Equity, Quality, and Cost in Higher Education: Research Study on Australia.

Overview & Synopsis

Equity, quality, and cost in higher education is examined as it exists in Australia. The first chapter provides a broad overview, both current and historical, of the complex structure of higher education in Australia and identifies issues and concerns. Chapter 2 examines enrollment trends in different fields of study. The third chapter looks at educational access for disadvantaged groups such as Aboriginal students as well as issues involving gender and socioeconomic status. Further chapters examine: (1) the nature of post graduate study in Australia; (2) the debate over tuition and fees; (3) the use of inputs as a measure of higher education quality; and (4) assessing the processes at work in higher education (e.g., staff development and teaching and learning improvement) as an indication of the quality of an institution. In addition, three factors relating to the quality of education are discussed: student selectivity; instructional efficiency; and staffing rigidity. Finally, the study explores the following areas: higher education institution's role in research, continuing education, and community service; the unit costs of higher education in Australia; cost management issues; the problems of resource allocation and available financing; and higher education policy and its effect on equity, quality, and cost. Contains an index and 309 references. (GLR)