This paper discusses the higher education sector's role in a knowledge-based economy though research training, that is, doctoral education. It also examines how a Faculty of Education supports its doctoral candidates in their endeavours to become "knowledge producers". Two themes are explored: one is Australia's limited investment in…

The study investigated whether performance levels of employed students receiving financial aid increase singnificantly as a consequence of monetary incentive, and whether there are result differentials for some students and not for others. The assumption concerning the incentive value of financial aid was not supported by the study's results.…

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…

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)

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)

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 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…

In the year 2000, approximately 1.75 million Australians (13.2% of the country's population) undertook some form of vocational education and training (VET). Of all VET students, 75.5% undertook training with Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and other government providers versus 13.0% with community providers and 11.5% with other registered…