Make Your Mark a new window to higher education

UTS has joined with four other universities and the NSW & ACT Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) to create a tool for potential students who do not come from a background of further education.

The Make Your Mark website complements and supports the significant on-the-ground work the universities are undertaking in partnership with schools and communities as part of Bridges to Higher Education, a partnership of UTS, the University of Western Sydney, the University of Sydney, Macquarie University and the Australian Catholic University.

In a joint statement the universities said Make Your Mark would be a great asset for students, teachers, parents and community role models alike. "Access to higher education positively changes lives, communities and the economy."

Chair of Bridges to Higher Education Annette Cairnduff said there were many questions facing students who may be the first in their family to study further. "Make Your Mark is the answer to the first question – Where do I start?" she said.

"We know that for many families, particularly those with no experience of further education, that sending their child off to higher education can be daunting. Make Your Mark will empower them with knowledge and point them in the right direction to find further information and support."

Not just for recent school leavers, Make Your Mark is a portal for potential students of any age who want to find out information about what to do, where to go, and who to speak to.

"Make Your Mark provides all the vital background information about further education and how it can help people achieve their individual life goals and benefit the wider community," said Andrew Stanton, Managing Director of UAC.  

"UAC is really pleased to be part of Make Your Mark, because it's different to our usual role in helping people ready to embark on further study - this is all about reaching out to people who haven't got that far yet and giving them a starting point."

By 2018 the demand for people with higher education qualifications will outstrip supply to the magnitude of 22,000. Students from low socio-economic backgrounds have the poorest educational outcomes. Those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds and people from regional communities experience similar outcomes.

"We know there is no difference in higher education success rates from students from different backgrounds, but we know that often many Australians are unsure of what lies ahead. This website is aimed to provide them and their families with the information they need to make the first step, so they can make their mark," Ms Cairnduff said.

Recent research by KPMG* on activities conducted by Bridges has shown that intervention early in education clearly changes attitudes of both students and parents towards higher education.

In just two years, the program has already had a profound impact on student outlook. The Bridges program has delivered more than 200,000 contacts with school students from around NSW, with 97 per cent of students surveyed having indicated increased confidence levels in their academic abilities. Moreover, 87 per cent of students surveyed felt better prepared for university and 81 per cent reported improved motivation to complete year 12.

Among surveyed parents and carers, 96 per cent reported improved knowledge of higher education options, while 94 per cent agreed that their knowledge of higher education benefits had improved.

Ms Cairnduff said, "We are seeing a shift and we are changing attitudes – we need to reach more people and the Make Your Mark website will enable all people in NSW and the ACT to find the information they need to increase this momentum."

The website will help all people in NSW and the ACT to look at education options as a way to reach their life goals whether it is to be University or TAFE. It will help prospective students make decisions and provide parents with further understanding of what their child can achieve and would be undertaking.