Indigenous Education Strategies in Higher Education 2001-2003
Murdoch University
- Objectives
- Consultative Mechanisms
- Current and Continuing Activities
- Planned New Activities
- Performance and Review
- Contact
Objectives
The mission of Murdoch University is to extend knowledge, stimulate learning and promote understanding for the benefit of the community. The University aspires to be a welcoming environment for, and accessible to, students and staff from all backgrounds and provide them with equality of opportunities to achieve the highest standards. It is committed to redress any under-representation of designated equity groups, including Indigenous people, at all levels of the University’s student and staffing profiles. The University values equality of opportunity, social justice, integrity, and tolerance and mutual respect in dealing with others.
Consultative Mechanisms
Formally the Indigenous programs and Murdoch University seek guidance and advice from its Aboriginal Advisory Council. This council, which is currently being restructered, consists of a chair, six members external to the University representing Aboriginal authorities, agencies, corporations and the community, the Director of the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, the Chair of the Aboriginal and Islander Studies program, a Murdoch Aboriginal and Islander Student, and the University Pro Vice Chancellor of staff.
Informal consultations are held on a frequent basis with organisations and groups within the Nyungar community to review and improve Indigenous programs to meet the needs of this community. Community elders are asked to teach in the bridging program.
Current and Continuing Activities
Indigenous Education initiatives within the University cross a number of administrative and academic boundaries. These initiatives include the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre, located in the Division of Academic Affairs under the direction of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic); The Professional Education Programme for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (PEPA), located in the Division of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences (VBS); the Aboriginal Employment Strategy, located in the (Office of Human Resources, Division of Administration); and the Aboriginal and Islander Studies Program (AIS), located in the Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Education (SSHE). All programs receive support and advice from the Aboriginal Community through the Aboriginal Advisory Council.
The Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre has as its primary responsibility the coordination of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student initiatives. To increase the access, participation, retention and success rates of Indigenous students at all levels of university studies the Centre provides culturally appropriate and relevant support services and alternative entry pathways. These pathways include undergraduate direct entry testing, the Diploma in University Studies and the newly created Aboriginal Pre Law course.
The Diploma in University Studies was established in 1998 to equip students with the necessary skills to undertake University degree studies or seek employment. On successful completion of the twelve month full time or equivalent part time programme students are guaranteed an offer of a place in an undergraduate programme (which is not subject to quota) of their choice. Demand for this course is high and consequently there are two intakes a year, at the start of each semester. All units within the programme are reviewed at the end of the semester by staff and students. Students are also asked to complete a confidential unit questionnaire assessing the effectiveness of teaching, tutoring and content.
A working party was formed in April 1999 to begin the process of designing and implementing an Aboriginal Pre-Law Programme for the year 2000. This was a direct result of the general reduction in numbers of Aboriginal students studying in the School of Law particularly in the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) Programme. This worrying trend highlighted the fact that a programme for Indigenous students, wishing to study at Murdoch University in the School of Law, was very much required. In the period 1997 until 1999 the Law School admitted only 3 new students into the LLB Programme. It was also evident from admission numbers and continuing student numbers that enrolments in the Bachelor of Legal Studies (BLS) programme had dropped off significantly. The program which was designed to run for four weeks is controlled jointly by the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre and the School of Law.
Planned New Activities
Planning is underway for both the expansion and extension of the Diploma in University Studies program. The expansion plans include delivering it at the University’s Rockingham campus and offering it to external students, including those in institutions such as detention centres. Extension plans include enabling cross-institution enrolment to enhance a student’s learning potential in a particular field of interest and in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice offering education pathways to Indigenous people undertaking a pre-release programme.
Following prospective students demand for pathways into science a study has been initiated in this area. It is Murdoch’s intention to look at different models of courses that will equip students with the necessary skills to be able to study in the area of science. Murdoch University is well placed with the Remote Area Development Group, which is part of the School of Environmental Science. The Remote Area Development Group and the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre have worked on joint projects to encourage Indigenous students into this area.
An increasing area of demand for the Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre is in cross cultural training. To meet part of this demand the Kulbardi Centre will, in 2001, deliver a one semester unit at degree level in the local Nyungar language. This unit will be taught by a Nyungar elder. The unit will be available to all Murdoch tertiary students.
Performance and Review
The Indigenous initiatives outlined in this section are framed in the context of the University's Strategic Quality and Improvement Plan (SQIP), in which key strategies, operational strategies and performance outcomes support the identified objectives.
