, and Paton, Susan
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *STUDENTS , *SEX customs , *SEX industry , *PUBLIC spaces - Abstract
This paper concerns higher and further education institutions' policies as they relate to the interactions of their staff and students with the sex industry. In Scotland and England, consenting adults may legally buy and sell sex and commercial sexual entertainment, such as erotic dance and phone sex, provided that they do not do so in a public place. The indoor commercial sex sector is legally staffed and patronised by a wide variety of individuals, yet newspapers publish articles for salacious appeal exposing their involvement. A Freedom of Information enquiry found that although no institution had a policy prohibiting staff or student involvement in commercial sex, unwritten assumptions could be used to penalise legal but stigmatised sexual behaviour. The paper considers how institutions might respond to allegations of disreputable behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
11. The effect of student loan schemes on students returning to study.
- Author
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Tumen, Sarah and Shulruf, Boaz
- Subjects
- *
STUDENT loans , *RE-entry students , *COLLEGE students , *EDUCATION policy , *HEALTH education , *EDUCATIONAL anthropology - Abstract
In this paper populations of students returning to tertiary study in the period 1997-2005 have been compared with the population of non-returning students who had the same opportunity to return. Such comparisons were conducted for students who returned after a break of 1-7 years (seven comparison groups). Students with the highest likelihood of returning were found to be: (i) students who had an outstanding student loan prior to their return that had been borrowed for previous tertiary studies; (ii) students who did not complete the qualification studied previously; (iii) degree-level university students; and (iv) students who had studied towards qualifications in health, education, society and culture rather than in management and commerce fields. The major finding reported in this paper is that a student loan debt does not discourage students from future study. The findings also suggest that policy decisions were likely to trigger short-term increases in returning behaviour and that the populations most affected were likely to be those who left tertiary education in the year in which the policy decisions were announced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
12. Globalisation and higher education funding policy shifts in Kenya.
- Author
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Wangenge‐Ouma, Gerald
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION & globalization , *EDUCATION , *HIGHER education , *GLOBALIZATION , *SCHOOL privatization , *COMMERCIALIZATION , *HIGHER education finance , *EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *NEOLIBERALISM - Abstract
This paper identifies, examines and discusses higher education funding policy shifts that have taken place in Kenya. The paper argues that even though Kenya's higher education funding policy shifts, from free higher education to cost-sharing, and privatisation and commercialisation, are (to a greater extent) products of the country's encounter with globalisation, local social, political and economic dynamics have been of equally significant influence. Thus, the country's higher education funding policies have been products of a convergence of both the dynamics of globalisation and local contextual imperatives. Furthermore, the point is made that the shift from free higher education to cost-sharing, and privatisation and commercialisation, was symptomatic of a global transition from a development paradigm that was predominantly based on Keynesianism to a neo-liberal paradigm that privileges mean expenditure on social services (such as higher education) and the market logic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
13. Making Space for Theological Research in the New Environment of Australian Higher Education.
- Author
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Reid, Duncan
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education research , *RELIGIOUS education , *EDUCATION policy , *EDUCATION research , *EDUCATIONAL law & legislation , *POSTSECONDARY education , *HIGHER education , *EDUCATION - Abstract
The paper examines 2 recent Australian government issues papers on higher education and research policy, indicating areas both of concern and opportunity for Australian higher education providers in theology and their research efforts. The paper then offers suggestions as to how providers of theological education might position themselves as research institutions in the emerging higher education environment in Australia, and how educational policymakers might regard research in the theological sector of Australian higher education. This paper is directed, within the new research environment in Australia, to 2 groups of readers: those concerned with the administration of theological institutions, and those whose responsibility it is to draft policy with regard to research funding. To the theological institutions I want to say: (1) become more familiar with the emerging higher education culture, especially as it affects research, and pay attention to ensuring your institution's own quality assurance controls; (2) avoid being sidelined in the new environment, seek strategic partnerships with other institutions with a similar vision and mission to your own; and (3) attempt to state clearly the role and value of your own discipline in the Australia of the 21st Century. To the policymakers I say: recognise the value of research done, often in small private but not‐for‐profit institutions, in the theological and biblical disciplines. Recognise it as genuine research. Listen to the particular needs of these institutions, which may be quite different from larger institutions with more attention‐grabbing research profiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
