Widening Participation Plan 2016-2017 1
CONTACT Office of Widening Participation wp@westernsydney.edu.au Locked Bag 1797 Penrith NSW 2751 02 9678 7603 2
WIDENING PARTICIPATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION A crucial part of our mission Widening participation is and has been central to the mission, ethos, practice and reputation of Western Sydney University since its inception. It will continue to be at the core of the institution s strategy and its development and growth. A government definition of widening participation is: increasing access to learning and providing opportunities for success and progression to a much wider cross-section of the population than now. Our aim is to promote and provide the opportunity for successful participation in higher education (HE) to everyone who can benefit from it. This is vital for social justice and the economic competitiveness of our region and the nation. Western Sydney University campuses are located in areas with a high proportion of the population being from disadvantaged backgrounds, and widening participation aids the socio-economic progress and success of the community by realising the opportunities for all young people with the ability to participate in HE. The Western Sydney University Widening Participation Plan 2016-2017 (WP plan) seeks to explain the University s approach and commitment to achieving the ideals of social justice and equality of opportunity. The WP plan is integrated with the Western Sydney University Securing Success 2015-2020 Strategic Plan in that it complies with the principles of the vision, beliefs, mission and values. Western Sydney University acknowledges the educational, economic, social and health benefits that flow from a University degree. The University also recognises the educational benefits that flow from an inclusive and diverse student body, and the associated need to increase and widen participation in order that the most talented students are able to access and benefit from HE. In extending fair access to underrepresented groups, the institution is in effect growing its market and also enhancing social mobility. In addition, the University expresses corporate responsiveness and responsibility to local, regional and national communities. Widening participation helps to redress inequality in education by raising awareness, motivation, and aspirations for students underserved by current education systems and practice. The WP plan is intended to contribute to the Western Sydney University Securing Success 2015-2020 Strategic Plan goals and objectives, specifically: Objective 1 A distinctively student-centred university Objective 3 A unique learning experience that is innovative, flexible and responsive Objective 5 A leading advocate and champion for the Greater Western Sydney Region and its people Objective 6 A dynamic and innovative culture that secures success 3
WIDENING PARTICIPATION STUDENT LIFECYCLE Increasing access, sustaining engagement, enhancing success The Student Lifecycle diagram depicts the students journey and illustrates how Western Sydney University recruits and retains students, and ensures they are well qualified and workready. The sectors of the lifecycle are: Prior to becoming a Western Sydney University student; Throughout the degree; and In career. The Student Lifecycle has three sections: 1. Attract 2. Transform and Empower 3. Advance All Widening Participation (WP) programs that are delivered by Western Sydney University comply with and fit inside the Student Lifecycle. WP is a focused, target driven activity promoting equality of access to HE while maintaining academic standards, critical to this institution. The broad objectives of WP are to: increase participation in HE for all underrepresented groups enhance the life chances and opportunities for these students prepare students for success in HE and in the job market work in partnership with community agencies, particularly schools amplify the input by working with parents, extended family and community support and encourage new pathways into University that assess potential embed access initiatives across the University s schools and The College foster increased interest in study and motivation to study encourage academic confidence and raise esteem levels develop groundbreaking initiatives for Out of Home Care and Young Carer students promote academic and non-academic support for students improve accountability in terms of policies, procedures, admissions, resources, and student outcomes. 3.2 Figure 1 - The Student Lifecycle 1. Attract 2. Transform and Empower 3. Advance Engagement (including social media and CRM) Recruitment Career preparation and guidance Application/ Admission Orientation/ Enrolment Studentship Academic Student life Civic engagement Graduation Alumni Prior to becoming a student Throughout the degree In career CRM = Constituent Relationship Management 4 4
