21st century regional students:Addressing inequitable opportunity & ensuring access to the global workplace

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Investigate the extent that access to quality career interventions impacts economic & social benefits for regional students

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Department of Education and Training4

2015 HIGHER EDUCATION STATISTICS Comparison data - 2014

Likelihood of students to complete a degree

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Low SES High SES

69% 78%

Regional Metropolitan

70% 75%

Indigenous Non-Indigenous

47% 74%

Edwards and McMillan, 2015

Barriers and challenges

• Geographic isolation

• Finance, transport & quality of online services

• Negative family attitudes

• Limited educational opportunities in home towns

• Limited exposure to different careers

• Absence of positive occupational role models

• Lack of job opportunities (high unemployment)

• Need to move away from home to pursue higher study & employment

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UOW Regional Cohorts

Solution: Increased access to career services

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Regional Career Development services that:

• Tailor approaches to meet specific needs of regionalstudents

• Integrate career education, exploration & advice into thecurriculum

• Early interventions

• Raise aspirations

Solution: Increased access to career services

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Provide opportunities to:

•Experience work environments, workplace culture & skills needed to be effective at work

•Explore different occupational role models

•Develop relationships that could help secure employment

UOW Background

• 453kms between UOW’s 5 regional campuses

• Geographic isolation - serious challenges for equitable distribution of careers services

• Lack of access to advanced career development services enjoyed by city counterparts

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UOWRegional presence

Sthn Sydney

Sthn Highlands

Shoalhaven

BatemansBay

Bega

Empowering regional students to:•make informed career decisions •manage career development

UOW Regional Career Consultant role

Regional differences

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• Tailor assistance taking circumstances into account

• Encourage development of goals that recognise labour market opportunities, personal interests & abilities

• Ensures students access career support prior to & throughout their degree to improve career outcomes on completion

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Careers CentralCareers Central

E & ISE & IS

Southern Sydney campus

Southern Sydney campus

Bega campus

Bega campus

BusinessBusiness

Batemans Bay

campus

Batemans Bay

campus

SMAHSMAH

LHALHA

HDRHDR

Southern Highlands campus

Southern Highlands campus

Shoalhaven campusShoalhaven campus

Social ScienceSocial Science

UOWHub and SpokesModel

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Career management skill development needs to begin early in university programs and be a mandatory and assessable component of coursework

Bridgstock (2009)

In2Uni• Year 12 University Preparation Program – career related

workshops on resumes & interview skills in preparation for UOW Early Admissions Interviews

• Year 12 Road to Success workshops – career planning

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Supported Pathways Program for prospective students

• Shifts assistance towards an approach emphasising active career planning & development

• 2 targeted careers sessions in the program

• Delivered via HEPPP funding

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Strengthened relationships between:• Woolyungah Indigenous Centre• Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students • Regional Careers Consultants

�Provide appropriate career resources �Embed career knowledge & opportunities to meet specific career development needs

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• Aid career development & employability needs• 1st year students, various disciplines• Non-credit bearing, co-curricular program • Outreach activity• Structured case management approach • HEPPP funded

Structure of the program

• 10 weekly sessions over 1 semester

• 2 guest speakers from industry

• Information interviewing

• Work shadowing in real workplaces

• Regional Career Consultants facilitate & manage the program & act as career coach

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• Lies within a WIL pedagogical framework

• Content foundations in: � Career development theories � Australian Blueprint for Career Development � Core Skills for Work Developmental Framework

Career+ program developed for regional campuses

• Add value to student employability skills

• Increase career readiness & graduate outcomes

• Build effective relationships between students & their regional communities

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Community engagement

Creates connections

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Vice-Chancellor's Awards for Excellence in Community Engagement

Highly Commended Award in 2016

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Document title26

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Feedback from Hosts / Guest speakers

‘Keep doing what you do’

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‘Fantastic opportunity for university students with little to no experience in the field they have chosen to study.

This program offers practical learning experience & assists students with career direction’

Career+ program Host

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‘I’m prompted to think about work I’d like to do, how suited I am to jobs I’d never considered & can discuss & share ideas & experiences...an encouraging & inclusive forum’

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‘To examine a range of skills & be guided to conduct an information interview & participate in work shadowing was brilliant’

Student undertaking Career+ program

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Career Ready Learning & Practice

• Practical, credit-bearing subject

• Multi-disciplinary

• Internship

• Guest speakers & panelists from industry

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Closer TitleTania GoodmanTeam LeaderRegional Career ConsultantsUniversity of Wollongonge: tgoodman@uow.edu.au