Our University Experience Program with the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) and Macquarie Unviersity has been a life-changing and inspiring experience for the rural students who participated in the last three years and it continues to go from strength to strength.

Brainchild of UTS in 2008, the University Experience Program now also receives support and funding from the Macquarie University. Both are CEFA Education Partners committed to increasing the tertiary education participation rates of rural students.

The purpose of the trip is to give Year 10 and 11 students from identified CEFA communities the opportunity to experience university first-hand. Students spend a day visiting each of the two universities’ campuses, elect subject areas of interest to them and participate in a range of interesting practical faculty workshops and listen to people from their selected faculties speak about the courses they offer.

Students targeted for this experience are those who have the ability to go to university but who may well discount themselves because of:

• Lack of confidence
• Financial hardship
• Anxiety about having to leave their home/community to attend university
• Lack of encouragement/knowledge at home

This is not a future student recruitment initiative by either university, nor do students have any pressure applied about going to university, leaving home, choosing a city university over a regionally based university, etc. It is simply to give each student first-hand experience and exposure so they are better placed to make an informed decision in the future about their post high school study and career path.

Over four days in Sydney, we also aim to show students how they can make their university goals and aspirations a reality and enjoy some different experiences in the city. We provide the opportunity for the students to have fun, make new friends and step out of their comfort zones in a safe and supportive environment.

In 2010, Apple came on board with the program to enhance the students’ learning experience, lending the students and teachers Apple equipment for the time surrounding the program. The participants made video diaries of their pre, during and post trip reflections and experiences, which were then combined by the Department of Education and Training into a video montage of all the schools’ diaries – a wonderful keepsake. An added element to Apple’s involvement was a visit the Apple Store to learn more about the capabilities of their loaned equipment – some really fascinating and impressive skills were passed on the budding graphic designers at this session.

Feedback from previous participants in the UTS and Macquarie University Experience Program includes:

• “It is an amazing experience overall and it can open your eyes to so much. Even if you are not actually decided on going to university it is still good to go because it could inspire you. I was inspired and want to go a lot further in life now”
• “This is the best thing I have ever done! I made so many friends and I am now even more excited about trying to get into university. Thanks so much”
• “Thank you so much for the opportunities given to these students. It will broaden their minds, their horizons and their aspirations for the future. It has whet their appetites for university and given them the confidence to leave their country towns if they choose to”