3. Facts and Figures

During 2011, 4413 Australia Awards (3727 Development, 686 Endeavour) were offered across more than 160 eligible countries.¹¹ The number of these scholarships awarded annually almost doubled between 2007 and 2011 (increasing from 2228), mainly as a result of an increase in the number of Development Awards offered. (See Table 3.1 for details.) Since 2007, 517 Australian students have had the opportunity to gain an international education experience.

Long-term Development Awards increased steadily during 2011, with a 24.3 percent increase (from 1638 awards in 2010, to 2036 awards in 2011) reflecting the Australian government's ongoing commitment to international education.

Through Development Awards, AusAID has also increased the number of short-term awards over the past 12 months from 714 awards in 2010 to 1691 awards in 2011. This represents a 136.8 percent increase, with greater focus on flexible and responsive approaches to leadership development in line with country priorities.

DIISRTE has also increased the number of long-term incoming awards available to overseas students over the past 12 months by 74 percent from 185 awards in 2010 to 322 awards in 2011.

*Data as at 29 March 2012. Development Awards statistics include John Allwright Fellowships; two Anne Wexler Awards are additional to these totals for 2011.

Total awards by region

The total awards by geographic region are set out in Table 3.2 below, with the regional breakdown for Development and Endeavour Awards illustrated in Figures 3.a, 3.b, 3.c and 3.d.

The overall regional breakdown for the Australia Awards incoming scholars is illustrated in Figure 3.d. 63 per cent of awards were offered to recipients either coming from, or studying in, Asia. This was followed by 18 per cent of awards for students from, or studying in, the Pacific region, and 11 per cent for African countries. The Middle East region received a substantial number of awards in 2011, with 134 awards (3 per cent) accepted by incoming students to Australia. Overall, the Asia-Pacific region received over 80 per cent of all awards offered.

Of the 133 Australians offered Endeavour Awards for study or professional training overseas, 57 per cent were for placements to study in Asia; 19 per cent in Europe; 16 per cent in the Americas; and 8 per cent in Pacific and Middle Eastern countries.

Figure 3.a: Total Development Awards by region, 2011

Development Awards (AusAID)

Figure 3.b: Endeavour Awards incoming scholars by region, 2011

Endeavour Awards (DIISRTE) Incoming Scholars

Figure 3.c: Endeavour Awards outgoing scholars by region, 2011

Endeavour Awards (DIISRTE) Outgoing Scholars

Figure 3.d: Total Australia Awards (Development and Endeavour Awards) incoming scholars by region, 2011

Total Australia Awards (Development and Endeavour Awards) Incoming scholars by region, 2011

Top 10 source countries

During 2011, source countries for incoming and outgoing Australia Awards recipients were primarily from the Asia region. (See Table 3.3.)

Overall Indonesia (with 628 Development Awards and 19 Endeavour Awards) was the top source country for incoming award recipients, followed by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (with 354 Development Awards and 67 Endeavour Awards) for the Asia region. Papua New Guinea (with 322 Development Awards and 10 Endeavour Awards) was the third largest source country for Development Awards during 2011. Whilst this ranking remained unchanged for Development Awards (see Table 3.4.), the top source country for Endeavour Awards was The Socialist Republic of Vietnam (67), followed by Pakistan (46) and Bhutan (39). (See Table 3.5.)

Of the top ten host countries for outgoing Endeavour Award recipients, the largest overall proportion of students studied in the People's Republic of China (17 per cent), followed closely by the United States (16 per cent), the United Kingdom (10 per cent) and Hong Kong (SAR) (10 per cent). The long-term awards were relatively evenly distributed between Hong Kong, China, Japan and Indonesia. Short-term Endeavour Awards for outgoing students were primarily hosted by the United States (27 per cent), United Kingdom (18 per cent), and China (16 per cent). (See Table 3.6.)

Australia Awards accepted by region - age and gender demographics

Gender equality is central to economic and human development in a country. Removing inequalities gives societies a better chance to develop. When women and men have relative equality, economies grow faster, children's health improves and there is less corruption. Gender equality is an important human right.¹²

The Australian Government is committed to remaining a firm advocate of gender equality - a central feature of economic and social development. Equal opportunity for women and men supports economic growth and helps to reduce poverty. This principle is applied in the selection of applicants for the Development and Endeavour Awards. Overall there were 54 per cent male recipients and 46 per cent female recipients of Australia Awards in 2011.