14. Doctoral Differences: Professional doctorates and PhDs compared.
- Author
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Neumann, Ruth
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *DOCTORAL programs , *DOCTOR of philosophy degree , *GRADUATE education , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
For more than a decade professional doctorates in Australia have continued to grow and diversify across a broadening array of disciplines. An empirical study of “The Doctoral Education Experience” in Australian universities included an examination of doctoral experiences in departments offering both PhD and professional doctorates. This paper discusses professional doctorates in education, management, law and the creative arts, remarking on similarities and differences found between PhD and professional doctorate programs, providing an insight into practice. Three specific areas are discussed. The first is the recruitment and selection of students, student choice of professional doctorates and perceived career benefits. The second area is the structure and organisation of PhD and professional doctorate programs, including the identification of the research topic. The third area is the perceived status of professional doctorates vis-à-vis the PhD. The findings are discussed within the context of government policy on postgraduate education and the emerging literature on professional doctorates. The concluding section of the paper considers the issue of differentiation between the doctorates and possible future developments. Within the context of Australian higher education the main difference could become the capacity to pay: attempts to impose fees in advance for professional doctorates are reinforced by recent government policy on student financing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
15. New Variant PhD: The changing nature of the doctorate in the UK.
- Author
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Park, Chris
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *DOCTORAL programs , *EDUCATION research , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
Since the early twentieth century the PhD has been the research degree of choice in the UK, but traditional ideas and practices relating to the degree are now being challenged. This paper sketches out the main drivers of change and explores the main challenges confronting doctoral study within the UK. It explains why there is a need for a wholesale revision of assumptions and expectations about what the PhD is, and it charts the genesis and evolution of the PhD in the UK. Key drivers for change include a new emphasis on skills and training, submission rates and quality of supervision, changes in the examination of the thesis, and the introduction of national benchmarking. The paper then explores changes in the PhD as product and as process, and outlines how and why new forms of doctorate are emerging. It asks, rhetorically, whether the changing nature of the doctorate reflects adaptation to changing circumstances in order to survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
16. Investigating Ten Years of Equity Policy in Australian Higher Education.
- Author
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Coates, Hamish and Krause, Kerri‐Lee
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *SCHOOL attendance , *EDUCATION , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
This paper reports issues arising from a longitudinal study of 1991 to 2002 Australian higher education equity data. The national equity framework uses an empirical performance indicator system to monitor access, participation, success and retention of six designated equity groups. The paper examines three possible approaches for defining new groups. It finds no support for an exploratory empirical approach, or for an approach based on definitions of multiple disadvantage, but supports an approach which takes account of secondary school attendance. A case is made for a more sophisticated and contextualised approach to national reporting, to increase the responsiveness and productivity of the policy framework. While the benefits of a national equity policy framework are acknowledged, the paper proposes possibilities for new approaches to monitoring and measuring disadvantage in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
17. Managing and mobilising talent in Malaysia: issues, challenges and policy implications for Malaysian universities.
- Author
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Azman, Norzaini, Sirat, Morshidi, and Pang, Vincent
- Subjects
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HUMAN capital , *UNIVERSITY & college research , *EDUCATORS , *EMPLOYABILITY , *EDUCATION , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
The future of Malaysia as a high-income and competitive nation largely depends on its pool of highly skilled human capital. Hence, the issue of human capital development has taken centre stage in numerous reform agendas of Malaysia. This paper seeks to provide examples of policy initiatives aimed at facilitating the management of highly educated talent in Malaysia. It subsequently considers the role of higher education institutions, particularly the universities, as attractors, educators and retainers of intellectuals, in shaping talent. In conclusion, we argue that more significant underlying shortcomings of talent development are derived from the still transitional nature of the reforms and incomplete structural changes occurring in the national system, and that a change in mindset is the first necessary step towards nurturing and developing a human resource talent pool. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2016
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
18. Using composite metrics to measure student diversity in higher education.
- Author
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McLaughlin, Jacqueline E., McLaughlin, Gerald W., and McLaughlin, Josetta
- Subjects
- *
DIVERSITY in education , *EDUCATION policy , *ACADEMIC achievement , *UNIVERSITY & college administration , *STUDENT attitudes , *HIGHER education - Abstract
The role and impact of diversity in higher education has permeated conversations about student access and achievement for many years. Language articulated by various courts suggests that higher education policies should reflect a broad conceptualisation of diversity beyond that of the magnitude and proportion of race and ethnicity, yet institutions struggle to measure diversity in a manner that effectively supports the management of diversity goals and meets the legal requirements for targeted strategies. Building on methodologies from biology and political science, this paper proposes a new way of conceptualising and measuring diversity that addresses the limitations of traditional diversity metrics and accounts for race and race-neutral attributes within a single model. Using data from over 1500 colleges and universities, the development of a composite diversity index is demonstrated as a strategy for meeting organisational need to account for and measure multiple diversity attributes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2015
- Full Text
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19. Institutional determinants of American undergraduate student debt.
