Briefing Papers

CAPA liaises with campus based research staff and relevant external bodies, consolidates relevant external research and circulates informative material amongst postgraduate student organisations. CAPA ensures postgraduate associations are kept informed of national policy developments through the periodical provision of briefing papers that provide up to date information on pressing educational policy issues.

Minimum Resources for Postgraduate Study 2010

Minimum resources for postgraduate study

In 1997, the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) Published the Model Code For The Conduct Of Postgraduate Research and Statement of Minimum Resources. This was followed in 1998 by A Strategy Guide to Postgraduate Supervision including the 1998 Model Code for the Conduct of Postgraduate Research and Statement of Minimum Resources. A revised statement was again published in 2004.

CAPA Background Paper: Postgraduate Enrolments 2008

CAPA regularly provides detailed information on issues of importance for postgraduate students.

This background paper is a compilation of enrolments data drawn from the 2008 Selected Higher Education Statistics provided by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

This background paper summarises all student enrolments with Australian higher education providers with postgraduate enrolments, giving particular detail to postgraduate enrolments by course level, detailing both domestic and international enrolments.

CAPA Background Paper: Enrolment Trends for Health Disciplines 2001 – 2008

 

CAPA regularly provides detailed information on issues of importance for postgraduate students.

This background paper is a compilation of enrolments data drawn from the 2008 Selected Higher Education Statistics provided by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).

This background paper focuses on the distribution of student enrolments in Health disciplines, in the fields of Nursing, Medical Studies, Public Health and Rehabilitation Therapies in particular.

Federal and State Government Responsibilities in Support of International Students

2008 Federal Budget Briefing Paper - The Better Universities Renewal Fund and Postgraduate Students

The Government is providing $500 million in 2007-08 for higher education institutions to undertake capital projects to support improved teaching and learning, research and students' overall higher education experience. Priority areas will be information and communications technology, laboratories, libraries and student study spaces, teaching spaces and student amenities (Higher Education 2020 Newsletter, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace relations (DEEWR), Issue 2, May 2008).

Higher Education Report Card for the 2007 Federal Election

A report card on the higher education policies of the Coalition and Labor parties released by university staff and students on Tuesday has failed the Howard Government for its record on universities.

The report card, prepared by National Tertiary Education Union, the National Union of Students and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, awarded Labor a pass on the basis of the well targeted but limited commitments announced during the campaign and its stated commitment to build on these in office.

The Impact of VSU on Postgraduate Students (2007)

July 1st 2007 marks VSU "one-year-on". CAPA has completed its survey: The Impact of VSU on Postgraduate Students. The final report is now available:

Key findings:

As of July 1, 2007 at least 8 universities no longer have an independent postgraduate student organisation. Of the 20 Postgraduate students associations that responded to CAPA's 2007 questionnaire:

- 8 are receiving less than 50% of their pre-VSU funding, including 4 that are receiving less than 5%.
- While 70% have some funding support from their university, many have conditions attached including some that

The Recommended RQF

On the 15th of November 2006, the Minister for Education, Science and Training announced that the RQF would go ahead. The Minister also endorsed the RQF model recommended by the Development Advisory Group (DAG). Below is a summary of key recommendations from the approved model. Included also are some conclusions on what this might mean for postgraduate students.

For further detailed discussion and background on issues pertaining to the RQF, please refer to the CAPA submissions and briefings.

The complete briefing paper is available in the PDF below:

Research Quality Framework (RQF) CAPA Briefing Paper

This briefing paper provides a background to the RQF, outlines the stages in the development process, and highlights particular issues for postgraduates. For a comprehensive discussion of the issues, please refer to the CAPA submissions:

- Research Quality Framework: Response to the Issues Paper (May 2005)
- Response to the Research Quality Framework Preferred Model (Oct 2005)

These are available on the CAPA website

The DEST RQF website:
http://www.dest.gov.au/sectors/research_sector/policies_issues_reviews/key_iss
ues/research_quality_framework/default.htm

2005-2006 Budget Measures Paper

The higher education sector's low expectations of the 2005 Federal Budget were fulfilled last night with the release of a budget that largely ignores universities. In anticipation of this, many key stakeholders such as the NTEU and AVCC did not bother to attend parliament for its release.

Election 2004: Issues for Postgraduates

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations is the peak body representing Australia's 247,315 postgraduate students. CAPA believes in free, accessible education which allows everyone to reach their full intellectual potential. We believe education is a right, not a privilege.

Backing Australia's Ability II and 2004-05 Budget Measures

On Thursday 6th May 2004 the government announced Backing Australia's Ability II (BAA II), a science and innovation funding and policy package extending on the similar 2001 package, Backing Australia's Ability. The original package was due to expire in 2005, and the new package extends many of the original programs within Backing Australia's Ability to 2011, as well as adding a number of new programs.

DEST's Evaluation of Knowledge and Innovation Reforms Consultation Report

On 24th March the Minister for Education, Brendan Nelson, released three reports on research and research education. The reports drew on a series of reviews held in 2003. The reports make recommendations only - a full research and research education funding policy package is expected to be handed down with the Federal budget on May 11.