2000 – Federal Budget Submission

Attachment: CAPA Submission

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) is the national body for Australia’s 139 350 postgraduate students. Postgraduate students fall into two main categories; those undertaking Higher Degrees Research (HDR) and those undertaking postgraduate coursework programs. The later cover all levels of award from graduate certificate to professional doctorate.

Commonwealth Government policies have resulted in negative growth in the number of postgraduate places for Australian students. These policies are out of balance with a likely increase in demand for postgraduate studies flowing from:

• growth in the number of undergraduate students;
• projected increased demand for research educated graduates in the emerging knowledge industries such as biotechnology and information and communications technology;
• growth in the number of areas of work which require postgraduate qualifications for initial entry; and
• increased demand for high level continuing education in traditional and newly professionalised areas.

The CAPA submission addresses these issues as they affect postgraduate students in research and coursework programs.