Access to Higher Education Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Access to Higher Education - Article Example In other words, the report underscores the important role played by the private sector in attainment of the Australian’s government to improve access to higher education. The government has set targets to drastically increase the number individuals with at least bachelor level credentials. For example, the government aims to increase the number of adults with a university degree to 40 percent by the year 2025. This calls for an increase from 32 percent in 2009 to 40 percent in 2015 (Access Economics, 2010:6). Under previous targets, the attainment rate was expected to be 34 percent. The report points out that skilled migration is expected to give rise to over 240, 000 graduates and this mounts pressure on the government to train more graduates (Access Economics). The Australian government invests heavily in bachelor education. For instance, the government spent $ 8 407 095 000 towards bachelor level education in 2009 (Access Economics, 2010:7). However, this funding is directed towards public universities. Private universities on the other hand do not receive constant funding from the government and largely rely on fee revenue (Access Economics, 2010: 3).... e it plays to help the government achieve the set targets with regards to increase the number of individuals with higher education qualifications to match the labour market requirements. Birrell, B. & Edwards, D. (2009) The Bradley review and access to higher education in Australia, viewed 28 Jul 2013 from . The Bradley Review has recommended expansion of domestic level training universities in a move to increase competence in the job market. This report is an important milestone in the higher education arena. It recommends for a considerable increase in the number of adult students pursuing higher education from 29 percent to 40 percent by the year 2020 (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:7). It can be noted that domestic higher education was overlooked at the end of the 20th century had negative effects on the young generation. The recent times have presented numerous job opportunities requiring minimum university qualifications. Conversely, the growth of domestic undergraduate course compl etion has been minimal. The review asserts that demand for Vocational Education Training (VET) has decreased considerably owing to the changing trend in the economy where employers tend to favour those with higher education qualifications. In order for the government to achieve the 40 percent target enrolment rate in 2020, participate rate and demographic factors must be taken into account (Birrell and Edwards, 2009:4). If there is an increase in population, there will be a corresponding increase in the university enrolment rate. The participation rate is dependent on the number of young people who are attending universities. Recent censuses have revealed that the rate of young people attending college was