Perceptions of Australia as a Postgraduate Research Destination. (June 30, 2010)

In 2009 the Group of Eight (Go8) commissioned "Rob Lawrence of Prospect Research to undertake a study with funding from the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations... to examine the attitudes, perceptions and experiences of Australia as a destination for study at the Higher Research Degree level". In their 11^th "backgrounder" the Go8 highlights significant positive aspects of the Australian experience by international postgraduates.

The 7-page report is available online and is summarised:

The top five aggregated strengths of Australia as a research destination were:

1. Australia’s multicultural society,

2. the friendly and welcoming nature of Australian society,

3. the quality of Australia’s universities,

4. the safe environment and

5. the research culture.

In addition there are very high levels of satisfaction with the quality of academic supervision amongst current and former research students and students are attracted to the shorter duration of the Australian PhD.

A mixture of quantitative and qualitative analysis of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students in both Australia and other countries focused on the following themes:

1. Attitudes and perceptions towards various destinations,

2. the final decision about country, university and topic,

3. main sources of information and influence,

4. primary expectations,

5. levels of satisfaction with the living and research experience.

The Go8 concludes:

The results of this study confirm that Australia is regarded as a progressive, dynamic and innovative country in which to study at the HDR level.

Many participants referred to the practical and applied approach to research and a flat hierarchy in which research students are treated as colleagues.

The majority feel they are welcome members of a team as well as encouraged to engage, speak and interact with fellow researchers and supervisors.

Other positive elements of the research experience include the duration of an Australian PhD, a less cumbersome research and reporting structure, more flexible entry criteria and a less prescriptive attitude towards the choice of topic than observed elsewhere.

High levels of satisfaction with the level of access to supervisors was also a major theme throughout the findings of this survey.

As a destination Australia also continues to be associated with friendliness, multiculturalism, high quality universities and safety.

Who and what disciplines are represented in the survey are shown in the tables below.

Nevertheless, the position of Australia's universities in the ranking of research universities by the Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University leaves considerable room for improvement. Whether or not the powers that be are prepared to take heed proactively -- well, we'll see.