An Australian study investigated the structure of a master's program in education and examiners' concerns about theses, focusing on the most common criticisms. The study was based on information about 125 part-time students' theses over a 4-year period. The examiners' criticisms raised questions about the thesis supervisor's role. (MSE)

Data presented on recent changes in student characteristics include matriculation and retention rates, full- and part-time participation, student residence and employment, course changes and perceptions, and attitudes toward personal development, vocational relevance of the curriculum, importance of higher education, and career choice. (MSE)

The 23 papers presented at this conference deal with the information needs of institutionally-based part-time students in United Kingdom universities, polytechnics, and further education colleges, and with library and information services for the adult learner. Keith Percy and John Simpson provide overviews on the number and types of part-time…

A study examined the difficulties encountered by first-year, part-time Technical and Further Education (TAFE) students that cause them to consider withdrawing from, and in many cases, dropping out of their TAFE programs. Questionnaires were administered to 4,150 early withdrawers (persons who dropped out between January 1 and May 16, 1986), 2,940…

A 1986 survey of first-year law students in four Australian universities provides a profile of student characteristics, including sex, age, course type (law only or combined), full- or part-time enrollment status, educational background, income, parental education and income, marital status, residence, and personal contact with others in the legal…

The key to improving the position of women in academe is improvement at undergraduate honors and graduate levels. Analysis of Australian enrollment trends in these areas since 1980, particularly in comparison with the United Kingdom, indicates gains have been minimal and the potential for further improvement is limited. (MSE)

The Australian Federal Government's policy of increasing the participation of school leavers in tertiary studies and the possible effect this may have on access to tertiary studies for mature age students are discussed. A study that addresses the social composition of tertiary students is described. (MLW)

Trends in participation of socioeconomic groups in Australian higher education since 1852 are chronicled, with attention given to the policies promoting expansion and democratization, social attitudes associated with part- and full-time participation, the role of world events and related social change, religion and gender differences, and…

Examines the growth of adult continuing education in Australia, using data from Mount Lawley College in Western Australia to show its large enrollment increase in part-time and external mature-age students and the different types of courses and programs provided. Some benefits from and problems with this trend are discussed. (MF)

Information is presented on part-time male students entering the departments of commerce, engineering, and science of the University of New South Wales in 1969. The major puroose of the survey was to obtain infomration relevant to the general studies program. In addition to asking the student his views on general studies, information was obtained…

A study of the transition of students to higher education in Victoria, Australia, is reported based on data supplied by the Victorian Universities Admissions Committee (VUAC), a mail survey of 1,300 applicants in 1980, and a series of extended interviews with a small number of applicants. A basic causal model for enrollment decisions (college…

To alleviate the economic problems of youth, the Australian Education Council has expressed the need for a comprehensive youth policy whose aim should be to provide young people with options in education, training, or employment. Facts show a declining rate of retention to completion of secondary schools for males due to the present low employment…

In 2001, 1.76 million students undertook training in Australia's public vocational education and training (VET) system. Nearly one-third of all Australians between the ages of 15 and 19 years participated in VET. Over the four years from 1998 to 2001, the number of students reported as participating in the public VET system increased by 221,500…

A study was undertaken, in 1976 and for the three following years, of adult students in Australian higher education. The study examined: (1) the phenomenon of adult students and the extent of their involvement in higher education; (2) the politics and practices of institutions towards these students; (3) staff attitudes in the courses; (4) adult…

A study examined individual student, institutional, and environmental factors influencing student non-completions and determined strategies that Western Australia's Central TAFE (technical and further education) might introduce to improve student retention. After completing a multivariate analysis of module completion rates, further data for a…