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News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published November 2011 3134 subscribers Subscribe Now In this issue: Results in from national surveys on philanthropy in education University retention and completion rates have improved Evaluating educational outcomes under the Northern Territory Emergency Response Professional certification can improve teaching quality Quality Assurance in the Australian Higher Education Sector Informing tertiary education planning ACER Update Results in from national surveys on philanthropy in education The findings of the first national survey on philanthropy in education have confirmed that when it comes to grant seeking, those least equipped can often be the ones most in need, with nine out of ten Australian schools surveyed considering themselves novices at philanthropic grant seeking. Continue reading » University retention and completion rates have improved The retention rate for commencing bachelor degree students in Australia has increased from 81 per cent in 2001 to 84 per cent in 2009, while the completion rate has increased from 72 per cent in 2005 to 80 per cent in 2008, according to an ACER research briefing released in November. Continue reading » Evaluating educational outcomes under the Northern Territory Emergency Response An ACER analysis has revealed the literacy achievement of Year 3 students in schools within the Northern Territory Emergency Response communities has shown improvement that is greater than the improvement among Year 3 students in all Northern Territory schools and all Australian schools. Continue reading » Professional certification can improve teaching quality A properly functioning standards-based teacher certification system has the ability to improve teaching quality, as it would provide incentives for all teachers to work towards high professional standards, ACER Principal Research Fellow Dr Lawrence Ingvarson told delegates at an international seminar on teacher education held in Brazil in November. Continue reading » Quality Assurance in the Australian Higher Education Sector ACER Research Fellow Dr Yu Zhao presented at the 11th International Forum on Higher Education, held in Chongqing, China, from 22 to 24 October 2011. The theme of the forum was ‘Improving the Quality of Higher Education and Construction of a Powerful Nation in Higher Education’. Continue reading » Informing tertiary education planning To inform the development of the Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Skills Victoria this year commissioned ACER to prepare three separate reports providing supporting analysis of (1) the region’s industry, employment and population profile, (2) the region’s student profile and (3) of student demand projections for the region. Continue reading » ACER Update *New edition of Research Developments* now available** The Summer 2011-12 edition of Research Developments is now available online from http://research.acer.edu.au/resdev/vol26/iss26/1/. Print copies will be distributed at the end of November. The articles in this issue cover the findings of the Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study for Indigenous Students (ILLANS), upcoming changes to the early childhood education and care sector, ACER's report for the Review of Funding for Schooling Panel on the way school funding is targeted to disadvantaged students, and the emerging multidisciplinary field of the science of learning. ACER Student Engagement & Experience Conference Higher education experts and stakeholders will gather in Melbourne next week to discuss challenges around student engagement and share strategic insights to further improve the quality of Australian higher education, at a two-day conference presented by ACER in conjunction with Criterion Conferences. The conference, on the theme Measuring & Improving Student Engagement & Experience: Increasing the quality of teaching & learning to encourage retention in higher education, takes place at the Novotel on Collins, Melbourne, on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November 2011. Further information, including the full conference program and list of speakers, is available from http://www.improvingstudentengagement.com/ *2011 NAB Schools First* National Award winner announced soon** The winner of the 2011 NAB Schools First National Award will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday 23 November. The seven State/Territory Impact Award winners, announced in October, are in the running for the National Award and the chance to increase their total aggregate awards funding to $500 000. Established in 2009, NAB Schools First is a partnership between NAB, ACER and the Foundation for Young Australians. For more information visit http://www.schoolsfirst.edu.au ACER scholarship test reaches 50-year milestone In 2012, ACER’s Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) will undertake its 50th testing cycle. In a break from tradition, in 2012 the test will take place on 25 February in line with requests from schools. Previously, the CSTP test date was in May each year. Schools wishing to participate in the February 2012 testing program must enrol with ACER as soon as possible. Parents wishing to take up the early bird discount for student registrations must register by 16 December. The final cut-off date for student registrations is 6 February 2012. For further information visit http://www.acer.edu.au/tests/cstp
Copyright © Australian Council for Educational Research 2013 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au Subscribe Unsubscribe Australian Council for Educational Research Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124 Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555 Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500 Web: www.acer.edu.au

News bulletins from the Australian Council for Educational Research published November 2011
3134 subscribers
Subscribe Now

In this issue:

Results in from national surveys on philanthropy in education

The findings of the first national survey on philanthropy in education have confirmed that when it comes to grant seeking, those least equipped can often be the ones most in need, with nine out of ten Australian schools surveyed considering themselves novices at philanthropic grant seeking.

