UNI STEPS – Connecting students and communities with higher education

Friday, 10 March 2023

With one successful year now complete, the UNI STEPS program continues to grow and offer unique learning experiences for schools and communities in our regions.

Man standing in front of smart screen and teaching children

In 2022, a new initiative was developed to help widen participation in higher education with the launch of the UNI STEPS program. The initiative allows staff to directly connect with schools and local communities through outreach activities and events.  Our approach to community engagement draws on the expertise and resources from the Pathways and Academic Learning Support Centre, the three University colleges, Marketing and Communications Future Students Team and the Wollotuka Institute.

UNI STEPS, at its core, aims to improve access to higher education for communities that have typically been underrepresented. Incorporating the Children’s University Newcastle program, UNI STEPS engages with primary students, secondary students and community members to help them explore their options throughout their educational journey. It encourages curiosity, participation in supported learning activities and informed conversations with students about the opportunities available.

UNI STEPS was born out of the University of Newcastle’s commitment to equity, with a focus on engagement with communities. Our commitment to diversity and inclusiveness is fundamental to everything we do, and we are committed to engaging with communities with low socio-economic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and those who will be first in family to seek higher education. We also strive to learn what we can from these local and regional communities and use our learnings to help better connect with communities in the future.

In 2022 the UNI STEPS team conducted over 70 workshops, connecting 960 students to local industry and University staff. Each workshop is tailored to the school or community involved, supporting participants to understand the opportunities higher education can provide. UNI STEPS high school participants can also enrol in Open Foundation and complete their studies concurrently throughout their senior school years.

A key event for UNI STEPS was our On Campus Discovery Days. These days are an integral part of the UNI STEPS program and are designed to spark interest in tertiary study for those in attendance. During these events, students participate in multiple hands-on workshops across a range of disciplines within the University. Thanks to the successful cooperation of our University colleges, facilities and the community, students were able to enjoy workshops in animation, music, building and construction and much more.  In 2023, these events will be even larger, with more of the UNI STEPS cohort involved.

Higher education is more accessible than ever, and the UNI STEPS team seek to make this known across the regional and remote communities we connect with. Already making a positive impact, Anna Bennett, PALS Director said “I recently presented to principals from the Central Coast, Newcastle and the Upper Hunter at a high schools event about pathways and preparation opportunities, and one principal involved in the UNI STEPS pilot stood up and said that his experience with the initiative which is based on careful co-development of the opportunities and activities for students, has been outstanding.”

There is not just one way into university, and through the relationships built with schools and communities, the program is inspiring its participants to think differently about their options. As the program continues to grow in 2023, watch this space to see what we do next.

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