- Author
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Craig, J. Dean and Raisanen, Samuel R.
- Subjects
- *
STUDENT loan debt , *UNDERGRADUATES , *INSTITUTIONAL characteristics , *EDUCATION policy , *HIGHER education standards , *HIGHER education - Abstract
Between 2005 and 2013, student loan debt in the US increased at a rate of 13.3 per cent per annum. This rise in collegiate student debt has become the focus of any number of new proposals and policies at both the state and national levels. While considering broad policies to stem this rising tide are admirable, they do little to help a graduating high school student interested in minimising their debt level choose between competing institutions of higher learning. In this paper, we analyse the institutional characteristics that result in students assuming higher debt levels. We use a data set compiled from the 2011 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System and supplement from a variety of sources with additional institutional characteristics such as location and weather to investigate this question. After controlling for the cost of attending the institution, we find that requiring higher standardised test scores on entrance exams and being located in less urban areas result in lower average debt by graduates. Additionally, we identify a non-linear relationship between the income levels of students’ families and the debt with which they graduate, with middle-income students and families being the most heavily burdened by debt. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
20. The impact of changing government policies and institutional practices on master’s by coursework students in Australia: a viable pathway to the PhD?
- Author
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Kiley, Margaret and Cumming, Jim
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *CURRICULUM evaluation , *UNIVERSITY rankings , *EVALUATION methodology , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
The objective of this paper is to identify the impact of current national policies and emerging curricular practices on master’s by coursework students in Australia. It is argued that the rate of top-down policy change, together with bottom-up innovation, is resulting in a high level of complexity that is challenging providers, staff and student alike. Findings from a national study that elicited the views of key stakeholders on aspects of the master’s by coursework degree including its adequacy as a preparation for doctoral study are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2014
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
21. Japan’s higher education incorporation policy: a comparative analysis of three stages of national university governance.
- Author
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Hanada, Shingo
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *COMPARATIVE studies , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *PRIVATIZATION , *PUBLIC institutions - Abstract
A number of countries with public higher education systems have implemented privatisation policies. In Japan, the national government introduced the National University Corporation Act (NUCA) in 2004 and changed the legal status of national universities from that of government-owned public institutions to independent administrative agencies. Its objective was to incorporate them, giving their presidents discretionary power and encouraging financial independence and autonomous administration. Applying McNay’s models of university governance, this paper tracks three stages of university governance longitudinally from 1886, when Japan’s modern higher education system was established, to reveal the historical roots of problems that the NUCA is meant to address. In addition, the effects of the NUCA over the first 6-year period (2004–2009) are examined based on data analysis. Its criteria for analysis are developments in the direction of financial, administrative and intellectual independence, accompanied by increased levels of transparency and public accountability. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
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22. Higher education provision in a crowded marketplace.
- Author
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Schofield, Cathy, Cotton, Debby, Gresty, Karen, Kneale, Pauline, and Winter, Jennie
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *ADULT education , *MARKETING - Abstract
Current changes to policy around higher education in the United Kingdom are leading to an increasingly marketised system. As funding is transferred from the United Kingdom government to the individual student, universities will be required to pay more attention to marketing. This paper draws on the literature relating to marketing of services to assess the extent to which higher education marketing addresses issues of covenant, quiddity and representation. Using a mixed sample of universities and associated further education colleges who provide higher education opportunities, this research investigates the marketing strategies of different types of higher education institution. Differences identified include the extent to which reputation, educational experience, research and student life are used in marketing. We conclude that newer universities and further education colleges appear to be more greatly influenced by contemporary government policy agenda than are the older more traditional institutions, which continue to trade largely on their established strong reputations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2013
