Interventions early in school as a means to improve higher education outcomes for disadvantaged (particularly low SES) students

The report, Interventions early in school as a means to improve higher education outcomes for disadvantaged (particularly low SES) students, was commissioned by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and undertaken between August 2008 and September 2009.

The research comprises:

• a design and evaluation matrix for university outreach in schools;
• a literature review describing pre-Year 11 outreach programs operating primarily in Australia but also in Canada, the USA, the UK and New Zealand;
• a survey report presenting an analysis of data collected in late 2008 from Australian universities on the nature and extent of programs, interventions and outreach activities targeting pre-Year 11 students, and
• case studies of seven university-initiated collaborative programs with schools which aim to increase higher education participation and outcomes for disadvantaged (particularly low SES) students.

Authors: National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education, University of South Australia

Interventions early in school as a means to improve higher education outcomes for disadvantaged (particularly low SES) students

• Synopsis
  ( PDF 729KB | RTF 307KB)
• Component A: A review of the Australian and international literature
  ( PDF 856KB | RTF 1.3MB)
• Component B: A survey of the nature and extent of outreach activities conducted by Australian higher education (Table A) providers
  ( PDF 382KB | RTF 417KB)
• Component C: Case studies of selected Australian university outreach activities
  ( PDF 708KB | RTF 569KB)