Early career patterns of men and women in British universities

The early career paths of 436 men and 162 women who took up lectureships in British universities in English, modern languages, or psychology in 1971–1973 were identified. Proportionately fewer women (61 percent) than men (80 percent) held a full-time post in a British university ten years after their initial appointment. Among those retaining a university appointment, relatively fewer women (8 percent) than men (18 percent) had advanced to the level of senior lecturer, reader, or professor. Factors that may have served to restrict the career development of women in British universities are discussed. There now is a higher proportion of women than in the past in the pool of graduates who are qualified for academic posts. However, the end to university growth makes it unlikely that the sex ratio of academics will shift substantially in the 1980s or the 1990s. Since promotion has become more competitive than it was in the past, the current sex ratio at senior levels of appointment may also remain relatively unchanged.This study was supported by funding under the Australian Research Grants Scheme. Unless stated otherwise, the university statistics cited in this article were derived from the analyses published annually by the Department of Science and Education. I am grateful to Sandra Lancaster for her assistance in data analysis.     

Gender segregation in higher educational attainment in Australia 1978–94

In this paper the extent and change of the gender segregation ofcourse completions across fields of study in higher education over theperiod 1978–94 in Australia is measured. It is argued that similarforms of measurement are appropriate in documenting changing patterns ofattainment in higher education by gender, as those which are used formeasuring occupational gender segregation. The issues relating to themeasurement of gender segregation are briefly explored. Over the period1978–86, women and men exhibited a more integrated distribution ofcourse completions, as measured by the Karmel and Maclachlan index of(occupational) segregation. Although women continued to raise their share ofcompletions over the period 1987–94, there was little change in theextent of gender segregation in aggregate, and segregation increased inMasters and Bachelors courses. Reference is also made to the impact ofchanges in the Higher Education Contributory Scheme in 1996 on the gendercomposition of undergraduate course completions. Policies designed toattract women into atypical Higher Education courses are explored.     

Education,vocationalism and economic recovery: the case against witchcraft1

Abstract

The widening of access to higher education for mature students has been placed on the policy agenda by the government, in part as a response to demographic changes which will reduce the number of young graduates entering the labour market. This article examines the current position of students in the over 30 age group in UK universities with reference to their entrance qualifications, degree attainment and first destinations on leaving university. It compares the experience of men and women in this age group with young students in the conventional undergraduate population and questions whether a university degree is sufficient to overcome the barriers to the labour market experienced by older graduates. Finally it challenges the access model of equal opportunity implicit in the government's White Paper on Higher Education.     

Occupations of Indonesian graduates

Despite a considerable increase in the number of graduates in Indonesia, they still remain a minute fraction of the labour force. The majority are in the professional, administrative, and clerical occupations, and employed by the state mostly in a civilian, some in a military, capacity. Ever larger numbers of the available graduates have been moving into state employment. The occupations mentioned are also the most highly paid, with the administrative far ahead of the professional and clerical.The largest group of graduates had qualified in law, the social sciences, arts and sciences; the next largest in teaching. Health, agriculture, and the technological subjects of engineering and communications had attracted only a relatively small proportion.Not more than half of the graduates were in occupations for which their studies were specifically relevant, and holders of the Bachelor (Sarjana Muda) degree were less likely than Masters (Sarjana) to be so employed. The largest proportion of graduates in related occupations had qualified in teaching and health, while the smallest had studied law, the social sciences, arts, and sciences, a few more the vocational subjects of agriculture and engineering. Selection for senior positions appears as important as training for specific occupations.Teaching and health were also the two subjects with the highest proportion of graduates among the professionals. However, they were not particularly well represented among the better-paid administratives. Here, graduates in agriculture, engineering and the law, the social sciences, arts and sciences were much better favoured.Some occupations show a certain concentration of graduates in specific subjects; in particular, half of the graduates in the professional group were trained as teachers. However, no occupation is the preserve of any one subject.There were more Bachelor than Master graduates in all groups except the professional and administrative, where the reverse was the case. One may conclude that both these groups gave a certain preference to Masters, and were in turn the targets of those so qualified.     

