Media Centre

ACER in the news

The following articles provide examples of recent news coverage of ACER’s work.

Joining the Dots

Joining the Dots is a subscription-based resource provided by ACER to those with an interest in Australian Higher Education. In 2011, the series includes eight research briefings, a monthly news and event digest and a webinar series. In November 2011 ACER issued a media release about research by ACER Senior Research Fellow Dr Julie McMillan that shows university retention and completion rates in Australia’s higher education institutions has improved.

• Campus Review published an article about the findings of Dr Julie McMillan’s research briefing. (‘BA retention rates on the rise ACER finds’ by Annette Blackwell, Campus Review, 7 November 2011).
• An article about university retention and completion rates written by Australian Associated Press was published on, among other websites, The Daily Telegraph online. (‘Uni students sticking to their studies, completing degrees’ by AAP, Daily Telegraph, 7 November 2011). 
• Dr Julie McMillan was quoted in an article about rising university applications in New South Wales. (‘University applications on the rise’ by Jen Rosenberg, Sydney Morning Herald, 8 November 2011). 

Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)

PISA measures how well 15-year-olds from across the globe are prepared to use their knowledge and skills in reading, mathematics and science to meet real-life challenges near the end of compulsory schooling.  ACER conducts PISA in Australia on behalf of the OECD with funding from the commonwealth and state and territory governments. A report on children’s digital literacy, PISA 2009 Results: Students On Line: Digital Technologies and Performance (Volume VI), was released in June 2011.

• The Australian published an article about the findings of the PISA Students On Line report, highlighting the gender difference in results and the effects of computer use at home and school. (‘Children who surf the internet are better readers’ by Justine Ferrari, The Australian, 29 June 2011).
• An article about the PISA Students On Line report published in The West Australian suggested that the findings show Australian school students perform better at reading material online than the printed word. (‘Australian students’ net skills among world’s best’ by Andrew Tillett, West Australian , 30 June 2011, page 16).

Other recent news

• The Australian Financial Review published an opinion article by ACER Higher Education Research Director Associate Professor Hamish Coates, in which Coates outlined the importance of providing graduates with the skills required effective professional work. (‘Putting graduates to the work test’ by Hamish Coates, Australian Financial Review, 21 November 2011, page 28).  
• The Melbourne Age published a feature article about the Yiramalay/Wesley Studio School in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia and the students there who are studying the ACER-developed National Diploma of Education. (‘Life (and death) lessons’ by Jewel Topsfield, The Age, 29 October 2011).  
• ACER Indigenous Liaison Officer Gina Milgate was interviewed on radio about the importance of the ACER Press title, Two Way Teaching and Learning: Toward culturally reflective and relevant education. The interview is available to listen to free online. (‘ACER sees Aboriginal education as a key priority’ by Nerida Currey, CAAMA, 30 September 2011).  
• Following the release of the 2011 NAPLAN results, the Brisbane Courier-Mail published an article that quoted ACER Chief Executive Professor Geoff Masters, who stated that the introduction of a prep year in Queensland had helped improve the literacy and numeracy levels of year 3 students. (‘Queensland's introduction of Prep school year pays off in NAPLAN results’, by Tanya Chilcott, The Courier-Mail, 9 September 2011).