Deakin moves to assist skills shortage as demand for its courses increases

Deakin University has moved to address concerns about national skills shortages in its 2008 round of offers.

Overall the University will make 5877 undergraduate offers to students who have applied for a Commonwealth Supported Place at Deakin through the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC).

It will make:

1,205 offers for those wishing to study in the Health area;
1,090 offers in Science, Engineering, Technology, Architecture and Environmental Sciences;
and 645 for those wishing to enter the Teaching profession.

The Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, Professor Sally Walker, said that Deakin strives to produce highly employable graduates in areas of strategic importance.

"Deakin has forged strong links with governments, business, industry and the professions to ensure that our courses prepare our graduates for the workforce. We are particularly pleased to have attracted increased numbers of applicants in courses such as Nursing, Secondary Teaching/Science, Occupational Therapy and Engineering as these are areas in which there are national skills shortages.

Deakin University has also demonstrated its core commitment to access and equity in higher education by increasing its number of offers to students who have experienced educational disadvantage.

The Deakin Access and Equity Program includes consideration of any long term educational or financial disadvantage which may have adversely affected students' educational performance when their applications for a place are assessed.

"These offers are a tangible demonstration of our genuine commitment to access and equity," said Professor Walker.

Demand for places at Deakin increased significantly in 2008 with the number of school leavers putting Deakin as their first preference increasing by 10 per cent compared to 2007. First preferences increased at all of Deakin's Campuses (Burwood, Geelong and Warrnambool) and in all areas – Arts and Education (up 7 percent), Business and Law (up 9 per cent), Health, Medicine, Nursing and Behavioural Sciences (up 5 percent) and Science and Technology (up 25 percent).

Demand increased for many of Deakin's combined courses including Secondary Teaching/Science; Commerce/Science; Health Sciences/Arts; Nursing/Commerce; Arts/Science (at Geelong); Management/Law (at Geelong); Law/Science (at Geelong)

Demand also increased for professional courses including Primary Teaching; Nursing; Health Sciences; Biomedical Science; Social Work; Occupational Therapy; and Engineering and for 'niche' courses such as Exercise and Sport Science/Sport Management; Environmental Management; and Professional and Creative Writing.

New courses such as Property and Real Estate performed well.