Head teacher Dennis Lendon had taught high school history for 24 years, but decided to go back to university part time to complete a master's degree in ancient history. His rationale was clear: "I don't think too many people would like to have their doctor prescribe pills or operate on them with 1950s knowledge."
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"So that was the motivation to go back," Mr Lendon said.
Mr Lendon's perspective is shared by a growing number of Australians who are opting to retrain.
It comes as the Fairfax-Lateral Economics wellbeing index, which uses a range of indicators to measure changes in national welfare, revealed a 0.5 per cent improvement for collective wellbeing in the December quarter.
Human capital - the knowledge and skills of the population - increased 1.1 per cent, which can be attributed to more adult formal education. This means industry-experienced adults are seeking further education to improve their career prospects.
"Other than self-reflective competition against myself, I suppose it [the degree] was to keep abreast with any new developments that may have occurred in the 19-year gap between my bachelor's degree and my master's degree," said Mr Lendon, who teaches at Colo High School in Sydney's north-west and began his master's degree study in 2010.
"I want to keep the mind going academically so that my information and skills don't become out of date."
Mr Lendon and 50 per cent of the executives and his peers at the History Teachers' Association of NSW have studied for further Dqualifications to advance their careers.
"I was actually moving in a circle where it was quite normal to eventually lash out and do some postgraduate study," Mr Lendon said. "I take my responsibility as a high school teacher in general seriously."
