The Federal Government Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program includes a renewed push to redress the persistent under-representation of students from low socio-economic status backgrounds in higher education in Australia. The discipline of Social Work at Deakin University has been successful in attracting a wide range of students into the Bachelor program and is committed to giving students the best chance of success. This paper presents findings from qualitative research aimed at building two-way bridges between The Gordon (formerly The Gordon Institute of TAFE) and Deakin University to widen access and to support and retain students. The research presented here illuminates the experiences of students who commenced university following studies at TAFE, as well as the multiple, complex and intersecting factors impacting on this particular cohort’s educational opportunity. Our findings suggest that the TAFE pathway functions as an equity mechanism in our particular study site. Further, findings regarding students’ support needs underpin our argument that universities must do more to meet their responsibilities towards students.
History
Event
First Year in Higher Education. Conference (16th : 2013 : Wellington, New Zealand)
Pagination
1 - 1
Publisher
FYHE
Location
Wellington, New Zealand
Place of publication
Wellington, N. Z.
Start date
2013-07-07
End date
2013-07-10
Language
eng
Publication classification
E1 Full written paper - refereed
Title of proceedings
FYHE 2013 :Proceedings of the First Year in Higher Education 2013 Conference