1246.0 - Education Variables, 2002

ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 11/12/2002

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Contents >> Level of Highest Educational Attainment >> Introduction

1. The standard variable 'Level of highest educational attainment' identifies the highest educational achievement a person has attained. It is a ranking of qualifications and other educational attainments regardless of the particular field of study or the type of institution in which the study was undertaken. It is not a measurement of the relative importance of different fields of study or types of institution. It may be used:

to determine the general level of educational achievement of the Australian population and of specific groups in Australian society;

to investigate the relationship between levels of education and employment outcomes, income and other socio-economic variables; and

as a proxy measure of socio-economic status.

2. This standard variable should be used for all collections which aim to identify people's highest educational attainment. Other related standard variables are the 'Level of highest non-school qualification', 'Highest year of school completed', 'Main field of highest educational attainment', 'Main field of highest non-school qualification', and 'Year non-school qualification completed'.

3. Terminology used in this standard is explained in the Glossary section below.