Tracking Access to Tertiary Education
Abstract lines
The Centre of Excellence for Equity in Higher Education at the University of Newcastle is hosting a Symposium to explore the feasibility of tracking widening participation in Australia.
Evaluating 'Widening Participation' (WP) outreach activities conducted by universities in school and community settings is a challenging process that arguably benefits from a mixed methods approach.
Attendees of this symposium will help to shape an emerging conversation on the feasibility and/or desirability (both technical and ethical) of tracking WP outreach and subsequent participation in tertiary education in Australia.
Participants will be challenged to identify the potentials and the pitfalls of a tracking approach, including how the sector might navigate these, with a primary purpose of improving equity of access to education for underrepresented groups of students.
Special guest speakers at this event include Sharon Smith, Founding Director of the Higher Education Access Tracker (HEAT) service in the UK; and Jen Wyatt, Head of Widening Participation at the University of Kent.
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.