Australian Mobility Report Cards: Which Universities Admit the Most Disadvantaged Students?. (15th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Leigh, Andrew
• Is Part Of: Australian economic review. Volume 54:Number 3(2021)
• Page Start: 331
• Page End: 342
• Publication Date: 2021-07-15
• Subjects: Economics -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic policy -- Periodicals; Australia -- Economic conditions -- 1945-; Économie politique -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- Périodiques; Australie -- Politique économique -- Périodiques; Australie -- Conditions économiques -- 1945- -- Périodiques; 330.994005
• DOI: 10.1111/1467-8462.12430
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0004-9018

Abstract

Abstract: Tertiary education has a vital role to play in fostering social mobility. To assess the extent to which Australian universities enrol disadvantaged students, I use two measures of disadvantage: neighbourhood characteristics and individual characteristics, and compare higher education institutions. Neighbourhood metrics appear to be a poor proxy for individual disadvantage. Yet even so, some institutions stand out as more effective pathways for disadvantaged students. I conclude with some recommendations for improving data quality, education policy and evaluation in order to make Australian universities more effective engines of social mobility .