A big shift is taking place in Australian education and employment. As a result, innovations are taking place in education today that have far-reaching implications for the meaning of work. Higher education has become a vital component of the economic and social fabric of Australia. Over the last decade, it has changed from an elite to a mass system. In recent years the strategic focus has included inernationalisation, professional development, concentration of research and research training, collaboration across education and training sectors and the application of information technology in teaching and learning and in research.
Significant change continues in Australian education.
Developments in science and technology, for example in information technology and biotechnology, are having a profound effect on industry development and on the course content of educational institutions. The new requirements of business and industry for a blend of technical, managerial and entrepreneurial skills is creating new demands on the programs of educational institutions. Each year Australia welcomes an increasing number of international students to study in its universities, institutes, colleges and schools. The Australian Government is committed to ensuring quality in higher education. There is strong growth in university professional development and graduate programs, as professionals, managers and workers seek to advance or to change careers through gaining further educational qualifications.