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number of Indigenous students enrolled at UNSW in 2003 has increased
almost 50 per cent on 2002 enrolments, according to figures presented
to the UNSW Council recently by Pro-Vice-Chancellor (education
and quality improvement), Professor Adrian Lee.
Lee said: “While these figures are encouraging, we are determined
to do better. The decision by UNSW to create a new program centre
for Indigenous support and Aboriginal studies, with a specific
charter to increase access and participation for Indigenous students,
is an exciting initiative.
“We want Indigenous students studying in all our mainstream
degree programs. We have a fine tradition in law, now we want
more students in medicine, commerce, arts and social sciences,
the built environment, engineering and science.”
Acting director of the Aboriginal education program (AEP), Sue
Green welcomed the figures. “It’s a reward for all
the hard work of the staff at Indigenous programs and it also
means that more Aboriginal people are having access to higher
education,” she said.
The AEP’s winter schools program had been particularly successful
in encouraging more Indigenous high school students to come to
UNSW, she said.
As a result of this year’s winter school, the AEP has also
started a mentoring scheme with students from Randwick Boys High
School.
“Once a week, some of the Aboriginal boys from Randwick
Boys High School come over to the AEP and spend an afternoon here.
They talk to the staff and to other students who are enrolled
here and our academic skills coordinator works with those boys
on some of their projects and areas they are having difficulties
with,” said Green.
The Indigenous pre-programs in law, the built environment and
commerce and economics have also been successful in preparing
undergraduate students for their first year of study. “We
find that students who do those courses as a whole tend to do
better than students who haven’t done them,” said
Green.
In 2004, an Indigenous pre-program for social work will be run
for the first time.
Green said she would like to see postgraduate enrolments increase
in the future.
“Postgraduate is an area that we need to look a lot more
closely at. However, we needed to focus on undergraduate students
and look at proactive ways of addressing educational disadvantage,
by working with the schooling system.”
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CORRECTION
In the hard copy version of this month's issue this column includes a quote incorrectly attributed to Professor Peter Saunders, Director of the University's Social Policy Research Centre. The comment, originally reported in the Financial Review, was actually made by Peter Saunders of the Centre for Independent Studies. The staff of Uniken apologises for this error.
“Men who take paternity leave are seen as people who are not serious about their careers. Most people still think taking time off for children is women’s business.”
UNSW sociologist Michael Bittman –
Sydney Morning Herald
“Maybe they’ve got the wrong end of the pineapple. I have not announced, nor am I intending to announce, any change in position.”
Federal education minister, Brendan Nelson rejecting a suggestion from Sydney University Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gavin Brown, that the government was about to do a backflip on IR reform in the sector – The Australian
“The manner in which [former deputy police commissioner] Jeff Jarratt was dismissed was disgraceful, a crudely handled, dubiously motivated exercise of power against one of Australia’s most respected police officers.”
Professor David Dixon, law faculty –
Sydney Morning Herald
“I like the saying ‘The only thing that makes old age bearable is that you do it with your friends’.”
Dr Diana Olsberg, director of UNSW research centre on ageing and retirement – Wentworth Courier
“It’s an outdated image from decades ago which we cling to with cultural tenacity, but which we don’t deserve anymore.”
Director of UNSW’s centre for physical .activity, Professor Adrian Bauman, commenting on a new study which shows Australians no longer warrant the tag of an active, outdoor people
– Adelaide’s Sunday Mail
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