AUSTRALIAN STANDARD CLASSIFICATION OF EDUCATION (ASCED)
Population Statistics Standards
Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra
Telephone (02) 6252 7626
ASCED is a statistical classification for the storage, exchange and dissemination of statistical and administrative data on educational activity in Australia. It replaces a number of education classifications, including the ABS Classification of Qualifications (ABSCQ) used prior to 2001. ASCED is used in data collections conducted by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research (NCVER). ASCED is maintained and published by the ABS, and revised periodically to reflect changes in levels and fields of education offered by Australian educational institutions and registered training providers.
ASCED comprises two component classifications: Level of Education and Field of Education. In designing ASCED, the primary consideration was the need for a classification significantly broader in scope than the ABSCQ, and which catered for the requirements of all sectors of the Australian education system. The ABS also designed ASCED to be as consistent as possible with the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), published in 1997 (and re-published in 2006) by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation. ISCED facilitates comparisons of education statistics and indicators within and between countries.
Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED), 2001 (ABS cat. no. 1272.0) was released on 22 August 2001 and provides details of: the conceptual basis of ASCED, the structure of the classification, definitions for all categories of level and field, and concordances with other education classifications.
Australian Standard Classification of Education (ASCED) and Coder, 2001 (ABS cat. no. 1272.0.30.001) was released on 22 August 2001 and includes a Windows-based coding facility on CD-ROM which enables users to code to Level and Field of Education in an accurate and consistent manner.