Higher education and the minerals boom

This paper examines the impact of the minerals boom to date on the demand for higher education in Central Queensland, and thesustainability of higher education providers in high economic growth environments. Several datasets were used to examine changes in thedemand for higher education among specific student groups within the region, the impacts upon currently enrolled students, and some ofthe potential consequences for regional employers and long-term regional competitiveness. It identifies challenges facing higher educationproviders operating in such environments and the policy implications of these challenges for government.