Education in States and Nations: 1991

(ESN) Indicator 12: Non-university higher education enrollment

Non-university higher education institutions typically provide occupationally- oriented programs that may or may not prepare students to proceed to university degree programs. The percentage of individuals in different age groups who are enrolled in non-university higher education reflects (1) the role of non-university higher education in the training process, (2) the duration of non-university higher education programs, and (3) the classification of programs as upper secondary, non-university, or university higher education. In countries with high non-university higher education enrollment rates, non-university higher education may serve as the place to receive training and certification for a large number of occupations, whereas in countries with low rates, similar training may occur at other levels in the system. This indicator displays the percentage of persons from certain age groups who are enrolled in public and private non-university higher education (defined as community or junior colleges in the United States). Rates are provided for three age groups (18-21 years, 22-29 years, and 18-29 years) and are broken down by enrollment status (full-time and part-time).

• Full-time non-university higher education enrollment rates for 18- to 21-year-olds in the G-7 countries fell into two groups in 1991: those with relatively high enrollment rates and those with relatively low enrollment rates. The United States recorded a relatively high enrollment rate (7.5 percent), as did Canada and France, both with 8.1 percent. West Germany and the United Kingdom both reported a comparatively low enrollment rate of 1.9 percent. In Belgium and the Netherlands, non-university full-time enrollment among 18- to 21-year- olds exceeded 10 percent.

• Part-time non-university education for 18- to 21-year-olds was rare in most countries. Exceptions to this pattern were the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Indeed, in the United Kingdom and Australia, more part-time than full-time students attended non- university programs.

• Full-time enrollment in non-university higher education declined, sometimes dramatically, as students progressed into their twenties in every country reporting data except Denmark and Switzerland. However, part-time enrollment rates, among countries where part-time enrollments were counted, decreased in as many countries as they increased, as students moved into the older age cohort.

Note on interpretation:

Countries differ greatly in how they classify certain programs as either higher education or upper secondary programs. For example, some programs that are begun subsequent to the completion of general secondary education are classified as non-university higher education in the United States and in parts of Canada, whereas they are defined as upper secondary education in most other countries. (See the supplemental note on levels of education on pages.)

Table 11b

Figure 12a