Vanessa Lam
28 January 2015: The University of Canberra welcomed more than 70 students as part of The Aspiration Initiative (TAI) academic enrichment program on 15 January to experience a day in the life of a university student.
It's the first time the three TAI cohorts from Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales have come together, along with 20 of their mentors and 5 community elders to visit the University.
TAI students were able to speak to university staff and students about the different courses on offer and what student life is like. They also explored the campus, toured student accommodation and attended a mini expo where they spoke to staff from across the University.
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The Aspiration Initiative Victorian students enjoying the DJ booth at the UC expo. Photo: Vanessa Lam. |
"It's just amazing to give students exposure to different universities so that they can make informed decisions about where they want to go and what kind of campus they want to be a part of," TAI New South Wales State Coordinator Michelle Bishop said.
"Knowing what courses are available, what kind of a campus feel they are looking for and whether they can foresee themselves living on campus after doing the residential tours will help make that decision of going to university that little bit easier," she said.
TAI is a joint initiative of the Aurora Project, the Charlie Perkins Trust and the University of Canberra, working to change the current narrative of Indigenous education, whereby outstanding achievement is seen as the exception, rather than the norm. TAI projects include the academic enrichment program, the Aurora Indigenous Scholars International Study Tour, the Indigenous Scholarships Website and postgraduate scholarships to leading overseas universities.
Year 12 TAI students Jackson Gray and Max Davies-Diers from New South Wales, said they enjoyed the University's atmosphere and exploring the different options available for study.
"Everyone's really welcoming, I've really enjoyed how open everybody is about what they're passionate about, and that's really great to hear," Mr Davies-Diers said.
"There are so many options and so many things to do; it's really tough to choose."
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The Aspiration Initiative NSW students Max Davies-Diers and Jackson Gray visiting UC. Photo: Vanessa Lam. |
Mr Gray said that while he plans to go to university he hasn't decided which one yet, but that he can see himself at the University of Canberra.
"I do like UC and Canberra is good for me because I'm not too far away, so I'd like to go here, there are some good courses on offer," he said.
For more information about The Aspiration Initiative visit their website.