The two stated key strategies that support the student-oriented objective are:
- Enhance the participation, retention and success rates for designated student equity groups.
- Enhance the access, facilities and support available to students where there are barriers to achieving their full potential.
The performance indicators have been divided under four sub-headings in line with the Martin indicators: Access, Participation, Success and Retention.
Access
In 2000, an access rate of 2.28% has been met for Indigenous students, representing an improvement of 0.45% since 1999. The Diploma in University Studies (enabling program) commenced in 1998, continues to be a major contributor to this improvement. The reintroduction of the Aboriginal pre law program was the major factor contributing to increase the number of Indigenous students entering Law.
Indigenous student access through the various entry pathways offered at Murdoch for the period 1998-2000 is summarised below:
|
Program |
1998 |
1999 |
2000 |
|
Pre Law |
0 |
0 |
12 |
|
Dip Uni Stud |
23 |
29 |
49 |
|
PEPA |
3 |
5 |
6 |
|
Direct Entry (incl. P/grads & readmits) |
13 |
20 |
18 |
Numbers of commencing Indigenous students by broad fields of study.
|
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences |
45 |
58 |
|
Business, Admin, Economics |
5 |
1 |
|
Education |
2 |
3 |
|
Health |
1 |
0 |
|
Law, Legal Studies |
4 |
11 |
|
Science |
5 |
6 |
|
Veterinary Science |
7 |
5 |
|
Planned Performance Outcome |
Participation
Performance for 2000 was 0.69%. This represents a small increase over 1999. With increased numbers of Indigenous students enrolling at Murdoch in 2000, the continuation of Diploma in University Studies program and the Aboriginal Pre Law program, it is anticipated that Murdoch will reach the participation target of 1.0% by the end of the next triennium.
Participation of Indigenous students by level of award:
|
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
PhD by research |
2 |
2 |
|
Masters by research |
3 |
2 |
|
Masters by coursework |
4 |
5 |
|
Graduate Diploma |
2 |
1 |
|
Honours |
2 |
1 |
|
Bachelor Pass |
82 |
109 |
|
Enabling (Dip Uni St) |
29 |
49 |
Participation of Indigenous students by broad fields of study.
|
1999 |
2000 |
|
|
Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences |
69 |
103 |
|
Business, Admin, Economics |
10 |
9 |
|
Education |
8 |
7 |
|
Health |
1 |
1 |
|
Law, Legal Studies |
10 |
15 |
|
Science |
11 |
26 |
|
Veterinary Science |
15 |
14 |
Retention
Retention rates for Indigenous students decreased slightly (0.12) from 1999 (0.74) to 2000 (0.62). This decreased retention rate was due to two factors: an increase in the retention rate for non-Aboriginal students in the 1999/2000 period; and the policy of the enabling program to allow Aboriginal students who wish to have the opportunity to study unhindered entry. This policy permits access to students with a marginal chance of success and consequently a decrease in the overall retention rate for this program has occurred. This policy allows for equity within this group and not only equity between different equity groups.
Murdoch University plans to achieve a retention rate of 0.8 for Indigenous students as compared to all students by 2003.
Success
Actual success indicators in 1999 were 0.65, which was above the national average and little change from the figure of 1998. The establishment of the Diploma in University Studies and its development over the next triennium is expected to enhance these success rates. The Professional Education Program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People (PEPA) program will continue to contribute to the success rate of Aboriginal students in the area of Vicenary Science.
Contact
Indigenous Education Support & Diploma in University Studies
Wayne Webster
Director
Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre
Tel: (08) 9360 2611
Fax: (08) 9360 6493
Email: wwebster@central.murdoch.edu.au
Aboriginal Pre Law Program.
Glen Stasiuk
Lecturer
Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre
Tel: (08) 9360 6468
Fax: (08) 9360 6493
Email: gstasiuk@central.murdoch.edu.au
Aboriginal & Islander Studies Degree Program
Len Collard
Program Chair
Aboriginal & Islander Studies Program
Tel: (08) 9360 6257
Fax: (08) 9360 6367
Email: lcollard@central.murdoch.edu.au
Professional Education Program for Aboriginal & Islander People (Vet Science)
Tania Jacobs
Special Education Officer
PEPA, Division of Biomedical and Veterinary Sciences
Tel: (08) 9360 2218
Fax: (08) 9360 4144
Email: jacobs@numbat.murdoch.edu.au
Any comments or queries should be sent to: highered@dest.gov.au
This page was
last updated on Tuesday, 04 December 2001
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