Growing scholarly teachers and educational researchers: a curriculum for a Research Pathway in pre‐service teacher education

This paper advocates the development of high‐level research capability in some students in their undergraduate Bachelor of Education course. The rationale for this viewpoint is presented in relation to three questions: ‘What is educational research?’ ‘Why should universities develop high‐level research capability in some pre‐service teacher education graduates?’ and ‘What type of curriculum can support the development of high‐level research capability in some pre‐service teacher education graduates?’ The first two questions are addressed broadly. The latter question is addressed with reference to an existing Research Pathway within a Bachelor of Education course. The paper concludes with the identification of a priority issue for subsequent iterations of the Pathway and a reflection on the shift in my role as a teacher in this Pathway from ‘teacher researcher’ to ‘scholarly teacher’.     

Returning from earning: UK graduates returning to postgraduate study,with particular respect to STEM subjects,gender and ethnicity

It has been argued by some (e.g. the Confederation of British Industry [CBI]) that graduates lack the skills that render them employable. In particular, graduates of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects are often portrayed as being unready for the world of work. This study uses three large-scale national data-sets from the UK to explore this assertion, including the results of the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education surveys. It reports analysis of 22,207 individuals who graduated from their first degree in 2007, and works from the hypothesis that those entering the workforce and then returning for taught postgraduate study are primarily doing so due to underemployment in the period following graduation. The study uses binary logistic regression and finds that a range of educational, demographic and employment-based variables have a significant relationship with the propensity to return for taught postgraduate study. Of particular note, those returning tend to be high achievers from elite universities in low-skill work after graduation, as well as women and those from minority ethnic communities; this suggests a mix of individual and structural factors at work. In addition, STEM graduates were significantly less likely to return, apparently challenging the argument advanced by the CBI.     

Comparative career accomplishments of two decades of women and men doctoral graduates in education

Patterns of doctoral study and subsequent career progress were compared for 756 men and women doctoral graduates in education at a research university from two six-year periods, one before and one after a rapid nation-wide increase in the percentage of women doctorates. Despite advantages relative to men in admission, financial support and full-time study, women doctorates of both periods had achieved less career progress than men but held similarly positive perceptions concerning career impact of the degree. Work experience prior to doctoral study strongly predicted career progress for both genders. Thus, affirmative action may have positively affected the careers of recent women doctorates who were younger and who began study with less established careers than women doctorates prior to 1970.     

Effective strategic planning in Australian universities: how good are we and how do we know?1

Strategic planning was introduced to Australian universities as part of the Commonwealth Government higher education reforms of 1988. The ‘Dawkins Reforms’ implemented extensive structural reform, changed executive leadership roles and responsibilities, commenced the ‘managerialisation’ of the Australian university sector, introduced the Higher Education Contribution Scheme and facilitated the transformation of Australian universities from collegial academies to modern, ‘enterprise’ universities.

There is an abundance of published marketing material celebrating ‘effective’ strategic planning outcomes in the myriad of strategic plans published by Australian universities. Yet, a recent study indicates that strategic planning remains a contested internal leadership function in Australian universities almost 30 years after traditional academic planning was replaced with commercially-focused strategic planning. This paper will review the effectiveness of strategic planning practices in Australian universities guided by the rhetorical question: ‘how good are we and how do we know?’     

Systemic ecological illiteracy? Shedding light on meaning as an act of thought in higher learning

Research on ecological literacy often takes for granted that participants understand, and can construct the meaning within, the complex concepts involved, simply because they are able to use the appropriate terminology in a ‘fluent’ manner and/or can select the correct option on multiple choice tests. In this study, and in the larger two-year study it is part of, a trend has been unearthed regarding the ecological literacy of university students entering into a Bachelor of Education program. An analysis of the meaning contained in participant definitions has revealed that the vast majority of teacher candidates, graduates of many different universities, are unable to explain the meaning of key integrating ecological concepts at even a minimal level of maturity, alluding to a possible systemic problem. The findings, though preliminary, suggest that until we inquire into the meaning that teachers possess for key concepts rather than accepting fluent but shallow use of these concepts, we may be taking too much for granted.     

