WHAT IS THIS STUDY ABOUT?
This project aims to address a gap in understanding of how students who are from regional areas navigate their movement into and through university.
The aim of this study is to privilege the voice of people from regional areas studying at university to explore their perspectives on future goals and perceptions of barriers to completing their studies. The decision-making process to attend university (i.e. ranging from moving away to uni, to staying and studying online) can quite complex for regional students and this project aims to understand these complexities, through the perspectives of regional students themselves.
A qualitative research design will be used to avoid ‘collective or mythic constructions’ of these environments and issues, and identify approaches to better supporting students from regional areas to realise personal aspirations and equitable access to what students desire in life
WHO IS CONDUCTING THE STUDY?
Dr Janine Delahunty
National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education 2020 Equity Fellow
Lecturer, Learning Teaching & Curriculum
University of Wollongong. email: janined@uow.edu.au
WHO IS FUNDING THE STUDY?
The National Centre for Student Equity in Higher Education (NCSEHE) grant (Curtin University, WA)
WHO WILL PARTICIPATE?
University students from regional areas currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree in Australia
WHAT WILL PARTICIPANTS BE ASKED TO DO?
Participants will be invited to one semi-structured interview (by phone, to meet COVID19 requirements) which should take no longer than 30-45 minutes. Alternatively, participants may choose to complete an anonymous online survey which should take no more than 10-20 minutes.
Interviews will be audio-recorded for transcription purposes. You may request a copy of the transcript. Only the named investigator(s) will have access to the data. The transcriptionist will provide signed agreement to confidentiality.
Participants will also be given the opportunity to opt into providing feedback on the draft resources and recommendations