Professor Denise Bradley ACJanuary 2010

Unprecedented change driven by transformative technologies in a globalizing world

Increased proportion of population with higher level skills (diploma and above) is now a critical advantage

National productivity underpinned by tertiary education participation

Concerns about economic, environmental and social sustainability

Connections between higher education, research, innovation and economic development now widely accepted as critical for regions and nations

Rise of the education services market An excellent system or some excellent

universities? No settlement on public/ private

balance in funding tertiary education Significant attention outside education

system to economic benefits of higher skill levels

Women the majority of u/g students in many countries

Greater spread of female u/g enrolments across discipline areas also evident

Higher degrees are more likely to show older patterns of stereotyping but that is disappearing relatively quickly

But still profound gender gap in access to HE in many countries

Poorly represented in positions of power whether as academic or professional staff

Often less research output and interrupted career trajectory among female academics

Where present usually leaders in female enclaves- institutions or discipline areas

Few signs of significant change

More girls than boys have successfully completed schooling since late 1970s

More girls than boys have entered undergraduate education since 1980s

Numbers of women in higher degrees rose substantially in 1990s

Sex stereotyping in course choice remains but huge increases of women in high status professional courses like medicine, law and veterinary science

Affirmative action legislation with mandatory reporting for universities since 1986

Change did follow the legislation but it has stalled

Progress 2003-2007 23% of VCs (30% in 2004) 22% of DVCs and PVCs( 21% in 2003) 38% of most senior administrators

(unchanged since 2003)

Intensification – time and commitment Persistence of stereotypes about

men’s and women’s attributes and skills

Nationally, lack of good child care arrangements

Choices in early stages of employment - career building or nest building

Intensely competitive rather than collaborative

Career is made early in many fields Still evidence that weight of research

rather than its impact matters Some fields have greater status than

others Overseas experience and mobility

matter Time served still seems to be important

Be optimistic- much has changed already

The intense pressure to compete globally will force national governments to take very seriously the use of all the talent available ... and

History is on our side