Widening participation through investigating who seeks access to what, why and when

The underrepresentation of students from low SES backgrounds in tertiary education has long been a concern in Australia, and is a key issue being addressed through the federal government’s HEPPP agenda and related... [ view full abstract ]

The underrepresentation of students from low SES backgrounds in tertiary education has long been a concern in Australia, and is a key issue being addressed through the federal government’s HEPPP agenda and related initiatives. This paper reports on a project that seeks to explore the ways in which students, from a range of backgrounds, speak about their career aspirations and how these might be pursued. The project focuses on: the point in their schooling at which students express interest in careers requiring university education; the reasons provided for their interest; and their understanding of how to pursue their chosen careers. This study draws on data from the first three years (2012 – 2014) of a mixed method longitudinal study of over 5900 students in Years 3 – 11 in New South Wales public schools, to provide a comprehensive snapshot of who seeks access to what, when, and why. We argue that these are critical considerations in furthering the agenda to widen participation in higher education, and demonstrate how analysis of these data is critical in informing the activities and strategies academic institutions undertake to attract and retain underrepresented students.