The Graduation Statement will describe a higher education qualification in an easily understandable way, relating it to the system within which it was issued and describing qualifications in a clear and consistent way to potential employers and other higher education institutions.

The Graduation Statement will be presented to graduates at participating universities, in addition to degree certificates and academic transcripts, based on nationally agreed specifications.

Australians need high-level knowledge and skills to make Australia a more productive and prosperous nation in an increasingly competitive and complex international environment.

Graduation Statements have the potential to make Australian awards better understood internationally, enhancing the international mobility of Australian graduates and Australia’s competitiveness in the international higher education market.

The Australian Government has committed $3.7 million to assist publicly funded universities in implementing the Graduation Statement over the next three years.

Australian universities are invited to apply for grants of $100 000 to assist in the implementation of the Graduation Statement.

The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement is part of Australia’s response to the Bologna process in Europe and the result of extensive consultations with the university sector.

This is part of the Government’s commitment to providing Australians with a world-class education so that we can compete in the global market.

The Consortium’s final report, Proposal for an Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement, is available online at: www.deewr.gov.au/higheredgraduation

• Federal Ministry

• The 2008-09 Budget

• GROCERYchoice

• Community Cabinets

• 2020 Summit

• 2007 election policies