NT academic receives prestigious fellowship

A Charles Darwin University academic will use a prestigious fellowship to improve the evaluation process of national Indigenous higher education programs and policies.

Associate Professor James Smith was selected by the National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) at Curtin University to investigate ways to improve higher education pathways for Indigenous Australians.

Dr Smith said he planned to create a series of national guiding principles that could be used by equity practitioners to evaluate Indigenous higher education programs across the country.

“Indigenous students are significantly underrepresented within the Australian higher education context,” he said.

“Universities need to carefully tailor attraction and retention strategies to meet the needs of this priority group.”

NCSEHE Director Professor Sue Trinidad commended Dr Smith on his achievement.

“The Equity Fellows Programme selection process is very competitive, with the NCSEHE receiving a record number of nominations this year,” Professor Trinidad said. 

The program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education and Training, with each fellow receiving up to $215,000.

The NCSEHE aims to inform public policy design, implementation and institutional practice to improve higher education participation and success for marginalised and disadvantaged people.