Rural and remote Indigenous students experience university life

Cultural Art workshop Singleton High

Muswellbrook High Schools students and staff show off their artworks at the Cultural Art workshop

Indigenous students from eleven high schools in rural and remote areas of NSW will get a taste of university life at the University of Western Sydney from Monday 26 November to Friday 30 November, 2012.

Almost one hundred students from Years 9 to 12 will make the trip to the University along with teachers and support staff.

Acting Manager of Schools Engagement at UWS, Jim Micsko, says the program affords students the opportunity to experience the university environment as well as providing them information about opportunities and pathways available.

“An experience like this helps students feel comfortable with the environment of higher education and assists them to make informed decisions on their future study and career choices,” says Mr Micsko.

"Students in rural and remote areas often miss out on visiting universities because of distance and other limiting factors. During the visit they also meet academic and support staff, speak with Indigenous UWS students, participate in academic enrichment activities and find out more about specific courses they may be interested in."

Gulargambone students at the Water Quality workshop

Students from Gulargambone Central School take part in the Water Quality workshop

Mr Micsko says UWS has provided this opportunity for a number of years to increase the participation rates of Indigenous students who are under-represented in higher education.

"UWS is committed to creating, enhancing and promoting a variety of opportunities and pathways to encourage and enable school students from all backgrounds and a range of academic achievement levels to enhance their educational attainment and increase post-school options," says Mr Micsko.

Staff and students will be accommodated at the Hawkesbury campus for the duration of the trip, and will visit the Penrith and Campbelltown campuses as well.

There will be a range of fun and educational activities along with cultural talks and sessions covering everything about getting into university and what it's like once you are there.

Activities during the visit will include:

A law mini moot at the UWS Campbelltown Moot Court;
Cultural workshops at the Hawkesbury campus on ‘Storytelling, Traditional Wood Carving and the Boomerang’ and ‘The Didgeridoo and Traditional Art’; and
Workshops in engineering and physics, music, visual design, natural sciences, medicine, nursing and sports science.

Social activities will include a dinner with Indigenous Elders and community members, UWS staff and students.

Computer workshop and the robot