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
23. Attitudes of Spanish university teaching staff to quality in education.
- Author
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Barandiaran-Galdós, Marta, Barrenetxea-Ayesta, Miren, Cardona-Rodríguez, Antonio, Mijangos-Del-Campo, JuanJosé, and Olaskoaga-Larrauri, Jon
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATIONAL quality , *COLLEGE teacher attitudes , *EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITY & college administration , *EMPIRICAL research - Abstract
This article sets out to investigate the notions Spanish university teaching staff have of quality in education, on the assumption that those notions give a reliable picture of the attitudes of teaching staff towards education policy design and university management. The paper takes an empirical approach, collecting opinions telematically via a questionnaire. The responses show that teaching staff prefer modern notions of quality in teaching, and those closer to the culture of their educational institutions, but are not confident that their managers share those preferences. The opinions of teaching staff can provide useful information for the design of education policies and quality management systems applicable to Spanish universities. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
24. Policy implementation and academic workload planning in the managerial university: understanding unintended consequences.
- Author
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Hornibrook, Sue
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION policy , *COLLEGE administrators , *ACADEMIC workload of students , *CONSTRUCTION planning , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *FAIRNESS - Abstract
Within an increasingly dynamic and volatile external environment, university managers are charged with implementing strategies including models that attempt to distribute complex academic workloads fairly and transparently in order to meet institutional goals. However, the impact of such models on individual academic behaviour is often unexpected. This paper explores a theoretical approach based on perceptions of fairness, to explain the unintended consequences arising from the use of a workload allocation model. Using results from a case study to illustrate theoretical constructs, we identify the reasons behind academic resistance in response to such models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
25. Resource allocation models and accountability: a Jamaican case study.
- Author
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Nkrumah‐Young, KofiK. and Powell, Philip
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATIONAL finance , *RESOURCE allocation , *UNIVERSITY & college finance , *PUBLIC finance , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
Higher education institutions (HEIs) may be funded privately, by the state or by a mixture of the two. Nevertheless, any state financing of HE necessitates a mechanism to determine the level of support and the channels through which it is to be directed; that is, a resource allocation model. Public funding, through resource allocation models, influences HEIs' behaviour according to how funding reaches them. Nonetheless, under any allocation system, funders and HEIs must be accountable for their actions and their spending, meaning that resource allocation and accountability are intertwined. Without accountability, institutions may engage in too much research and scholarship, fail to respond to student needs and become inefficient. However, as HEIs must be able to manage their own affairs, accountability must not become a straightjacket. Furthermore, both accountability and resource allocation models need to support HEI governance and management. The nature of the financing relationship with HEIs causes problems for decision making and policy as society wrestles with issues of funding and control. This paper examines two perspectives on resource allocation models and assesses funding alternatives. It develops a resource allocation 'pendulum' and investigates the link between accountability and resource allocation, which are employed to assess the case of Jamaican higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
26. Rewarding excellence and promoting improvement in higher education teaching in Australia.
- Author
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Walshe, Terry
- Subjects
- *
UNIVERSITY & college finance , *EDUCATION policy , *HIGHER education , *SCHOOL improvement programs , *SCHOOL administration , *PERFORMANCE , *COLLEGE teaching , *EDUCATIONAL finance - Abstract
Current implementation of Australia's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund rewards universities that demonstrate outstanding performance. This paper critically evaluates the capacity of the fund to promote improvement in learning and teaching. Analysis of past data describing institutional performance clearly shows that the rank order of universities has varied little over time. It is argued that this stability implies that incentive for investment in improved teaching and learning will be restricted to those universities that tend to score close to the funding threshold. An alternative approach to funding is advocated, involving graphical communication of trends in performance using control charts. The approach seeks to broaden incentives for better teaching and learning by explicitly, (a) acknowledging excellence in any one funding round, and (b) rewarding improvement in performance over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2008
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
27. Management of Workplace Change in the Australian Higher Education Sector: A study of employee involvement provisions in workplace agreements.
- Author
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Weller, Stephen and Gramberg, Bernadine Van
- Subjects
- *
DIVERSITY in the workplace , *HIGHER education , *INDUSTRIAL relations , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *EMPLOYEE participation in management , *SOCIOLOGY , *INTERPERSONAL relations , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
Involvement of employees and unions in workplace decision-making has a long history in Australian industrial relations. The mechanism for employee involvement in workplace change was originally set out in the Termination Change and Redundancy (TCR) clause in Australian awards in 1984. It continues to operate under Enterprise Bargaining Agreements (EBAs), along with other negotiated terms and conditions. EBAs thus represent a source of organizational policy and provide a starting-point to examine institutional processes for employee involvement in workplace change. The higher education sector has undergone significant change over the past two decades, and some have claimed that collegiality has been replaced by an increasing managerialist focus on productivity and efficiency. This paper reports on a longitudinal analysis examining the extent to which the TCR clause has evolved in Australian universities and its implications for change management policy for the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
28. A National University Grievance Handler? Transporting the UK Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA) to Australia.
