Thread by @DrJoannaT

After 10 minutes of fiddling with the room controls finally set up with a big screen version of #CMMNeededNow on Learning Rights. @VerityFirth opened setting the funding scene and what's NQR about how the $$ is spread across the sector currently.

Problems include overall funding level, and who gets the funding for equity. Braden Hill says morning teas ain't going to cut it anymore to achieve equity. #CMMNeededNow

Now @LTU_CHEEDR Andrew Harvey looking at pathways into higher ed - equity students make up a significant number of HE students, but ways in are broken. Look at streaming, funding to private schools. Limitations to ATAR since correlation with SES.

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Enabling programs tell you that fees are a disincentive - HECS is to some students. Twice the number of equity students are in enabling programs than general undergrads and they say they're there since it is free. in#CMMNeededNow

HEPPP $145mil, small drop in the bucket of overall budget. JRG package in contrast will disproportionately increase the fees of women, LSES, Indigenous students. These things will bite and equity practitioners need to think about the big picture and get outraged. #CMMNeededNow

Finally @seos895 reminds us that we focus on access and participation, but success and retention is going to be really key - don't let equity students just be the victim of marketing to get bums on seats #CMMNeededNow

Also equity students overall prefer distance learning and online modes - the importance of design in these learning contexts is really important to account for diverse cohorts. Important to do research to develop evidence. #CMMNeededNow

Time for the discussion. @KiftSally asks Verity Firth about funding. Demand driven system achieved goals including increased participation across equity cohorts. So now senior exec need to step up and advocate for funding and programs to meet equity targets.
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Q about equity group definitions - @seos895 references the Govt defined 6 groups - but students tend to belong more than one group, and the defns don't encompass some existing and emerging groups (e.g. refugees, veterans) #CMMNeededNow

Q to @BradenRHill about inclusion of First Nations groups. Braden also responds to the 1st q - we don't need to adopt Govt defns wholesale, we can do our own thinking and doing. WRT Indigenous equity - significant issues around workload & who does the work.

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And that work is really context specific so no one good solution. Sometimes there are synergies but there's a lot to be done still.

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Next question from @MattBrettLTU (who's at Deakin!!!) asking about microcredentials. Verity suggests that MCs appeal most to those who already are in the system & upskilling. Need to look at who we are targeting thru marketing and how we can support them. #CMMNeededNow

MCs are likely to be the way of the future - we need to have the same conversations about equity around them as we did for the graduate degree, etc. @seos895 agrees great idea but also premised on unencumbered individuals already w aca capital in the marketplace

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So unlikely for equity students to be able to navigate this on their own - need careers advising across the lifespan as well. @KiftSally references @ProfBevOliver - MCs as 'breadcrumbs' for learning - MCs will need to articulate well with other credentials.

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Andrew Harvey also points out the contradictory growth in longer full-size degrees and MCs. Next Q abt voced/highered & transition from school. He's been working on collaboration but systems of school vs post-sec are differently arranged & governed.

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He points out that 35% of students are studying VET level subjects in school but questions how many are doing HE subjects in schools. How do students get to know what #highered is? #CMMNeededNow

A need for genuine partnership says Verity. They are collaborating in conjunction with schools, co-creating curriculum with teachers, to focus on whole cohorts in yrs 7-9 on literacy, numeracy, teachers prof dev. #CMMNeededNow

Sally also agrees - lots of equity practitioners are doing similar programs working with school students in general.

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But seems like the point is - we need to advocate harder and get in the ears of the people who hold the purse strings more to impress on them about the impacts of recent changes in funding.

@seos895 points out short-term contracts/funding model harms equity groups

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.... and that in restructures, equity practitioners and marketing might be brought together - but they work to different ends - equity isn't about getting people through the door - so positioning of equity units is important.

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Next Q about changing narrative about perception of universities as elite. @BradenRHill says 50% of ECU students are still FiF and many feel "this is not for me". Marketing might actually help with expressing diversity and community focus better.

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Lots of agreement on this - we don't do well with representing our diverse cohorts, 50% of students are mature age - where are they in the marketing??

Next q is about improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation.

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So @BradenRHill says reconciliation is about putting our money where our mouth is - fund Indigenous centres properly to do the work, reach out to community (school isn't necessarily a pleasant place for kids - why would uni be different? we have to demo it).

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Maybe final q - "should we lose the term widening participation?" @LTU_CHEEDR Andrew Harvey says still questions about widening what - and could also be deeper also. Also reminds us HDR/post-grad equity hasn't yet improved - need to focus on this also.

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Andrew says supposedly we are moving into a universal higher education phase - but are we making it possible for all students to have a shot at higher ed?

New HEPPP funding model - maybe can look at how Indigenous support can be integrated throughout.

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Oh, now the last question - what was the experience of equity students across the COVID period?

Verity reports biggest issue for them was connectedness - connections and devices - at a first step, rather than grappling with the online classes themselves

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Now winding up - closing remarks but I have to head to another meeting! #CMMNeededNow