Related document(s)
Media releases
Media releases: Index - Training challenge
- National Innovation System
- CHASS - the next step
- Toss Gascoigne steps down
- Innovation
- Rigor and relevance
- Federal Budget 2008
- PhD scholarship
- Excellence in Research
- Review of innovation systems
- Australian Research Council
- Three key Ministers
- Education revolution?
- ALP Research initiatives
- ALP Arts policy
- Chief Scientist and PMSEIC
- Pity about cluster funding
- RQF Chairs announcement
- RQF 'new opportunities for HASS'
- Job for boundary-spanners
- New President for CHASS
- Post-smokestack industry era
- Measures of quality and impact
- National research priorities
- PMSEIC appointment
$$ value of PhD scholarship in freefall
30 April 2008 2008
A five-point plan to improve the value of the PhD program in the humanities, arts and social sciences in Australia has been presented to Government.
Demand for these highly skilled graduates is poised to rise at a time when the number of domestic enrolments in the PhD is going down.
Professor Stuart Cunningham, President of the Council for the Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences (CHASS), said business and industry studies consistently reported a shortage of skilled, innovative workers.
"The demand is coming from Government, from the university sector, and from industry," he said. "The skills shortage has been recognised in the natural sciences, but to a much lesser extent in the humanities, arts and social sciences."
Key points in the plan include:
- A national analysis of industry needs for new highly-skilled workers
- A boost to the slumping value of the PhD scholarship
- More active recruitment of international students
- Support for Australian students to experience the best overseas research
Professor Cunningham said urgent action was required to restore the plummeting dollar value of a PhD scholarship, which he described as being in freefall.
In 1992 the scholarship was $14,260, about 47% of average earnings of $30,534.
In 2007 the scholarship was $19,616, just 35% of average earnings of $55,790.
Professor Cunningham said new demand for PhD graduates is being created as university staff members reach retirement age. The average age of university staff is higher than any other trade or profession, except farmers.
"Studies show that one fifth to one third of academic staff are expected to retire in the next decade, and their replacements will need to be other PhD graduates," he said.
"But we need a better handle on how many PhDs are going to be needed to fill demand from industry, government and academic positions. We've called for a national analysis of industry needs."
- Graph of Average Earnings against the PhD scholarship, 1992-2007
- Five point CHASS plan for Government
- For interview: Professor Stuart Cunningham 0407 195 304
- For interview: Nigel Palmer 0405 448 147
- Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA)
- For information: Toss Gascoigne 0408 704 442
- Executive Director
- Council of the Humanties, Arts and Social Sciences
- Phone: +61 2 6249 1995
- director@chass.org.au
Return to top