- Author
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Olliffe, Bronwyn and Stuhmcke, Anita
- Subjects
- *
GRIEVANCE arbitration , *HIGHER education , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *EDUCATIONAL change , *PUBLIC finance , *EDUCATION policy , *COLLEGE students , *OMBUDSPERSONS - Abstract
Complaints made to external agencies about Australian universities are rising in both number and complexity. Recent debate has therefore focused upon how to improve grievance handling in the Australian higher education sector. One suggested 'solution' is the creation of a national Australian university ombudsman. The UK has recently introduced such a national student complaint body - the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education (OIA), a 'world first'. This paper examines the structure and operation of the OIA and highlights the advantages and pitfalls of introducing an equivalent office into the Australian higher education sector. It argues that, on balance, there are advantages in a national university ombudsman. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
29. The Science Shortfall: An analysis of the shortage of suitably qualified science teachers in Australian schools and the policy implications for universities.
- Author
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Harris, Kerri‐Lee and Farrell, Kelly
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *SCHOOL enrollment , *SCARCITY , *PHYSICAL sciences , *TEACHERS , *PHYSICS , *CHEMISTRY , *TEACHER training , *EDUCATIONAL programs - Abstract
Declining enrolment in the physical sciences at university is causing concern among higher education institutions, governments and industry. In response, renewed attention is being paid to the tertiary science background of school teachers, given their key role in both preparing and enthusing students for tertiary science study. A recent study, Who's teaching science?, has provided the first national picture of both the supply and tertiary qualifications of Australia's secondary school science teachers. While there is no shortage of teachers with strong grounding in the life sciences, schools are struggling to adequately staff senior science classes in Physics and Chemistry. This is a growing problem: large numbers of science teachers are set to retire, and many younger and early career teachers are expressing dissatisfaction with their careers. This paper highlights the findings most relevant for the university sector, and examines the policy implications, including those for the curriculum design of both science and teacher education programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2007
- Full Text
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30. HECS and HECS‐HELP: Equity issues.
- Author
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Birch, Elisa Rose and Miller, PaulW.
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *STUDENT financial aid , *SOCIAL conditions of students , *POSTSECONDARY education , *ALGORITHMS , *SCHOOL budgets , *EDUCATION policy , *FEDERAL aid to education , *PUBLIC finance , *EDUCATION - Abstract
There have been many changes to the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) since its introduction in 1989. The most significant of these is possibly the reforms announced in the 2003 Federal Budget, which allow universities to increase the contributions required of students by up to 25%. This paper considers the distribution of deferred HECS liabilities according to the socioeconomic status of students. An algorithm is presented for converting area‐level data to its individual‐level equivalent. It is found that students of lower socioeconomic status defer a much larger proportion of their HECS than students of higher socioeconomic status. The adverse side effects of HECS identified in the literature will therefore be more acute for low socioeconomic status background students than for their wealthier counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
31. Ranking and Clustering Australian University Research Performance, 1998–2002.
- Author
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Valadkhani, Abbas and Worthington, Andrew
- Subjects
- *
UNIVERSITY rankings , *EDUCATION research , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *CLUSTER analysis (Statistics) , *FACTOR analysis , *EDUCATION policy , *EDUCATION - Abstract
This paper clusters and ranks the research performance of 36 Australian universities according to their research performance over the period of 1998–2002. Research performance is measured according to audited numbers of Ph.D. completions and publications, and research grants income (in accordance with rules established by the Department of Education, Science and Training), and analysed in both total and per academic staff terms. Hierarchical cluster analysis supports a binary division between 15 higher‐performing and 22 lower‐performing universities, with the specification in per academic staff terms identifying the self‐designated research intensive Group of Seven universities, plus several others in the better‐performing group. The higher‐performing group includes the 7 research‐intensive Group of Eight universities examined. Factor analysis indicates that the top three research performers in terms of total research performance are the Universities of Melbourne, Sydney, and Queensland, while the top 3 in terms of per capita academic staff are the Universities of Melbourne, Adelaide, and Western Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
