Table 2: Demographics of alumni respondents Focus Demographic All alumni respondents # % Gender Female 503 47.3% Male 561 52.7% Age at time of survey 20 to 29 years 1 0.1% 30 to 39 years 94 8.8% 40 to 49 years 549 51.5% 50 to 59 years 359 33.7% 60 to 69 years 60 5.6% 70 and older 2 0.2% Country of Birth Region East Asia 807 75.8% Pacific Island Countries 27 2.5% Papua New Guinea 51 4.8% South & West Asia 119 11.2% Sub-Saharan Africa 58 5.4% Unknown* 3 0.3% Year of graduation from award 1996 72 6.8% 1997 71 6.7% 1998 65 6.1% 1999 84 7.9% 2000 90 8.5% 2001 84 7.9% 2002 131 12.3% 2003 143 13.4% 2004 165 15.5% 2005 160 15.0% Field of Study Natural and Physical Sciences 102 10.8% Information Technology 46 4.9% Engineering and Related Technologies 107 11.3% Architecture and Building 12 1.3% Agriculture, Environmental and Related Studies 122 12.9% Health 97 10.3% Education 93 9.8% Management and Commerce 181 19.2%
Society and Culture 158 16.7% Creative Arts 18 1.9% Food, Hospitality and Personal Services 4 0.4% Unknown* 5 0.5% Have you received any other awards? Yes 362 34.0% No 691 64.9% Don't know 12 1.1% Notes: * Percentages within groups may not sum to 100 due to rounding. The ‘unknown’ category is used for alumni who requested not to have personal information published in reporting. Analysis of response numbers and target population suggest that at a global level the data collected in the Tracer Survey can be reported at a 95 per cent confidence level within a 5 per cent margin of error. This outcome is substantially more reliable than the initial aims of the Facility to gather global data at the 90 per cent confidence level within a 10 per cent margin of error. While the global margins are robust, it is important to note that confidence levels and error margins are lower when analyses are undertaken at the sub-group level. Table 3 provides further information relating to participant numbers and response rates by region (see Annex 2 for further figures by gender, region and country). Table 3: Participation statistics by region Region # Survey Target population Response rate East Asia 814 3569 23% Pacific Island Countries 28 188 15% Papua New Guinea 50 207 24% South & West Asia 119 472 25% Sub-Saharan Africa 58 234 25% Unknown* 3 5 60% Total 1072 4675 23% Note: *The ‘unknown’ category is used for alumni who requested not to have personal information published in reporting.
detailed in Chapter 4. Examples from five alumni described the ways in which their on-award networks have enabled them to contribute to their country’s development: The close networks of friends I was able to have during and after my studies. We still keep in touch and share knowledge about specific issues that are important in the region. Alumna from Samoa Networks developed on-award - sharing experiences with other awardees and passing this to my local womenfolk back home. Alumnus from PNG I had full support of my supervisor and our contact person from Curtin really kept in touch and tried to help us when she had an opportunity. Alumnus from Philippines The network developed is unique; there is a bond and a willingness to assist knowing that the common factor is the Australian experience. Alumnus from Fiji The most significant factor was to be socially exposed to other AusAid awardees over a long period to build knowledge and trust. Alumna from South Africa Although few alumni made reference, a key enabling factor raised by some was the value placed on their active Australia Awards and Australian alumni networks in their home countries. These comments are included here as they align closely with current DFAT policies on alumni engagement and offer examples of direct benefit received through continued engagement with like-minded peers. In particular, two alumni described their respective Australian alumni associations as a key factor supporting their contribution to country development: Papua New Guinea Australia Alumni Association provides Professional Development Skills Workshops and Members attend. Employers support by letting staff attend such workshops. Alumnus from PNG As members of the Australian Alumni we are able to stay connected and share useful information and experiences on the current issues facing our region. Alumna from Samoa Barriers to contribution Alumni were also asked to provide information on issues that have challenged their ability to use their new knowledge, skills or networks to contribute when they return from award. The section below outlines the most common issues identified by alumni which largely centred on the workplace. The following four issues were the most commonly referenced barriers to contribution by alumni in order of prominence: culture: workplace, bureaucracy (i.e. reluctance to change, favouring seniority over experience, inflexible regulations) lack of work opportunities/mismatch of skills to job
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea 51 207 24% South & West Asia Bangladesh 37 167 22% Bhutan 21 68 31% India 4 20 20% Maldives 8 46 17% Nepal 24 95 25% Pakistan 18 52 35% Sri Lanka 7 24 29% Sub Saharan Africa Botswana 0 2 0% Kenya 9 30 30% Lesotho 3 10 30% Malawi 5 9 56% Mauritius 2 3 67% Mozambique 15 61 25% Namibia 0 8 0% South Africa 8 34 24% Swaziland 1 2 50% Tanzania 2 27 7% Uganda 10 32 31% Zambia 0 8 0% Zimbabwe 3 8 38% Unknown* Unknown* 3 5 60% Total 1072 4675 22.9% Note: *The ‘unknown’ category is used for alumni who requested not to have personal information published in reporting. Table 6: Participation statistics for scholarships by region, country and gender Female Male Region Country # Survey respondents Target population Response Rate # Survey respondents Target population Response Rate East Asia Cambodia 11 42 21% 36 115 31%