Last week, the Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success brought together university leaders, policymakers, student representatives, equity practitioners, media, and other experts in the sector for our inaugural Access, Achievement, Accord 2024: The Australian Student Equity Symposium.
Over the course of two days, attendees engaged in insightful discussions and collaborative sessions that addressed the critical issue of equity in higher education. The exchange of innovative ideas and best practices has set the stage for implementing the recommendations of the Australian Universities Accord, and we are grateful for your role in bringing these insights to light.
Please enjoy some photo highlights and an event summary below. Video recordings of all session will also be made available soon.
SYMPOSIUM HIGHLIGHTS
21 May 2024
Day One began with an Acknowledgement of Country by Aboriginal Elder Uncle Harry Allie AO, followed by a keynote address by Minister for Education the Hon. Jason Clare MP that set a powerful tone for the Symposium.
Minister Clare discussed the transformative potential of education, highlighting the importance of the Universities Accord as a “a blueprint for the next few decades”. University reform, he said, was a national project: “That’s why we are also establishing an Australian Tertiary Education Commission. To stay the course, to drive reform, to help us reach that nation-changing target – no matter who the Minister for Education is.” He stressed the urgency of addressing educational inequities, stating that “education can’t change everything, but it is the most powerful change-maker in this country”.
The first discussion of the day “Access, Achievement, Accord: The Road to Reform” featured a robust discussion with esteemed panel members Kylie Austin (Equity Practitioners in Higher Education Australasia, EPHEA), the Hon. Verity Firth (UNSW), Barney Glover AO (Jobs and Skills Australia), Harlene Hayne (Curtin University), and Mary O’Kane AC (Ministerial Accord Panel), moderated by Shamit Saggar (ACSES). The panel unpacked the importance of addressing the unique needs of each student through personalised and individualised policies, with Professor Hayne emphasising the need for empathy in policy decisions.
“Hitting the Target: What’s Needed and How?” then provided actionable insights into addressing student equity. The dynamic discussion on equity targets featured prominent figures Marcia Devlin (moderator, Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership), Matthew Brown (Group of Eight), Frank Coletta (Australian Technology Network of Universities), Paul Harris (Innovative Research Universities), Renee Hindmarsh (Universities Australia), and Alec Webb (Regional Universities Network). The discussion covered how to achieve these targets, with a focus on public expenditure by the Australian Government in the education sector. Mr Harris highlighted budget allocations, noting the significant funding for private schools and the increase in student assistance due to HECS-HELP relief.
The day’s closing keynote featured Chief Executive at Transforming Access and Student Outcomes in Higher Education (TASO, UK) Omar Khan‘s presentation on “Addressing Inequality in Higher Education“, which focused on international best practices. The session delved into the persistent gaps in higher education access, and highlighted the importance of continuous, rigorous, and effective evaluation to understand what interventions work in closing these gaps.
Barney Glover AO addressed attendees of the Opening Night Dinner at the Bankstown Sports Club, during which he emphasised the importance of harmonising vocational education and training with higher education, suggesting a fresh look at Australian Qualifications Framework reforms and the creation of a common language. He highlighted the need for smart use of joined-up data sets and a national skills passport as crucial enablers of equity.
22 May 2024
Day Two began with an address delivered by Shadow Education Minister Senator the Hon. Sarah Henderson in which she acknowledged the valuable role ACSES plays in closing the equity gap in higher education, as well as the positive initiatives universities have taken irrespective of the Accord Final Report. She outlined significant challenges in the school sector, particularly highlighting concerns over declining NAPLAN results. Her address emphasised the need for continued efforts to address these issues and improve educational outcomes across the board.
The first panel discussion of the day was arguably the most engaging session of the Symposium “Listening to the Student Voice: Challenges to Student Success at University and Beyond“. Moderated by Maria Raciti (UniSC), the student panel discussion focused on the many cross-dimensional factors affecting student success. The panel featured insights from Ebe Ganon (Children and Young People with Disability Australia), Kathleen Nelly (Curtin University), Tayla Roberts (Ministerial Reference Group), and Dylan Storer (UN Youth WA), with contributions from sector expert Sally Kift. Miss Roberts highlighted the need for more opportunities for students in regional areas, emphasising “Country kids can’t be what they can’t see”. Panellists stressed the importance of universities improving their capacity and skills, advocating for flexible services, effective support, and inclusive course design to minimise student stress, and pointed out the critical role of involvement in clubs and extracurricular activities in enhancing student success. The panel underscored the necessity of listening to student voices to address their challenges and ensure equitable success in higher education.
“Funding an Ambitious Equity Agenda” followed to address the critical challenges and opportunities in funding an ambitious equity agenda for higher education. Moderated by Nadine Zacharias (Equity by Design), the panel included insights from Gwilym Croucher (UniMelb), Patricia Davidson (UoW), Andrew Norton (ANU), and Shamit Saggar (ACSES). Panellists underscored the necessity of aligning funding strategies with the broader goals of equity and inclusivity, highlighting successful examples and identifying areas needing further investment. The session emphasised that sustainable and strategic funding is essential to making higher education accessible and supportive for all students, ensuring long-term success and societal impact.
“Access, Achievement, Accord: Where to From Here?” formally closed the Symposium by highlighting future directions for our collective efforts. Ian Li (ACSES) and Tayla Roberts, reflected on the key insights gathered over the event, after which Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy delivered a compelling closing address emphasising the transformative power of education and the need for equity in higher education. Mr Sheehy highlighted the urgency of increasing the number of underrepresented students in universities to meet future national skills needs, stating: “The only way to increase the number of people studying at university is to significantly increase the number of students who are currently underrepresented in our system.”
