GENERATION ALPHA: THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK
McCrindle
Generation Alpha are our students of the Future – children born from 2010. This podcast Mark McCrindle discusses this emerging generation.
2021 STRATEGIC FORESIGHT REPORT
Europa
The annual Strategic Foresight Report, ‘The EU’s capacity and freedom to act’, reports on important trends and emerging issues that have the potential to shape not only the future of Europe but the world more broadly. It identifies 10 areas of strategic emphasis, many of which align with UNE’s research and sustainability focus areas:
1. Ensuring sustainable and resilient health and food systems
2. Securing decarbonised and affordable energy
3. Strengthening capacity in data management, artificial intelligence and cutting-edge technologies
4. Securing and diversifying supply of critical raw materials
5. Ensuring first-mover global position in standard-setting
6. Building a resilience and future-proof economics and financial systems
7. Developing and retaining skills and talent matching EU ambitions
8. Strengthening security and defence capacities and access to space
9. Working with global partners to promote peace, security and prosperity for all
10. Strengthening the resilience of institutions
WORK AND FURTHER STUDY AFTER UNIVERSITY DEGREE COMPLETION FOR EQUITY GROUPS
This research study reflects on the success, or otherwise, of the equity agenda of successive federal governments. Overall it was found that there has been growth in enrolments of equity groups over the last ten years with favourable employment outcomes sustained at three years after graduation. However, when looking at individual equity groups some fare better than others. Graduates from low socioeconomic status backgrounds, with a disability, from non-English speaking backgrounds and women in STEM have been found to have weaker employment outcomes.
Interestingly the study suggests that equitable access to postgraduate study may be the next frontier – a view shared by Beverly Oliver in a recent webinar on microcredentials. The argument is that inequality extends beyond Bachelor study, impacting on a graduate’s ability to access postgraduate study (and thus further their career). Unsurprisingly the study found that finances are one of the main barriers to participation in postgraduate study. Nonetheless, tuition fees are not the main barrier, which is the ‘opportunity cost of study – the missed earnings from time spent away from the workforce and in study’.
Given the import of equity and access to UNE’s mission, these findings are important considerations in our approach to the design and delivery of our postgraduate offerings, including microcredentials and maybe the focus of our ongoing policy advocacy with government.
STRATEGIC SHIFTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION
OSM recently attended a briefing by HolonIQ on strategic shifts in higher education.
Whilst there was little new to readers familiar with Future Fit, it did provide international insights into issues such as alternative credentialing, the education-work nexus, omni-channel learning, and borderless competition.
Well worth a look, with the case studies providing additional insights.
CEDA: DUTY OF CARE - MEETING THE AGED CARE WORKFORCE CHALLENGE (PDF, 4159.61 KB)
Committee for Economic Development of Australia
The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has released a report on growth within the aged care sector in Australia.
Studies in Higher Education
The August 2021 edition of the Studies in Higher Education journal includes an article on the prevalence of commercial contract cheating in Australia. It is estimated that 7.9% of students buy and submit assignments from commercial contract cheating services. Additionally, 11.4% outsource assessments via obtaining pre-written work from commercial file-sharing sites; an outcome that adds weight to discussions around assessment design to help curb commercial contract cheating.
THE AUSTRALIAN EDTECH MARKET CENSUS 2020 COVID-19 UPDATE
Deloitte and EduGrowth
This report brings together the findings of the Australian EdTech Market undertaken by EduGrowth and Deloitte. It also provides case studies and an exploration of trends and forecasts for Edtech into the near future.
A PEAK OF HIGHER EDUCATION - A NEW WORLD FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF THE FUTURE
McCrindle
This new EY Report asks the reader to ‘Imagine that demand for traditional higher education never returns to previous levels; 2019 was the high watermark for universities in Oceania; we have reached peak higher education’.
AUSTRALIA TOWARDS 2031: THE DEMOGRAPHIC, CONSUMER AND BEHAVIOURAL TRENDS SHAPING THE NATION
This latest McCrindle report provides an easy to read snapshot of the trends that McCrindle sees as impacting on the future of Australian society and on our economy.
UC Davis
Public scholarship means different things to different people, but broadly defined it is teaching, research and learning that has a public impact. In this article UC David provide another lens on what public scholarship looks like within their context.
KNOWLEDGE IS POWER? UNIVERSITIES IN THE COVID-19 CRISIS
Policy Forum
Democracy Sausage - Universities in the COVID-19 crisis
Universities had a very tough 2020, but what does the continued closure of international borders mean for the future of the sector? Will the government’s plan to produce more ‘job-ready’ graduates achieve the intended result? And with the importance of cooperation between the researchers and policymakers highlighted during the pandemic, can universities and governments work more closely together to address the other major challenges facing Australia and the world?
