CDU welcomes Universities Accord interim report’s recommendations for more accessible education
Charles Darwin University (CDU) welcomes the Federal Government’s commitment to making tertiary education more accessible for First Nations Australians, following the release of the Australian Universities Accord interim report.
The interim report, handed down today, identifies more than 70 policy ideas to improve higher education in Australia and highlights how significant and long-term change is required in the sector.
The Federal Government will immediately action five recommendations, which includes making courses more accessible to First Nations people across Australia and offering greater support to disadvantage students to complete their studies.
In April CDU made a submission to the Universities Accord panel proposing new ideas to improve higher education in Northern Australia, which included reintroducing demand-driven places, with first uncapping places for all First Nations students not just those in regional and remote areas.
CDU Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Fiona Coulson said the recommendations would be crucial to advancing the tertiary education system in the Northern Territory and Australia.
“CDU’s submission focused on how the Accord could unlock the aspirations of students from disadvantaged backgrounds, especially First Nations students,” Professor Coulson said.
“We agree that a system-wide change is essential and must get underway as soon as possible.
“CDU is one of a few universities that already meets the aspiration of educating more students from low socio-economic backgrounds and we welcome the Federal Government’s immediate commitment to increasing access to education across the nation.”
CDU is committed to becoming globally recognised for First Nations leadership in education. First Nations students make up 25.3 per cent of CDU student diversity (3,481 students) in vocational education and seven per cent (936 students) in higher education.
The Australian Universities Accord full report will be published later this year.
Related Articles
Territory a step closer to growing its own crop of architects
Fifty years after Cyclone Tracy caused devastation and destruction across the suburbs of Darwin, the Northern Territory will soon have its own crop of locally educated architects designing buildings to withstand such forces.
Read more about Territory a step closer to growing its own crop of architects
First Nations wisdom plays key role in saving critically endangered Philippine eagle
A First Nations conservation and land management program from the Northern Territory is playing a key role in saving the national bird of the Philippines, the critically endangered Philippine eagle.
Read more about First Nations wisdom plays key role in saving critically endangered Philippine eagle
CDU PhD student receives Google’s backing to help Close the Gap
Australian research aimed at closing the gap in First Nations health outcomes through new and emerging technologies like AI has received the backing of Google.
Read more about CDU PhD student receives Google’s backing to help Close the Gap
