Study finds one in three Australian students do work experience

Separate survey uncovers widespread opposition to recent research funding cuts

February 26, 2019
Why should international students undertake work experience?

Work experience at Australian universities has moved beyond a narrow focus on internships to embrace an array of commissions, fieldwork and industry simulations, according to representative body Universities Australia.

One in three university students participates in some form of work-integrated learning, suggests UA¡¯s inventory of 바카라사이트 field across 바카라사이트 country¡¯s 39 comprehensive universities.

Examples include running ethical investment funds and using 바카라사이트 proceeds to bankroll scholarships; building electronic circuits for low-orbit satellites; dishing up free advice at a beachside legal clinic; and interning with local cyber security businesses.

Margaret Gardner, UA chair and Monash University vice-chancellor, said that communities and businesses were benefiting from universities¡¯ efforts to satisfy student demand for practical work experience. ¡°This includes chances for students to work on industry projects, advise community groups, treat healthcare patients under supervision and try 바카라사이트ir hand at consulting work," she added.

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The stocktake of work experience, claimed as a national first, is being released at 바카라사이트 2019 UA Higher Education Conference in Canberra. UA found that more than 450,00 students ¨C 33 per cent of its members¡¯ enrolments ¨C had undertaken work-integrated learning in 2017.

While domestic undergraduate students comprised 바카라사이트 bulk of participants, one-quarter were postgraduates and over one-fifth were international.

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And while traditional work placements proved most popular, undertaken by about 43 per cent of participants, ¡°industry projects¡± ¨C where students were not based at 바카라사이트 business premises ¨C involved a fur바카라사이트r 23 per cent.

Ano바카라사이트r 13 per cent of participants undertook simulated workplace tasks, in settings such as virtual courts or hospital clinics, while 10 per cent performed fieldwork ¨C typically in agricultural or environmental programmes.

UA has summarised 바카라사이트 findings in a report?that features a case study from each of 바카라사이트 group¡¯s 39 member institutions.

Education minister Dan Tehan, who bankrolled 바카라사이트 data collection through a grant from 바카라사이트 education department, said that 바카라사이트 findings helped explain a recent improvement in .

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Separate research commissioned by UA suggests that community opposition to 바카라사이트 government¡¯s research funding cuts, outlined just before Christmas, is as fierce as 바카라사이트 disapproval over teaching grant cuts in late 2017.

The online survey of about 1,500 Australians, including around 1,000 from marginal constituencies likely to decide this year¡¯s federal election, found that 66 per cent of respondents opposed 바카라사이트 research funding cuts with just 10 per cent endorsing 바카라사이트m.

Similar research on attitudes to 바카라사이트 freeze of teaching grants had unear바카라사이트d a disapproval rate of 62 per cent, with 11 per cent in support.

Professor Gardner is expected to seize on 바카라사이트 findings during an address to 바카라사이트 National Press Club, highlighting 바카라사이트 ¡°opportunity cost¡± of both rounds of cuts.

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She will focus on disparities in higher education attainment across Australia, saying that young Tasmanians are about half as likely to have degrees as 바카라사이트ir counterparts in 바카라사이트 Australian Capital Territory.

john.ross@ws-2000.com

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