ACCESS TO TERTIARY EDUCATION Open to all These objectives are underpinned by five essential principles: TARGETING TO SUCCEED Our WP activities target schools and communities identified as disadvantaged on multiple socio-economic indicators and target within schools to reach students from nontraditional backgrounds who may be first in their family to attend HE but have the potential to benefit from studying at HE level. EVIDENCE-BASED POLICY Ongoing work to provide comprehensive data and detailed analysis forms a vital element of our impact analysis. All modes of intervention are assessed against refined measures of success and reviewed on a regular basis. EARLY INTERVENTION Research in WP consistently demonstrates that intervention with students at the youngest age possible has a greater impact on aspirationbuilding and academic motivation. LONG TERM INVESTMENT AND SUSTAINABILITY For 25 years, since the inception of Western Sydney University and through forerunner institutions, there has been a mission commitment to WP; this has resulted in an ever-improving success in rising participation figures which results in more students from non-traditional backgrounds studying in HE. The most successful activities are those creating generational impact: a student who is the first in their family to attend university then has children for whom HE becomes a more likely consideration. OUR PRIORITY GROUPS Low socio-economic status groups Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Students from Out of Home Care and Care Leavers Young Carers Pacific Islander Heritage Mature Aged Students and Return to Study students or non-current school leavers (NCSL) Students with a disability Rural and Regional Students Women (studying in non-traditional areas) Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) Refugees Our aim is to: increase higher education participation for students from disadvantaged backgrounds 5
BENCHMARK AND TARGETS Our commitment The Western Sydney University access programs focus on institutional and sector relationship building, engaging with primary and high schools, providing school students with a taste of HE, raising their academic confidence and preparing them for tertiary study. This expression of our sustainable, long-term commitment to Western Sydney and beyond recognises that solutions for individuals often extend to benefits for their larger families and the wider community. WP encourages our current HE students to act as ambassadors, increasing their skills and employability, contributing to successful completion of their course while providing culturally relevant rolemodels and work experience. OUR STUDENTS Over 70% live in Western Sydney Over 60% are first in family at university (neither parent with a degree) Over 10,000 Low SES HE students, the largest number at any University in Australia in 2014 Approximately 20% enrol on basis of a TAFE qualification Over 150 countries of birth as student origin OUR REGION Economic disadvantage (based on the Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) scales and high levels of unemployment) Low educational attainment levels (26.3% having post school qualifications compared with 39.9% for the rest of Sydney) Low participation in HE relative to other areas of Sydney (3.2% compared with 5.3% for the rest of Sydney) Our commitment is to: encourage successful participation in Higher Education of everyone who can benefit from it The federal Government has a target of: 20% of domestic undergraduate enrolments coming from Low Socio-Economic Status (LSES) backgrounds by 2020 Federal funding is awarded to all Australian universities based on the number of enrolled LSES students. LSES is defined as the bottom 25% - the lowest quartile - of the nation s population according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics Index of Education and Occupation. Western Sydney University has a significant number of LSES students, accounting for approximately 24.9% of the student cohort, approximately 10,000 in 2014. The WP Plan takes account of this significant commitment and investment by the Federal Government through HEPP (formerly HEPPP and HESPA) funding to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have the ability to study at university get the opportunity to do so and succeed. As the programs generated by the Office of Widening Participation (OWP) grow, they form a pipeline of highlyprepared students, committed to the University with realistic expectations of engagement throughout all the stages of tertiary study. 6
