How do we help our young people develop aspiration for higher education in a regional community?
Especially if the community is pretty “immature” in the higher education space and local students just don’t get to see what might be possible.
Aspiration provides the motivation for participation which in turn requires capability to succeed so all of this is inextricably linked.
Geraldton Universities Centre (GUC) has progressed two initiatives with Curtin University and local schools over recent years that are really making a difference:
• Delivery of Curtin’s AHEAD aspiration raising program, and
• GUC’s supported delivery of the Curtin UniReady in Schools bridging program
AHEAD
On the back of a partnership agreement signed in 2018, GUC entered into a pilot arrangement in 2021 with Curtin AHEAD to deliver their program with one of our public schools. This gave us:
• Access to evidence based resources with a scaffolded set of workshops from Year 7 to Year 12 that guide students through a process of discovery; and
• Curtin provided technology and training for GUC staff to use these resources; and
• Importantly, the freedom to tailor workshops to be more relevant to our region.
Within 3 years, we were delivering selected workshops to all 5 secondary schools, responding with appropriate content for the year groups in which a school might be looking for some assistance. The quality of the program built confidence in schools in us and what we could offer their students.
This year we augmented the annual Uniweek (Perth universities visit) with a whole day experience including a fun faculty focussed activity on top of regular AHEAD workshops and the usual UniWeek expo. It was really well received with other schools keen to come to GUC for the same experience in the future.
UniReady in Schools
Building aspiration is important but GUC has also been able to lift participation and build capability too. GUC entered into a 3 way agreement with Curtin and our two public schools to deliver Curtin’s UniReady in Schools bridging program to Year 12 students for the first time in 2023.
Our model sees Year 12 students undertaking online study at school and home while coming to GUC each Friday for a day of face-to-face tuition. They complete the 4 unit bridging program at the same time as ATAR students finish at school.
GUC’s UniReady coordinator provides email support for students during the week so they’re never on their own and they have study periods at school to help get the online work done.
Given we were seeing a 40% ATAR drop out rate from Year 11 to Year 12, this is providing local students the opportunity to still achieve university entrance by the end of Year 12.
This is also a more affordable option for our two public schools who share the cost rather than having to employ their own staff each to support the program. With a minimum student number required to undertake the course, together they can always meet it.
There’s so many plusses – not only are the students achieving university entrance but they are starting their transition to a post school life, building aspiration as they experience what uni life could be like for them.
They are becoming a part of GUC and seeing that a locally supported university option is available. It just might be a realistic option for them to pursue.
And best of all, they are forming relationships with GUC staff that live on past school.
7 students completed in 2023 growing to 13 achieving university entrance in 2024. Some of the students have stayed with us for degree programs while others have headed to Perth, TAFE or elected for a gap year to keep working it all out.
14 have already signed up for 2025. We’re excited to see what the future holds for them.
Ends.