Join our mailing list
Sign up to our email newsletter for regular news and information from the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education.
University: University of the Sunshine Coast
Lead Researcher: Kerry Rutter
Funding Round: 2015
Funding Received: $59,195
This project investigated the underrepresentation in higher education of non-Indigenous young males around the Gympie region of Queensland, identifying and implementing strategies to inform and motivate individuals to increase university participation. Research also addressed the reluctance of young non-Indigenous females in this region to pursue STEM degrees, indicating future outreach activities focusing on raising aspirations, allaying common misconceptions, providing information, and confidence building.
University: University of Wollongong
Lead Researcher: Brittany Brown
Funding Round: 2016
Funding Received: $51,000
A pilot outreach program was conducted in partnership with four regional and remote high schools, incorporating in-school and on-campus activities, with the goal of supporting students’ attainment, aspirations and awareness toward higher education. An online resource kit was developed to enable regional and remote schools to self-deliver outreach programs at a low cost by using school staff and student alumni in partnership with a university.
University: Queensland University of Technology
Lead Researcher: Rebekah Russell-Bennett and Maria Raciti
Funding Round: 2014
Funding Received: $580,000
This project aimed to synthesise best practice social marketing and widening participation to design an effective, national social marketing strategy for low socioeconomic status students, families and communities. The specific objectives of the strategy were to: increase awareness of, and aspiration to, tertiary study; increase knowledge of pathways to tertiary study; and increase numbers of applications to tertiary study and pathways courses.
University: La Trobe University
Lead Researcher: Andrew Harvey
Funding Received: $75,997
This project examined how universities addressed student equity within their employability strategies, in the context of relatively poor graduate outcomes for some groups of underrepresented students. The research included analysis of employability policy in higher education across the United Kingdom, United States and Australia; a desktop analysis of Australian university websites; and a survey of career managers and student union leaders within Australian public universities.
Lead Researcher: Anne Snowball
Funding Received: $299,721
This project aimed to improve the participation of low SES, regional and remote, and Indigenous people in higher education and employment. 350 individuals participated in a supported pathways program designed to enhance their academic capacity and post-school options to access higher education and employment. The project clearly articulated and streamlined pathways and progression between vocational education providers, higher education providers and employers.
Funding Received: $351,804
Higher education expansion places adaptive pressure on institutional and policy frameworks designed at times of lower levels of participation. This project examined the impact of rising complexity in admissions practices on student decision-making, especially for those from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the responses of universities and state-based Tertiary Admissions Centres (TACs) to challenges associated with rising student participation, diversity and mobility, and complex admissions processes.
University: Charles Stuart University
Lead Researcher: Julia Coyle
Funding Received: $164,269
This project identified factors contributing to the decisions of people with disability from low SES regional and remote backgrounds to access and participate in higher education. This included the decision to delay university study until later in life. Surveys and interviews with school and university students and community members with disability informed recommendations for students and their families, and for higher education leaders and policymakers.
University: University of New South Wales
Lead Researcher: Ann Jardine
Funding Received: $74,780
Targeted support was delivered to regional and remote Year 11 students through residential events and workshops. Students were given academic skills support, information and guidance around applying for, and participating in, higher education. Specific practical skills and information were provided to aid the completion of their final school years and transition to university. The project also incorporated career guidance sessions with representatives from regional businesses.
University: University of Queensland
Lead Researcher: Bill Martin
Funding Received: $145,000
This study determined the scope of a new Widening Participation Longitudinal Study (WPLS), its design, governance structure, and indicative costings. The WPLS provides the opportunity to map the pathways of disadvantaged learners towards higher education, with a focus on student aspirations and expectations, as well as broader social and economic factors such as family attitudes; financial decision-making; peer influences; and mental and physical wellbeing.
University: Curtin University
Lead Researcher: Nadine Zacharias
Funding Received: $319,945
This project explored the impact of widening participation activities in schools serving low socioeconomic status communities, drawing on longitudinal data from the Queensland Widening Tertiary Participation (Queensland Consortium) initiative. The study aimed to examine the comparative impacts of widening participation activities on the cohort’s participation in higher education, and the key factors responsible for any differences in urban and regional locations.