TARGETING LOW SES COMMUNITIES Building capacity External targeting of schools, and internal targeting within schools, provides guidance to WP Project Managers to help ensure that the majority of students participating in WP projects are within the target equity groups. The WP School Targeting Procedure describes the Western Sydney University primary catchment area; the definition of low socioeconomic status (LSES), which was based on a combination of the Government recognised Equity factors. GOVERNMENT RECOGNISED EQUITY FACTORS ICSEA Index of Community Socio- Educational Advantage SEIFA Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas FOEI Family Occupation and Education Index RAM Resource Allocation Model The Project Manager also must take into consideration whether Western Sydney University, or other universities, are already working with a specific school and the nature of the existing WP projects in the school before going ahead to introduce a new project or program. Procedures have recently been agreed with school principals to carry out anonymous internal targeting of students within their schools so that equity and deprivation factors can be considered when choosing students who will participate in WP programs. University participation; 15-24 year olds, by Local Government Area 7
WIDENING PARTICIPATION PROGRAMS ACCESS PROGRAMS FAST FORWARD STEPS FIRST FOOT FORWARD AIM HIGHER THEATRE KIC LODESTAR WP STUDENT AMBASSADORS AIME INDIGENOUS ENGAGEMENT EXPANSION PATHE HSC TUTORIALS YOUR TUTOR REFUGEE RURAL PROJECT FUTURE FOR ALL EMU COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM SMITH FAMILY DEBATING CLUB MAGAZINE PROJECT CAPACITE RETENTION PROGRAMS TRANSITION SUCCESS PASS SCALE UP ADDITIONAL EMERGENCY GRANTS SSS INITIATIVES MATES JOBS ON CAMPUS MY COURSE PLANNING ADVANCE PROGRAMS WISE 8
LEARNER PROGRESSION FRAMEWORK The figure below depicts the OWP Learner Progression Framework which shows how projects and programs offered by Western Sydney University OWP cover the range of Year 5 to Year 12 in primary and high schools in New South Wales. Projects are planned on an annual calender year basis as that is how they are funded. Rigorous monitoring and evaluation processes are in place and, because of that not all projects will be continued from year to year. It is entirely dependent on the achievement of outcomes and impact of specific projects. Community Engagement Program A suite of collaborative, strength-based programs addressing the needs of disadvantaged groups within the community to ensure optimal educational outcomes. Groups include: mature aged and return to study candidates, refugees and migrants, and those with a disability. ATSI AIME YR 8-12 Pathways to Dreaming YR 8-12 Heartbeat YR 10-12 rural visits YR 11-12 HSC tutorial PATHE Developing aspirations towards further education and training in Pacific Communities through student support, outreach activities and innovative projects Lodestar Lodestar seeks to assist in building the aspirations and capacity of young people in out-of-home care to achieve higher education. This is done by collaborative partnerships with peak bodies, NGOs and educational departments/ institutions such as Dress For Success, Life Without Barriers, FACS and Create Foundation. Your Tutor Online tutoring STEPS Uni days & in-school workshops Uni days & in-school workshops Western U Day HSC tutorial Fast Forward Uni days & in-school workshops Uni days & in-school workshops Uni days & in-school workshops HSC tutorial & conference Debating Club Debating Aim Higher Theatre in schools Magazine Program Journalism workshops Future for All WSW soccer clinics WSW soccer clinics First Foot Forward Taster days Taster days Year 5 Year 6 Year 7 Year 8 Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Year 12 NCSL NCSL = Non Current School Leaver STEPS = Strive Towards Educational Participation and Success PATHE = Pasifika Achievement To Higher Education ATSI = Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander WSW = Western Sydney Wanderers 9
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Source: Office of Planning and Strategy 25 % TARGET GROUP: LOW SES 24 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 23 % 22 % TARGET 21 % 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 TARGET GROUP: ABORIGINAL AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 25% 2.0 % 1.9 % 1.8 % 1.7 % 1.6 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 1.5 % 1.4 % 1.3 % 1.2 % TARGET 1.1 % 1.0 % 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 4.66% TARGET GROUP: STUDENTS WITH A DISABILITY 4.0 % 3.9 % 3.8 % 3.7 % 3.6 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 3.5 % 3.4 % 3.3 % 3.2 % TARGET 3.1 % 3.0 % 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 8% 10