The Implementation of Bachelor and Master Programmes in Hungary

Hungary's higher education system is being transformed fundamentally for a second time after the regime change in 1989–90. The first Higher Education Act was passed in 1993. An entirely new law issued in December 2005 involved fundamental changes in the entire higher education system. The most sweeping change was the introduction of the two‐cycle programme structure which, with a few exceptions, began in September 2006. National qualification requirements were replaced by education and outcome requirements, focusing on set competences defined for each study programme. This article provides a background, with facts and figures, of the Hungarian higher education system and an overview of the process and problems encountered that led up to the implementation of the Bachelor/Master structure. The reception of the system, based on interviews with various actors affected by higher education, reveals mixed responses, with respondents stressing the opportunity and their hope for a fundamental reform. The article also elaborates the goals and consequences of the ‘Bologna structure’. The traditional binary institutional structure of colleges and universities remains in place, but with both permitted to launch Bachelor and Master programmes. How colleges will be able to compete with more theoretically oriented universities in preparing for Master studies and, vice versa, how universities will be able to offer education at the Bachelor level that will be competitive in the job market remain to be seen. The final sections of the article deal with other aspects of the Bologna Process, such as ECTS, and the Diploma Supplement. One of the main concerns is that the quality of higher education, which was perceived to be at a high level in Hungary, even in the 15 years since mass education overtook what was previously an elite sector, should not deteriorate. The reciprocal effects of the new degrees and the job market are challenges Hungarian higher education will face a few years down the road.     

我国教育博士专业学位教育的现状、问题及政策建议

教育博士专业学位教育与教育学学术博士教育存在趋同现象,与教育硕士专业学位教育、本科阶段教师教育专业缺乏衔接,课程模块缺乏系统设计,指导教师知识结构单一。为此,教育博士专业学位教育要明确培养目标;建立教师教育专业本科学位、教育硕士专业学位与教育博士专业学位相互衔接的教师教育体系;需要优化教育博士专业学位教育的课程模块;改善教育博士指导教师的知识结构。     

Regional Migration to and from Higher Education Institutions: Scale, Determinants and Outcomes

This paper examines patterns of movement to study by undergraduates and patterns of mobility into work by graduates. Using national data and a large-scale dataset, student movement across regions to Higher Education Institutions is described and modelled. The evidence points to a sizeable group of graduates who never move region and a significant proportion of graduates who move to study but then move back to their home region for work. Investigation is made of whether or not movement and mobility depend on the subject studied, the type of HE undertaken, the characteristics of the individual and the characteristics of the origin and destination regions. A hypothesis is proposed that the motive for movement is to secure greater rewards from Higher Education. However, those who move region to study report significantly lower satisfaction scores with their course of study. The implications of these findings for regional agencies, for institutions and for students are considered.     

Higher education for Palestinian Muslim female students in Israel and Jordan: migration and identity formation

The article investigates the migration of Palestinian Muslim women, citizens of Israel, to the Hebrew University in Jerusalem or to Jordanian universities for academic studies, and the influence of this migration on their norms, behavior and identity. Narrative interviews were conducted with Palestinian Muslim women graduates: eight from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem and eight from Jordanian universities. Findings revealed that the women’s migration from their home communities to academic campuses involves issues of affiliation and identity; studies in Jordan constitute temporary cyclic emigration between two safe spaces, while studies in Jerusalem often involve alienation and foreignness. In both cases, higher education is a powerful force shaking up women’s lives. Following graduation, Hebrew University graduates remain in Jerusalem’s environs and migration to Jerusalem may become permanent. Higher education enables these women to engage with and confront identity issues, empowering them to reconsider their value and belief systems and relations with others.     

