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Student Transformation

Monash's student profile has changed markedly over the past 10 years, writes DAVID BRUCE.

The 40-year transformation of Monash University - from a muddy paddock at Clayton in Melbourne's south-east with 363 students to an institution of eight campuses in Australia, Malaysia and South Africa and almost 50,000 students - has been a well-documented history. But as a snapshot of this growth, the decade from 1991 to 2000 produced profound changes in the student population that served to steer the university into the new millennium.

In that period, the student population increased by 34 per cent - faster than the growth rate for the Australian higher education sector as a whole.

The university enhanced its profile by adding two new Australian campuses - Berwick and Parkville - to its existing campuses at Caulfield, Clayton, Gippsland and Peninsula as well as international campuses in Malaysia and South Africa.

A profile of this decade was presented to University Council late last year to be used as a basis for future planning.

Student numbers

1991 - 32,796
2000 - 43,934

Gender balance

1991 - male: 50 per cent
2000 - female: 55 per cent

For a brief time at Monash, there was a gender balance in the student population after many years of male dominance. But within 10 years, the pendulum began to swing the other way - a trend that continues today.

Student origin

1991 - Australian: 91 per cent; international: 9 per cent
2000 -- Australian: 79 per cent; international: 21 per cent

International student enrolments rose from nine per cent of the Monash student population to 21 per cent by 2000 - the most significant change in the student body over the 40 years.

Students abroad

1991 - 2912 international students, all studying in Australia
2000 - 9299 international students, 3407 studying outside of Australia

In 1991, all Monash international students studied in Australia, mostly at the Caulfield or Clayton campuses. By 2000, more than a third studied outside Australia, either at Monash Malaysia or in partnership arrangements with other institutions in Singapore and Hong Kong.

Off-campus

1991 - 12 per cent
2000 - 17 per cent

Students had begun to look for more flexible approaches to study. Many of these students were part-time, combining work or other commitments with study.

Pathways to study

1991 - Year 12 entrants: 53 per cent
2000 - Year 12 entrants: 47 per cent

In 1991, most students were admitted to Monash on the basis of their Year 12 results. But with other pathways gradually increasing in importance, by 2000 only 47 per cent came directly from Year 12, with many entering from other tertiary institutions or as mature-age entrants.

Diversity of funds

1991 - government funding for student load: 89 per cent
2000 - government funding for student load: 72 per cent

In 1991, funding from the Commonwealth and state governments accounted for 89 per cent of the Monash budget for student load. By 2000, funding sources had become more diverse, with fees from international and full-fee-paying Australian students supporting an increasingly greater proportion of the student load.

Future trends

A number of trends are expected to influence the future shape of the student body at Monash. The mix of international students on Australian campuses is likely to change, with more coming from India, China, Europe and North America. The Malaysia campus, currently with 10 per cent non-Malaysian students, will continue to attract a growing number of students from within the Southeast Asian region. Similarly, the South African campus will become a greater attraction for students from across the African continent. Monash will also continue to find opportunities to establish offshore campuses and centres, as well as strategic alliances and partnerships.

The Monash student of 2010 will have more options to move between these places of Monash activity to undertake part of their studies.

In Australia, there is a demographic shift to an older population, and this will continue to influence the look of the student profile. Victoria is expecting little population growth and therefore probably little increase in the demand for higher education from this sector of local population. However, counteracting this trend is the growing demand for workers to update their skills and knowledge.

So, in another 10 years, the Monash student profile will again be different - the students will be older, have a greater attachment to the workforce and be international either by origin or by outlook.

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