Aim High furthers its reach
The Aim High program within Equity and Diversity at the University of Newcastle has experienced significant growth in program involvement for 2014. Belinda Munn, Equity and Diversity Manager, reports that participation numbers have already exceeded the 2013 figure by 10% with another two terms of program deliveries still to go.
Aim High offers a suite of tertiary experiences for primary and high school students across the Hunter, Central and Mid-North Coast regions to raise awareness and aspiration to attain higher education. Some programs also include family members to enhance their understanding and encourage ongoing participation outside of the program.
Ms Munn said:
“Recent feedback on our Careers Through Reading program has been particularly encouraging, and we are launching the program at Waratah West Primary School for the first time at the beginning of Term Three.
This year we also launched our Discover University Days at the University’s Central Coast campus following significant success of the series at Callaghan. Family involvement at these days across both campuses has also already exceeded the 2013 figure which we hope will help reinforce the importance of education at home for these young children.”
The success of these programs is helping the University achieve the strategic objectives set out in the NeW Directions Education Plan.
UoN’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Andrew Parfitt said:
“A major focus for the University of Newcastle is improving educational attainment across our communities and providing pathways to higher education for students from diverse backgrounds. The number of domestic undergraduate UoN students from low socio-economic backgrounds last year represented almost 24% of our undergraduate student population.* This is 7% more than the state average participation rate of 16.6% and we hope to continue our level of support for students from a diverse range of backgrounds well into the future.
It is through outreach programs like Aim High that we are able to inspire a generation of children and their families to pursue higher education. The establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education has also created an opportunity for further research to achieve evidence based outcomes and is positioned to be an active contributor and leader in the equity space.”
*Figures sourced from Commonwealth Government Institutional Student Equity Performance Data, 2012 (based on SA1 measure)