Room to Research Improvements

AUSTRALIAN universities "still have a way to go" in improving the intellectual climate for postgraduate researchers, an annual Graduate Careers Australia survey has found.

While postgraduates thought departments had improved efforts to integrate them into the academic community during past year, only 63 per cent felt that the intellectual climate was good overall.

The survey questions covered issues such as social contact with other postgraduates, integration into the department's community, research ambience, quality of seminar programs and opportunities to become involved in the broader research culture.

Almost three-quarters of respondents said their department had provided opportunities for social contact.

GCA research manager Bruce Guthrie told the HES that postgraduate research could be isolating and the chance to spend some time with those sharing the experience could help students deal with the pressures.

Almost two-thirds of respondents said they had the opportunity to participate in a good seminar program.

Mr Guthrie said a research project could be enriched by presenting findings to colleagues and receiving feedback. "Additionally, ideas and techniques thrown up by hearing about the projects of research student colleagues can feed into a student's own work."

But only 62.1 per cent of postgraduates agreed that their department had given them opportunities to be involved in the broader research culture. Guthrie said the chance to attend conferences and forums related to a field of research could deepen the student's understanding of the broader context and develop contacts with local and international researchers in their field.

Only 61.8 per cent agreed they were integrated into the department's community, giving them, for example, the opportunity to gain experience in the wider context of an academic department, such as by teaching.

And little more than half (54.9 per cent) agreed that the research ambience in the department or faculty stimulated their work.

However, 84.7 per cent said they were satisfied with the quality of their higher degree research experience overall.

More than 86 per cent said their problem-solving and communication skills had improved, and 94 per cent reported that their research had sharpened their analytic skills.

Australian Research Council chief executive Margaret Sheil told the HES that she was not directly concerned by the findings about intellectual climate.

The survey covered all the country's postgraduates and was therefore at odds with the formal feedback from the minority of leading postgraduates associated with ARC-funded programs, she said.

But Professor Sheil said she was encouraged by the finding that the surveyed graduates felt that a higher degree increased their analytical and problem-solving skills.

Of those available for full-time employment, 89.9 per cent of respondents had such a position at the time of the survey. But across all levels of postgraduate qualification, male graduates are paid between $3000 and $10,000 more than female graduates.

Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations national women's officer Kate Barnsley said it was "disconcerting" that women's earnings trailed so far behind those of men.

"This is a clear indication that there is systemic discrimination against women," Ms Barnsley said.

"It is also of great concern that women graduates are less likely to have a stable work environment, and receive fewer benefits from their employers."