Building robots, starting a business, creating an animation and investigating a crime scene are just a few things more than 200 Year 11 students from schools in South Western Sydney and regional NSW – including 41 refugee students and 29 Indigenous students – did as part of UTS's U@Uni Summer School program.
Now in its seventh year, the popular two-week program has grown into an opportunity for students to experience what university has to offer. This included creating professional films using the university's cutting-edge equipment, pushing their creative limits by designing lamps and fashion items, and even taking care of high-tech robotic ‘patients' in a simulated hospital setting.
Students learning about forensics in Science
Lurnea High School student Hope Mulford completed the Health Summer School and got a sense of what her future might look like. "Having the opportunity to learn more about nursing and midwifery has opened my eyes to what it involves and has given me a better understanding of the courses and training available."
Acting Director of the UTS Equity and Diversity Tracie Conroy said the program, which targets students from priority schools, aims to demystify university study and provide support leading up to their HSC.
"It gives the students a taste of university life and promotes university study as an option when it comes to making decisions for their future," Ms Conroy said. "Most participants come from families where neither parent holds a university degree, so the Summer School program is a fantastic way for the students to have a real campus experience and have lots of their questions answered."
Performing CPR in Health
More than 97 per cent of participants in last year's Summer School program agreed the experience helped them to understand what university life is like, with 96 per cent saying it had encouraged them to pursue tertiary education.
Joshua Douglas from Broken Hill High School said the experience had shown him university isn't as scary as he previously thought. "It's just another place to learn," he said.
"Summer School has definitely inspired me to work harder and push myself to get into university. It opens up your mind and helps you realise your potential. My favourite workshop was midwifery. We delivered 'babies' (simulation mannequins). I didn't expect to enjoy it so much – you feel really good after delivering a baby!"
The two-week experience culminated in a traditional graduation ceremony, complete with formal graduation gowns and family, friends, teachers and university representatives there to acknowledge the students' achievements during the program.
For Hope, the idea of attending university is no longer just a thought – it's a given. "I'm really excited now to go to university one day and to see what I can achieve. Summer School has helped make me feel more comfortable and has boosted my confidence. I also saw how people from different areas, backgrounds and interests can really connect."
The U @ Uni Summer School Program is part of the UTS Widening Participation Strategy (WPS). It has been substantially expanded through funding from the Federal Government's Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) as part of the Bridges to Higher Education initiative, which aims to boost the participation of under-represented communities in higher education.
Watch SBS World News' story on the UTS U@Uni Summer School program.
- U @ Uni Summer School offers Year 11 students the chance to attend intensive two-week summer schools in subject areas like media production, business, engineering and information technology, design, nursing & midwifery and science investigation
- The aim is to boost enthusiasm for HSC study and beyond, demystify university, build interpersonal skills and raise personal aspirations