Research Grants: 2020 Funding Round

NCSEHE Student Equity in Higher Education Research Grants Program — 2020 funding round

The NCSEHE Research Grants Program has funded 62 projects over five rounds from 2014–20, with a total research expenditure of A$2,480,512.

The sixth funding round (2020-2021) received 103 applications, representing an almost 50 per cent increase from 2019. A record 17 projects from 12 different lead organisations, including 85 investigators, were awarded funding to the total value of A$540,000.

The NCSEHE identifies key research priorities for each funding round; many of this year’s projects will explore equity issues with reference to the COVID-19 context.

The 17 Research Grants Program projects for 2020/21 will be as follows:

Chief InvestigatorLead InstitutionProject Title
Ian LiUniversity of Western AustraliaEquity implications of non-ATAR pathways: Participation, academic outcomes, and student experience
Lynette VernonEdith Cowan UniversityUnderstanding wellbeing challenges for university students during crisis disruption
Lisa AndrewarthaLa Trobe UniversityA balancing act: supporting students who are parents to succeed in Australian higher education.
Sally BakerUniversity of New South WalesCOVID-19 online learning landscapes and CALDMR students: Opportunities and challenges
Tomasz ZajacUniversity of QueenslandInvestigating the relevance of mental health for the current equity groups framework using multi-agency linked-administrative data
Mary TeagueUniversity of New South WalesUniversity responses to enhancing equity in the post-COVID landscape
Bronwyn FredericksUniversity of QueenslandBuilding the evidence to improve completion rates for Indigenous students
Andrew HarveyLa Trobe UniversitySuccess, retention, and completion of care leaver students in Australian higher education
Megan O’ConnellRMIT UniversityPathways or goat tracks — Non-ATAR university entrance
Joanna TaiDeakin UniversityRe-imagining exams: How do assessment adjustments impact on inclusion?
Beni CakitakiLa Trobe UniversityEquity off course: Mapping equity access across courses and institutions
Lucy Mercer-MapstoneUniversity of SydneyRecommendations for equitable student support during disruptions to the higher education sector: Lessons from COVID-19
Bret StephensonLa Trobe UniversityTowards an Inclusive Analytics for Australian Higher Education
Zhou JiangFlinders UniversitySupporting careers of LGBTQIA+ students in Australian universities
Andrew O’LoughlinGippsland East Higher Education Study HubBuilding bridges: Creating mutually beneficial Workplace Integrated Learning (WIL) opportunities in East Gippsland
Felicia JaremusUniversity of NewcastleAspirations, equity and higher education course choice: The path travelled
Bep UinkMurdoch UniversityInterrogating relationships between student support initiatives and Indigenous student progression

Read more about the successful projects here.