Widening participation
Improving educational outcomes for students underrepresented in higher education.
Â鶹Éçmadou takes a holistic, university-wide approach to ensure students underrepresented in higher education can access, fully participate and succeed at university. Student Equity leads Â鶹Éçmadou’s primary widening participation strategy and collaborates directly with faculties, divisions and students to design and implement targeted initiatives across the student life cycle.Ìý
Student equity in focus
Recommendations from the Australian Universities Accord
We welcome the Australian Universities Accord's recommendations on widening participation in tertiary education for historically underrepresented students and this renewed focus on student equity.Ìý
Widening Participation Strategy 2030
The Widening Participation Strategy supports Â鶹Éçmadou’s Progress for All Strategy by driving equitable access to education, creating inclusive pathways and fostering student success.
Our work
Our work is underpinned by the Widening Participation Theory of Change and involves:
- Leading core equity initiatives to address the underrepresentation of students from socio-educationally disadvantaged schools (Gateway schools), low-SES backgrounds, regional, remote and rural areas, culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, migrant and refugee backgrounds, Indigenous students, students in the NSW Youth Justice system and non-high school leavers from low SES backgrounds.
- Undertaking research to inform future educational outreach and influence innovative teaching and learning practices.
- Providing subject matter expertise to ensure strategies, policies, and programs across Â鶹Éçmadou, are relevant and responsive to the needs of underrepresented students.
- Advocating to reduce structural barriers for underrepresented students at Â鶹Éçmadou.
- Ensuring underrepresented student voices are amplified through Students as Partners initiatives.
- Contributing to Â鶹Éçmadou and G08 student equity relevant submissions to government and providing advice for government funding for aligned programs of work.
- Supporting the effective transition to higher education, early sense of belonging and orientation to Â鶹Éçmadou for students from equity cohorts.
- Partnering across Â鶹Éçmadou to promote inclusive teaching and learning resources and practice through innovative and collaborative initiatives that promote interconnectivity across the student life cycle.
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To support the effective implementation and stewardship of our work and the communication of program outcomes, the following governance is in place:
Internal
- Management Board
- EDISG BoardÌý
- Student Equity Steering CommitteeÌý
- Gateway Admission Pathway and Program Working Group Ìý
- Gateway Equity Target and Pathways Working GroupÌý
- Student Support Working GroupÌý
External
- Times Higher EducationÌý
- Australian Department of Education, Skills and EmploymentÌý
- NSW Department of EducationÌý