32. Preparing for Leadership: What Academic Department Chairs Need to Know.
- Author
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Wolverton, Mimi, Ackerman, Robert, and Holt, Spencer
- Subjects
- *
LEADERSHIP , *COLLEGE administrators , *UNIVERSITY & college administration , *ACADEMIC departments , *EDUCATION policy - Abstract
Much of the work of colleges and universities gets done at the academic department level. Yet, most institutions of higher learning pay little attention to either the preparation of academic department leaders or their succession into the position. This paper examines the first step taken at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (U.S.A.) to address this mid-level academic leadership preparedness issue. That step: Identify what department chairs need to know to be effective leaders. The authors then outline an approach to department-level leadership preparation based on the data gathered in the multi-level needs assessment effort reported herein and discuss possible implications for like-minded institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
33. Does E-learning Policy Drive Change in Higher Education?: A case study relating models of organisational change to e-learning implementation.
- Author
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de Freitas, Sara and Oliver, Martin
- Subjects
- *
DISTANCE education , *CONTINUING education , *EDUCATION policy , *HIGHER education , *EDUCATION - Abstract
Due to the heightened competition introduced by the potential global market and the need for structural changes within organisations delivering e-content, e-learning policy is beginning to take on a more significant role within the context of educational policy per se . For this reason, it is becoming increasingly important to establish what effect such policies have and how they are achieved. This paper addresses this question, illustrating five ways in which change is understood (Fordist, evolutionary, ecological, community of practice and discourse-oriented) and then using this range of perspectives to explore how e-learning policy drives change (both organisational and pedagogic) within a selected higher education institution. The implications of this case are then discussed, and both methodological and pragmatic conclusions are drawn, considering the relative insights offered by the models and ways in which change around e-learning might be supported or promoted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
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34. Rethinking the Australian University: a critique of off course.
- Author
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Sharrock *, Geoff
- Subjects
- *
UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *GOVERNMENT policy , *PUBLIC administration , *EDUCATION policy , *EDUCATION - Abstract
This paper critically examines a recent book about the University of Melbourne. It uses this as a case study to explore traditional conceptions of the university in the Western tradition, and aspects of the Australian debate about government policies and institutional strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
35. Legal issues in higher education and the trade practices act.
- Author
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Bessant *, Judith
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *ACADEMIC achievement , *EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *EDUCATION - Abstract
Australian universities, like their counterparts in most Western countries, have suffered a dramatic reduction in the level of public funding in recent years. One issue on the horizon that is of relevance to students and universities is the latter's exposure to National Competition Policy and, more specifically, the Trade Practices Act. Recent changes to universities, the student experience and the law present new legal options for student redress and new liabilities for universities and individual staff. In this paper, I ask whether appealing to the Trade Practices Act is an appropriate strategy for responding to "deregulation" of universities, funding cuts and the associated decline in the capacity of universities to deliver quality education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2004
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
36. Segment profiling: reducing strategic risk in higher education management.
- Author
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Rindfleish, Jennifer M.
- Subjects
- *
HIGHER education , *EDUCATION policy , *UNIVERSITIES & colleges , *HIGHER education & state , *STRATEGIC planning - Abstract
Over the last decade higher education institutions in Australia have moved towards a model of 'managerialism' due predominantly to changes in government funding policies. As a consequence of the need to compete with other universities for students, university managers have increasingly focused upon marketing techniques used in for-profit organisations to attract and retain students. This paper focuses on the question of whether, and in what ways, the marketing technique of segment profiling can be effectively employed to measure the potential of new market segments and the viability of strategic planning goals in the higher education sector. Geo-demographic data from the student database of a regional Australian university were cross-matched with segment profiling data from a nearby regional centre to ascertain the viability of the region for the establishment of an undergraduate 'satellite' campus. The results of the study show that the technique is useful in reducing the risk of specific strategic planning goals by identifying the potential of new market segments and streamlining target marketing practices. The implications of these findings are discussed with reference to the future success of strategic planning goals achieved by managers in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2003
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
37. Government Financial Assistance for Australian University Students.
- Author
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Long, Michael
- Subjects
- *
EDUCATION policy , *STUDENT financial aid , *HIGHER education - Abstract
Governments in Australia play an important role in the provision of education at all levels. This paper reviews the assistance provided by governments to students in Australian universities. It first provides some background information on the history and structure of the Australian higher education sector and then discusses the two major forms of government financial assistance: assistance with fees and assistance through income support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2002
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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