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS Source: Office of Planning and Strategy TARGET GROUP: NON-ENGLISH SPEAKING BACKGROUND* 7.0 % 6.9 % 6.8 % 6.7 % 6.6 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 6.5 % 6.4 % 6.3 % 6.2 % 6.1 % TARGET AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 4.66% 6.0 % 2011 2012 2013 TARGET GROUP: REGIONAL 2014 2015 2017 *BASED ON STUDENTS WHO HAVE ARRIVED IN AUSTRALIA IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. 5.0 % 4.9 % 4.8 % 4.7 % 4.6 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 4.5 % 4.4 % 2015 NOT AVAILABLE 4.3 % 4.2 % 2017 TARGET IS TBA 4.1 % 4.0 % 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 23.32% 0.5 % TARGET GROUP: REMOTE 0.4 % 0.3 % WESTERN SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PARTICIPATION RATES 0.2 % 0.1 % 2017 TARGET IS TBA 0 % 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2017 AUSTRALIAN POPULATION 0.6% 11
12
PROJECT PLANNING Planning to succeed All Western Sydney University projects administered by the OWP have their inception and commencement through a three step process: (i) targeting of equity groups; (ii) project planning including project logic; (iii) evaluation plan. This process offers a consistent method for managing projects and controlling budgets, while ensuring that projects are on track to achieve financial and educational outputs and outcomes. TARGETING OF EQUITY GROUPS WP Project Managers are given detailed guidance on how to target equity groups within the Western Sydney geographic region and within individual schools. PROJECT PLANNING: The OWP utilises the corporate Western Sydney University project management methodology which describes the stages of a project. That is the requirement that there is a fully documentated project plan; business case; evaluation plan; and reporting procedure. The OWP constantly monitors and reviews projects to ensure objectives and milestones are being achieved. EVALUATION PROCESSES: The OWP evaluation method is based on best practice of a seven step process: i. program objectives (SMART) ii. evaluation questions iii. methodology iv. evaluation materials v. sampling vi. data analysis vii. reporting PROJECT PLANNING DIAGRAM TARGETING External and internal REVIEW Lessons learned PROJECT MANAGEMENT EVALUATION Project logic MONITORING Progress and finance 13
DEVELOPMENTS FOR THE FUTURE Always moving forward The delivery of WP programs by Western Sydney University is funded mainly from central government HEPP funds; therefore, the number, quality and sustainability of the programs is essentially dependent on the continuity of those funds. The Australian Government is committed to provide HEPP funds until at least 2017 and has made a commitment to fund on a three-yearly basis, which will ensure greater stability and sustainability for planning and project management. Continuous funding over longer periods can also assist the possibility of longterm relationships and collaboration with other universities and stakeholders working in the WP area. The OWP will develop further initiatives in its WP projects, working directly with schools, and communities within the target equity groups. Best practice will be developed and promulgated through careful research, evaluation and development. Scarce government resources will be focused and spent wisely through careful and accurate targeting of equity groups. The OWP will also complete work with recently identified under-represented groups such as those with a refugee background, children in Out-Of- Home-Care (OOHC), Care Leavers and Young Carers. The OWP will increase the number of projects working directly in partnership with Western Sydney University s schools. An annual operational plan will be produced depicting how the OWP budget will be allocated over the following calendar year, which will be submitted to the Executive Director, Participation and Success for approval. AND FINALLY This Widening Participation Plan fosters an integrated approach to WP. The plan underpins innovative and sophisticated programs, highquality delivery mechanisms and rigorous monitoring and evaluation systems in order to ensure and sustain optimum effectiveness, impact and service to our institution, the region and the nation. The Widening Participation Plan specifically focuses on access to HE and is designed to provide a framework for intervention across the whole institution. While some programs will be undertaken within Western Sydney University s schools the bulk of the work will be carried out through the Participation and Success portfolio and in particular, by the OWP. A recent report (Bridges Final Report by KPMG) stated that WP programs can equate to a return on investment of $2.80 for each additional dollar invested in the program. Therefore, public money is being spent very wisely to enhance social justice and increase opportunities for young people. It has been shown that Government money invested in WP gives a long-term investment in the future prosperity of Australia. 14
15
Contact information wp@westernsydney.edu.au Western Sydney University Locked Bag 1797 Penrith NSW 2751 Australia WESTERNSYDNEY.EDU.AU 16