In 2011, almost half of all award recipients (Development and Endeavour Awards) were aged between 25 and 35 years. The largest group of Development Award recipients was in the 31-35 year-old male cohort from the Asia region (333). This was followed by the 26-30 year-old age female cohort, also from the Asia region (330). Overall there were 55 per cent male recipients (2038) and 45 per cent female recipients (1689) across all regions for Development Awards. (See Tables 3.7 and 3.8; Figures 3.e and 3.f.)

Figure 3.e: Development Awards: age and gender demographics - male recipients, accepted by region, 2011

Figure 3.f: Development Awards: age and gender demographics - female recipients, accepted by region, 2011

The largest group of incoming Endeavour Awards recipients was in the 25-30 year-old age cohort from the Asia region. This was followed by the 31-35 year-old age cohort, also from the Asia region. The largest group of outgoing awards recipients was in the over 50 years and age cohort, also to the Asia region. (See Tables 3.9 and 3.10.)

The largest male (52 per cent) and female (48 per cent) cohorts for incoming Endeavour Awards were for recipients coming from the Asia region. The largest male (44 per cent) and female (56 per cent) cohorts for outgoing Endeavour Awards were for Australian recipients going to Asia. Overall there were 51 per cent male recipients (348) and 49 per cent female recipients (338) across all regions for the Endeavour Awards. (See Tables 3.11 and 3.12.)

Fields of study (Development and Endeavour Awards)

In 2011, the largest numbers of Development Awards (24.4 per cent) were awarded in the field of society and culture (economics, law, political science, development studies and international relations). This was closely followed by health (22 per cent), reflecting the significance of health as a sectoral priority for aidrecipient countries. Management and commerce (16.1 per cent), education (10.7 per cent) and engineering and related technologies (7.0 per cent) were also included in the top five fields of study for Development Awards. (See Figure 3.g.)

Figure 3.g: Development Awards: Fields of study for incoming award holders, 2011

The largest number of incoming (international) Endeavour Awards were for recipients studying in the field of natural and physical sciences (16.3 per cent), closely followed by society and culture (14.8 per cent). Engineering and related technologies (12.7 per cent), management and commerce (12.3 per cent) and health (11.2 per cent) were also in the top five fields of study. (See Figure 3.h.)

The largest number of outgoing (Australian) Endeavour Awards were for recipients studying in the society and culture field of study (21.8 per cent). (See Figure 3.i.)

Figure 3.h: Endeavour Awards: fields of study for incoming (International) award holders, 2011

*Other (includes professional development programs).

Figure 3.i: Endeavour Awards: fields of study for outgoing (Australian) award holders, 2011

*Other (includes professional development programs).

Australian institutions - the top ten institutions hosting the largest number of Australia Awards scholars in 2011

In 2011, there were over 60 Australian tertiary institutions hosting Australia Awards recipients. Tables 3.13 (Development Awards) and 3.14 (Endeavour Awards incoming and outgoing) list the top ten institutions hosting the largest number of Australia Awards recipients for 2011.

Financial expenditure by region (incorporating management costs)

The Australian Government expended a total of $273.21 million in 2010-11 Financial Year for the Australia Awards (Development and Endeavour Awards) announced in 2011. This represents approximately a 27.7 per cent increase in expenditure for implementing agencies from 2009-10 Financial Year. (Table 3.15.)

Overall regional allocations are highest for the Asia region (67 per cent), followed by the Pacific region with 18 per cent of the overall budget allocation. (See Figure 3.j and Table 3.16.)

Figure 3.j: Australia Awards: overall budget allocation (%) for Development and Endeavour Awards by region in 2011

The largest budget allocations of Development Awards went to award recipients in the Asia region (64 per cent), followed by 20 per cent to recipients in the Pacific region, and 10 per cent to recipients in the Africa region. (See Table 3.16.)

Eighty-three per cent of Endeavour Award funding allocations were for awards in the Asia region (or for awards to Australian citizens studying in Asia). (See Table 3.16.)

*Formerly DEEWR.

**Secretariat funding over four years 2010-13 of eight million (provided by AusAID and DIISRTE) is additional to this expenditure. Anne Wexler Awards are also additional to this expenditure (up to $280,000).