1. Policies and strategies for widening
access and assuring success in an
Australian university
Professor Sue Willis
Pro Vice Chancellor )Social Inclusion)
sue.willis@monash.edu.au
Data prepared by Dr Lucie Joschko

2. Australia 2009: the 40/20 challenge
2025: Increase to 40% the total number of young
adults (25-34 years) who have degrees (was 29%)
2020: Ensure that people from the lowest SES
quartile are a reasonable share (20%) of
undergraduates (was 16.3%)
2

3. Australia 2009: the national strategy
Remove limits on the number of undergraduate
students universities can enrol
Provide extra funding for low SES enrolment
Set improvement targets for each university
Target student income support more fairly
3

4. Monash Directions 2025

5. Monash 2010: the “20”challenge
5

6. Monash campuses – target communities
Parkville
Caulfield
Clayton
Berwick
Peninsula
Gippsland
6

7. Monash 2010: the 40/20 challenge
Metropolitan campuses
Applications increasing
Entry requirements rising
High demand/high ‘tariff’ entry
Growing in size
Decline in low SES proportion
7

8. Monash 2010: the 40/20 challenge
Outer urban and rural campuses
Disadvantaged, low rate of progress to H Ed
Entry requirements rising (to match metro)
Low demand/high ‘tariff’ entry
Decreasing in size
High low SES proportion
8

9. Monash 2010: Office of PVC (Social inclusion)
Strategic and operational
Determine targets and strategy
Coordinate and focus activity
University wide approach
Every stage from application to graduate outcomes
Monitor outcomes
9

10. Monash 2010: the “20” challenge
16% of domestic undergraduates to be from low
SES communities by 2020
Improvement across all fields, courses and
campuses of the University
Entry standards to remain high to assure the
quality and reputation of a Monash degree
10

11. Low SES participation strategy
Students aim for higher education
University offers them a place
Students graduate with good
prospects
11

12. Low SES participation strategy
– Students aim for higher education
S1: Engage with schools
S2: Engage with communities
— schools and families
— adult learners
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13. Students aim for higher education

14. Low SES participation strategy
– University offers them a place
“the very best [students] should be admitted
to Monash irrespective of their means and
circumstances”
Monash 2025: Strategic Directions
14

15. Low SES participation strategy
– University offers them a place
S3: Enhance pathways
S4: Seek talent
(Based on evidence)
15

16. Achievement
– Bachelors domestic students 2007-10
Weighted Average Mark
ATAR Monash ATAR Floor
Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data 16

17. First year achievement
– Bachelor’s pass domestic students 2007-10
HD: 80-100
D: 70-79
C:60-69
P: 50-59
Monash ATAR Floor
Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data 17

18. Low SES participation strategy
– University offers them a place
S3: Enhance pathways
S4: Seek talent
18

19. Achievement
commencing undergraduates (school leavers) 2010
Data Source: Office of Planning and Quality, Bachelor’s Pass Admission data 19

20. In an expanding sector — drawing
on the untapped talent in under
represented groups protects quality.
20

21. Which students ‘take up’ the offer of a place?
?
?
?
Data source: Monash University, Office of Planning and Quality, Victorian Tertiary Admission data
21

22. Low SES participation strategy
– “first generation” students
Monash connect — enrolment and return
from deferment
— the first year experience
— retention
22

23. Low SES participation strategy
– Students graduate with good prospects
S5: Optimize transition and progress
S6: Produce high quality graduates
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24. Graduate Employment
– domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10
Data Source: AGS- Graduate Destination Survey Full Time Employment (2008-2010 combined data) 24

25. Graduate Salaries
– domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10
Data Source: AGS- Graduate Destination Survey Full Time Employment (2008-2010 combined data) 25

26. Further Study
– domestic bachelor graduates 2008-10
Data Source: AGS - Graduate Destination Survey Further Study (2008-2010 combined data) 26

27. Towards Social Inclusion
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28. 28