Â鶹Éçmadou

Â鶹Éçmadou created the Gateway Equity Target to tackle longstanding barriers to higher education access.

Socio-economic inequality continues to unfairly limit university and career opportunities for many young peopleÌý– particularly those from low-income households or schools with fewer educational resources.

Â鶹Éçmadou’s 2025 Strategy initially set a goal for 15% of domestic undergraduate students to be from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Rapid progress towards this target by 2022 demonstrated that greater equity is possible, leading to a more ambitious commitment.

The Gateway Equity Target builds on this momentum. It reflects a deeper understanding that educational opportunity is shaped by both socio-economic background and school-based advantage, which are often interconnected. By addressing both factors, the target aims to create a fairer pathway to university for students who have historically been underrepresented at Â鶹Éçmadou.

The Gateway Equity Target specifically measures students enrolling at Â鶹Éçmadou who are from:

• A low-socioeconomic background, and/or
• Gateway partner school, identified by national data.

By including Gateway partner schools, the target also indirectly supports other equity groups who attend these schools at higher rates, including:

• Students from regional and remote areas
• Students from culturally and linguistically diverse migrant and refugee (CALDMR) communities
• Students who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

In addition to the Gateway Equity Target, Â鶹Éçmadou has set the following 2028 student participation targets:

• 7.6% of commencing students from low-SES backgrounds
• 6.5% from regional and remote areas
• 1.4% who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Â鶹Éçmadou is dedicated to embedding inclusive teaching and learning practices across the institution. While these approaches are particularly beneficial for students from equity cohorts, they enhance the learning experience for all students. Evidence also suggests that academic performance levels out across equity cohorts once students are at university.Ìý

To achieve the Gateway Equity Target, we’re implementing a phased plan that supports students across every stage of the student lifecycleÌý– from outreach and admission through to transition, retention and graduate outcomes.

This work also involves supporting academic and professional staff with the tools, training and resources they need to deliver on key areas that will help us reach our goal.Ìý