The Minister for Education and Training released the final report of the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) Evaluation on 22 May 2017.
The findings and recommendations from this evaluation have informed the Government’s reforms to the HEPPP announced under the Higher Education Reform Package.
The evaluation found that the HEPPP has provided wide ranging support to a large number of students and institutions between 2010 and 2015:
- Some 2,679 projects were implemented at the 37 eligible universities.
- Over 310,000 students have participated in HEPPP projects, with additional students supported in schools and other institutions.
- At least 2,913 partner organisations participated in HEPPP outreach activities.
- More than 40 per cent of projects and expenditure have been targeted at assisting low SES students transition into, engaging with and progressing through university.
- Around 40 per cent of projects have worked with external partners, usually schools, to increase low SES applications to, offers from and commencements at university.
- The remaining HEPPP activity includes projects that have focused on pathways to university, the admissions process, transitioning out of university and research to improve the effectiveness and impact of low SES equity practices in higher education.
- The majority of HEPPP activity has been directed at low SES students generally. 19 per cent of projects and 15 per cent of funding has been specifically targeted at students who are both low SES and Indigenous, and 13 per cent of projects and 16 per cent of funding have been targeted at students who are both low SES and from regional or remote Australia.
The Minister also released the 2017 HEPPP National Priorities Pool Investment Plan. The Minister also approved the department commissioning nine projects under the National Priorities Pool, a number of which respond to recommendations made in the HEPPP evaluation. Further information about these projects will be provided separately. The nine projects are:
- HEPPP evaluation framework
- Equity Research and Innovation Panel
- Economies of scale in supporting low SES students
- Widening participation longitudinal study
- Australian higher education equity ranking
- Individual-based socio-economic disadvantage measure
- Publication of National Priorities Pool research
- Professional development in equity interventions for school teachers
- Seed Funding for Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience expansion.
Robert Latta
Branch Manager
Governance, Quality and Access Branch | Higher Education Group
Australian Government Department of Education and Training
