Last week, the Australian Financial Review Higher Education Awards 2016 honoured seven of Australia’s leading universities for their achievements in the sector, at a gala event in Melbourne.
Winners of the 2016 AFR Higher Education Awards with AFR education editor Tim Dodd (far left) and UniSuper chair Chris Cuffe (far right). Photo: AFR online
We were delighted to sponsor and present the Equity and Opportunity Award, for 'strategies or initiatives that have significantly improved participation rates, engagement, or educational outcomes of underrepresented or non-traditional student groups.'
“One of our major goals is to improve access to higher education for all students – especially by giving underrepresented student groups the opportunity to succeed in a university degree,” says our Founder, Jack Goodman.
The Equity and Opportunity Award was won by Studiosity partner Charles Sturt University, for their outstanding outreach achievements in increasing engagement with disadvantaged students.
"Congratulations to Charles Sturt University! CSU is one of the leading institutions in the field, showing, and paving the way to university for so many students. At Studiosity, we are very proud to be part of enhancing equity and opportunity, and supporting our partner universities in leading widening participation. We strongly support the government's HEPPP initiative, and this recognition for one of our partners shows its importance and value in the sector." said Goodman, after the announcement.
Three out of the four finalists for the Equity and Opportunity Award were Studiosity partners, running programs involving an element of personalised online study support, with Studiosity. Finalists The University of Sydney and Western Sydney University are doing important work within programs that encourage awareness of, and facilitate access to, pathways to tertiary education.
Innovative universities are widening access to education by adapting to how learning is changing - they know that it’s anywhere, anytime now. At Studiosity, we strive to leverage the potential of technology and our University partnerships, to positively influence what the future of education, and the country, will look like, by providing better learning support – and outcomes – for more students.
The distinguished panel of judges of the AFR Higher Education Awards included Stuart Hamilton AO, former CEO of Open Universities Australia; Adrian McComb, CEO of the Council of Private Higher Education; Chris Madden AO, former Pro Vice-Chancellor of Griffith University; Andrew Norton, Higher Education Program Director at the Grattan Institute and member of the expert panel advising the Turnbull government on higher education reform; Lisa Paul OA PSM, former head of the federal Department of Education and Training; Alan Robson AO, former Vice-Chancellor of the University of WA; Sally Walker AM, former Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University and member of the expert panel advising the Turnbull government on higher education reform; and Tim Dodd, Education Editor of the Australian Financial Review.