University retention and completion rates have improved

The retention rate for commencing bachelor degree students in Australia has increased from 81 per cent in 2001 to 84 per cent in 2009, while the completion rate has increased from 72 per cent in 2005 to 80 per cent in 2008, according to an ACER research briefing released in November.

Evaluating educational outcomes under the Northern Territory Emergency Response

An ACER analysis has revealed the literacy achievement of Year 3 students in schools within the Northern Territory Emergency Response communities has shown improvement that is greater than the improvement among Year 3 students in all Northern Territory schools and all Australian schools.

Professional certification can improve teaching quality

A properly functioning standards-based teacher certification system has the ability to improve teaching quality, as it would provide incentives for all teachers to work towards high professional standards, ACER Principal Research Fellow Dr Lawrence Ingvarson told delegates at an international seminar on teacher education held in Brazil in November.

Quality Assurance in the Australian Higher Education Sector

ACER Research Fellow Dr Yu Zhao presented at the 11th International Forum on Higher Education, held in Chongqing, China, from 22 to 24 October 2011. The theme of the forum was ‘Improving the Quality of Higher Education and Construction of a Powerful Nation in Higher Education’.

Informing tertiary education planning

To inform the development of the Gippsland Tertiary Education Plan, Skills Victoria this year commissioned ACER to prepare three separate reports providing supporting analysis of (1) the region’s industry, employment and population profile, (2) the region’s student profile and (3) of student demand projections for the region.

ACER Update

New edition of Research Developments now available

The Summer 2011-12 edition of Research Developments is now available online from http://research.acer.edu.au/resdev/vol26/iss26/1/. Print copies will be distributed at the end of November. The articles in this issue cover the findings of the Longitudinal Literacy and Numeracy Study for Indigenous Students (ILLANS), upcoming changes to the early childhood education and care sector, ACER's report for the Review of Funding for Schooling Panel on the way school funding is targeted to disadvantaged students, and the emerging multidisciplinary field of the science of learning.

ACER Student Engagement & Experience Conference

Higher education experts and stakeholders will gather in Melbourne next week to discuss challenges around student engagement and share strategic insights to further improve the quality of Australian higher education, at a two-day conference presented by ACER in conjunction with Criterion Conferences. The conference, on the theme Measuring & Improving Student Engagement & Experience: Increasing the quality of teaching & learning to encourage retention in higher education, takes place at the Novotel on Collins, Melbourne, on Tuesday 22 and Wednesday 23 November 2011. Further information, including the full conference program and list of speakers, is available from http://www.improvingstudentengagement.com/

2011 NAB Schools First National Award winner announced soon

The winner of the 2011 NAB Schools First National Award will be announced at a special awards ceremony on Wednesday 23 November. The seven State/Territory Impact Award winners, announced in October, are in the running for the National Award and the chance to increase their total aggregate awards funding to $500 000. Established in 2009, NAB Schools First is a partnership between NAB, ACER and the Foundation for Young Australians. For more information visit http://www.schoolsfirst.edu.au

ACER scholarship test reaches 50-year milestone

In 2012, ACER’s Cooperative Scholarship Testing Program (CSTP) will undertake its 50th testing cycle. In a break from tradition, in 2012 the test will take place on 25 February in line with requests from schools. Previously, the CSTP test date was in May each year. Schools wishing to participate in the February 2012 testing program must enrol with ACER as soon as possible. Parents wishing to take up the early bird discount for student registrations must register by 16 December. The final cut-off date for student registrations is 6 February 2012. For further information visit http://www.acer.edu.au/tests/cstp

All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Copyright Act 1968 of Australia and subsequent amendments, no part of this electronic publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without written permission. Please address any requests to reproduce information to communications@acer.edu.au

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Australian Council for Educational Research
Private Bag 55, Camberwell, Victoria Australia 3124
Tel: + 61 3 9277 5555
Fax: + 61 3 9277 5500
Web: www.acer.edu.au