SUBSEQUENT QUALIFICATIONS


BACHELOR DEGREE AS FIRST QUALIFICATION

In 2009, approximately 2.3 million people aged 25-64 years had attained a Bachelor degree as their first qualification over their lifetime. Just over half (52%) of these people had subsequently gained another qualification. Approximately one-third (34%) had attained a postgraduate qualification. Another 10% had attained an additional Bachelor degree, as their highest subsequent qualification, some of whom would have attained a double Bachelor degree at the time of their first graduation. A further 8% had attained a vocational qualification as their highest subsequent qualification.

Some people who gain a Bachelors degree as their first qualification, subsequently complete qualifications both in higher and vocational education. Of all people who had attained a Bachelor degree as their first qualification 14% had subsequently attained a vocational qualification.

Of the 1.1 million men and 1.2 million women who had attained a Bachelor degree as their first qualification, a higher proportion of men (23%) than women (16%) subsequently attained a postgraduate degree, while a higher proportion of women (15%) than men (13%) subsequently attained a Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate. All other types of qualifications were reported by a similar proportion of men and women.

VOCATIONAL EDUCATION AS FIRST QUALIFICATION

In 2009, 4.7 million people aged 25-64 years had gained their first qualification in vocational education; of whom approximately one-third (34%) had gained another qualification. Almost one quarter (23%) of people who had first attained a vocational education qualification had subsequently gained an additional vocational education qualification (as their highest educational attainment), while 11% had gained a higher education qualification.

In 2009, about 3.3 million 25-64 year olds had attained a Certificate as their first qualification, of whom 890,100 had attained a Certificate I/II and 2.4 million a Certificate III/IV. Of those who first attained a Certificate I/II, 39% had attained a subsequent qualification about two-thirds of whom had another Certificate (as their highest qualification). Likewise, of those who had first attained a Certificate III/IV, 29% had attained a subsequent qualification, half of whom had attained another Certificate (as their highest qualification).

The proportion of 25-64 year olds with a Certificate I/II as their highest non-school qualification decreased between 2001 and 2009. A Certificate I/II equips people with basic skills for a specific range of routine functions and procedures, while a Certificate III/IV qualifies people for skilled work in a particular field. The relatively high proportion of people who continued to further training after first attaining a Certificate I/II may reflect the increased employment opportunities which are available to people with more advanced qualifications.

Approximately 1.4 million people aged 25-64 years had attained an Advanced Diploma or Diploma as their first qualification. Of these people, 42% went onto attain another qualification. In contrast to people whose first qualification was at the Certificate level, a much higher proportion of people who first attained an Advanced Diploma/Diploma subsequently attained a higher education qualification (24% compared with 5%). Of people who had first attained an Advanced Diploma/Diploma, 14% had attained a Bachelor degree as their highest educational qualification and a further 10% had attained postgraduate qualifications.

The high proportion of people who first completed an Advanced Diploma/Diploma and subsequently gained a higher education qualification may reflect the similarity between the fields in which Advanced Diplomas/Diplomas and higher education qualifications are offered. Advanced Diplomas/Diplomas prepare people for advanced skilled or paraprofessional work while higher education qualifications generally prepare people for professional work. It is therefore logical that more people with Advanced Diplomas/Diplomas qualifications go on to higher education than do people with Certificates' which prepare people for skilled but not paraprofessional work. Additionally, pathways between vocational education training providers and universities have been formed to allow students to progress between qualifications and, if appropriate, receive credit for previous study undertaken. Pathways from Advanced Diplomas/Diplomas into higher education are routinely available as these qualifications provide graduates with particular skills or knowledge considered necessary to participate effectively in higher education degrees.