Abstract
In 2005 a South Australian university inaugurated a new provision of higher education programs in a regional city. Previously, would-be university students in the area had only the options of off-campus study, moving away from home to become internal students, or not pursuing university studies at all. The initiative provided the opportunity to study the effects of the new university presence on its students, university staff and the wider community, and at the same time to learn much that would enable continuous improvement of the methods used in offering these programs. This article reports on the results from focus groups of students and staff, and a survey of the first cohort of students, part of the first stage of a longitudinal study. A combination of effort and collaboration has contributed to meeting community educational needs and aspirations.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ausubel, D. P. (2000).Acquisition and retention of knowledge: A cognitive view. Dordrecht, Netherlands: Kluwer Academic Publishers.
Bruffee, K. A. (1993).Collaborative learning: Higher education, interdependence, and the authority of knowledge. Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press.
Callaghan, V. (2002).Participation rates of rural students in post-secondary education. Submission 54 to the Higher Education Crossroads Review, Deakin University, Warrnambool. Retrieved April 9, 2006, from www.backingaustraliasfuture.gov.au/submissions/crossroads/pdf/54.pdf
de la Harpe, B., & Radloff, A. (2006). Changes over time in learning and self-regulation strategies of beginning and mature-age university students: implications for learning for life. In D. Orr, F. Nouwens, C. Macpherson, R. E. Harreveld, & P. A. Danaher (Eds.),Lifelong learning: Partners, pathways and pedagogies (pp. 72–77). Keynote and refereed papers from the 4th International Lifelong Learning Conference. Rockhampton, Queensland: Central Queensland University Press.
Garlick, S., & Pryor, G. (2002).Compendium of “Good Practice”. University — Regional Development Engagement Initiatives. Report prepared for the Department of Transport and Regional Services, Queensland. Unpublished manuscript.
Heaney, S. (1999, March).Overcoming the 3Ms! Marks! Money! Motivation!: How can more secondary students from rural and remote areas be encouraged to choose a career in rural and remote health care? Paper presented at the 5th National Rural Health Conference, Adelaide. Retrieved August 13, 2006, from http://nrha.ruralhealth.org.au/conferences/docs/PAPERS/5_3ms.pdf
Hicks, M., Reid, I., & George R. (1999, July).Enhancing online teaching: Designing responsive learning environments. Paper presented at HERDSA Annual Conference, Melbourne. Retrieved August 28, 2005, from http://herdsa.org.au/branches/vic/Cornerstones/titleframeset.html
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC). (2000).‘Emerging themes’: National inquiry into rural and remote education. Retrieved April 9, 2006 from http://www.hreoc.gov.au/pdf/human_rights/emerging_themes.pdf
Kantanis, T. (2000) The role of social transition in students' adjustment to the first-year of university.Journal of Institutional Research, 9(1), 100–110.
Krause, K. L., Hartley, R., James, R., & McInnis, C. (2005).The first year experience in Australian universities: Findings from a decade of national studies. Final report of a project funded by the Higher Education Innovation Programme, Department of Education, Science and Training, CSUE. Melbourne: University of Melbourne.
MacDonald, R. B. (1991). Developmental students' processing of teacher feedback in composition instruction.Review of Research in Developmental Education, 8(5), 3–8.
National Board of Employment, Education and Training (NBEET) (1996)Equality, diversity and excellence: advancing the National Higher Education Equity Framework. Canberra: Australian Government Publishing Service.
National Board of Employment Education & Training (NBEET)/Department of Employment, Education & Training (DEET) (1990).A fair chance for all: National and institutional planning for equity in higher education. Canberra: AGPS.
Peat, M., Dalziel, J., & Grant, A. M. (2001). Enhancing the first year student experience by facilitating the development of peer networks through a one-day workshop.Higher Education Research & Development, 20(2), 199–215.
Pullin, L., & Munn, T. (2006, July). UniSA in Mount Gambier: Implementing a community engaged teaching and learning environment. Paper presented at 3rd Annual AUCEA National Conference, Curtin University of Technology, Perth WA.
Sanders, L., & Burton, J. D. (1996). From retention to satisfaction: New outcomes for assessing the freshman experience.Research in Higher Education, 37(5), 555–567.
Sawyer, J., Ellis, B., & Watkinson, J. (2007). UniSA in Mount Gambier: Regions connecting to community needs. In B. Van Ernst (Ed.),The 2007 AUCEA Inc. national conference proceedings: The scholarship of community engagement: Australia's way forward (pp. 158–164). Victoria: AUCEA.
Stevenson, S., Evans, C., Maclachlan, M., Karmel, T, & Blakers, R. (2001).Effect of campus proximity and socio-economic status on university participation rates in regions, 01/C Occasional Paper Series. Canberra: Department of Education, Science and Training.
Tranter, D., Murdoch, L., & Circelli, M. (2003). Beyond the CEQ: Developing an integrated approach to student evaluation at the University of South Australia.Journal of Institutional Research, 12(1), 25–34.
University of South Australia. (2006a).Children in the workplace. Retrieved November 1, 2006, from the University of South Australia Web site: http://www.unisa.edu.au/ohsw/procedures/children.asp
University of South Australia. (2006b).Graduate qualities. Retrieved October 8, 2006, from the University of South Australia Web site: http://www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/gradquals/
Watkinson, J., & Ellis, B. (2006, November).The impact of a new university presence on a regional community. Paper presented at ALA 46th Annual National Conference, Melbourne.
Yorke, M. (2000). Smoothing the transition into higher education: What can be learned from student non-completion?Journal of Institutional Research, 9(1), 35–47.
Yorke, M. (2001). Formative assessment and its relevance to retention.Higher Education Research & Development, 20(2), 114–126.
Zeegers, P., & Martin, L. (2001). A learning-to-learn program in a first-year chemistry class.Higher Education Research & Development, 20(1), 35–52.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ellis, B., Watkinson, J. & Sawyer, J. Working together to make things happen: New on-campus higher education opportunities in a regional centre. Aust. Educ. Res. 35, 71–88 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03246290
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03246290