ACSES recently led a panel discussion on Innovative Solutions for Achieving Student Equity in Higher Education at the HEDx Future Solutions for Higher Education Conference hosted by The University of Queensland (UQ).
Chaired by ACSES Executive Director Shamit Saggar, the session featured expert insights from ACSES’s Ian Li, EPHEA’s Dr Kylie Austin, Vygo’s Lyndin Francis, and Paul Harpur OAM from UQ and Universities Enable’s. The panel contributed to the conference’s theme of critical shifts in higher education, including reimagining equity addressing the increasing financial pressures on students.
Dr Kylie Austin opened the discussion by exploring what students truly need for success. She highlighted ways to reshape subject choices and innovate student support, making learning more adaptable to students’ lives. Her insights underscored the need for universities to be designed to reach every student, especially those facing fundamental barriers like extreme poverty or being the first in their family to attend university.
Notable ideas included:
- Learning Anywhere: Universities could adopt flexible, “anywhere” learning models.
- Stackable Credentials: Look at alternative models of accreditation student learning, which offer students more flexible pathways to graduation.
- In-Time Student Support: Providing targeted, timely support, informed by real-time data, to personalise learning and reduce dropout rates.
As the panel noted, it’s time to break down silos, leverage data, and rethink program impacts to ensure that all students—especially those from underrepresented groups—have a fair chance at success. The future of equitable education demands a personalised approach, innovative support structures, and a commitment to meeting students where they are.