Room for All? Comparing Criminology and Sociology Completion Rates Across Sex,Race, and Degree Level

This article presents findings based on an alternative to the Association of Doctoral Programs in Criminology & Criminal Justice data that allowed for examining the intersection of sex and race among criminology and criminal justice (CJ) and sociology program completers at the Bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral level. Five years’ worth of data from the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System revealed that, on average, 85% of students who completed a doctoral degree in criminal justice were white, but only 74% of students who completed a doctoral degree in sociology were white. The average percentage of CJ degree completions accounted for by black Americans and Latinos also decreased by 9 and 15%, respectively, from the Bachelor’s level to the doctoral level. We discuss the need for universities to invest in student and faculty diversity, and conclude by highlighting the importance of building strong partnerships between predominantly white and minority-serving institutions.     

Strategies for Achieving Gender Equality in Higher Education and Research in Norway

The vision behind the work of the gender equality advisors in Norwegian universities and the Research Council of Norway is that of full equality between women and men in all areas and at all levels of the sector of higher education. The Network of Gender Equality Advisors in Higher Education and Research was formed in 1994. Both good and less good news can be reported on the work accomplished so far. A double strategy is applied to tackle gender inequality: mainstreaming and special commitment.     

How Research,Teaching, and Leadership Roles are Recommended to Male and Female Engineering Faculty Differently

Research in Higher Education - Across disciplines, male faculty spend more time on research than female faculty. Yet, women tend to teach and mentor students more hours than men (Misra et al. in...     

Predictors of student success in Higher Education: Secondary school internal scores versus national exams

In many countries entrance to Higher Education is determined by the performance of students in secondary school and/or the scores obtained in national exams. The relative weight of these two scores on the admission decision is a relevant policy topic, given its implication on who is admitted to university. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the relative predictive power of these two measures on the academic performance of students in Higher Education. It makes use of a dataset of Bachelor students from Portuguese Higher Education institutions with detailed information about their characteristics and past achievement results. The measure of academic achievement considered is the Bachelor's final average score. The main finding is that the scores given by teachers in secondary school are better predictors of subsequent performance than the access exam scores. The relevance of factors like working status, social support and gender vary with the reputation of the degree and the type of Higher Education institution, university versus polytechnic. A noteworthy result is that the added predictive contribution of parents' education is always negligible when past success measures are already taken into account.     

A Mixed Assessment

Reporters' remark: In 1983 the State Education Commission initiated a job placement experiment in Qinghua University and Jiaotong University, Shanghai, wherein university graduates were placed through a method that combines application, recommendation, screening, and employment. This year the experiment has been expanded to include Jiaotong University, Xi'an, and Fudan University. Other colleges and universities not involved in the experiment, wherever conditions permit, can place their graduates through the method of combining application with recruitment, within the parameters of the job allocation plan authorized by the department in charge at a higher level. Colleges and universities affiliated with the State Education Commission implement a method of combining internship with working at the employer's workplace so that an employer can meet face to face with the [prospective] employee and job allocation is [actually] made one year ahead of graduation.     

Why do women more often intend to study abroad than men?

Higher Education - In many Western countries, women are more likely to study abroad than men. At present, there is a lack of theory-guided empirical studies searching explanations for this pattern....     

新课程背景下高师院校实践教学调查分析——从对毕业生的实践教学调查说起

根据对比较集中在南疆中小学从教的我院毕业生的问卷调查,了解中小学推行新课改,实践教学的重视情况、大学开展的实践教学适应基础教育教学的情况、新课改实施以来我院师范毕业生对高师教育中的实践教学的体会和反思,并对此进行了统计与分析,旨在及时、充分反映我院师范生走出大学校门,走进中小学课堂的适应情况,为有关部门和教师提供相关的参考,提高我院的办学水平。