Young people will be supported and encouraged to study at university, upskill and pursue entrepreneurship through innovative new projects that aim to enhance educational outcomes and break down barriers to university study.
Minister for Skills and Training Alister Henskens said four projects will receive a share of the $1.75 million NSW Government Collaboration and Innovation Fund, which focuses on supporting innovation and addressing challenges to partnerships within the university sector.
“These grants will help break down barriers that prevent people who want to study at our world class universities and will drive innovative new projects in collaboration with the university sector,” Mr Henskens said.
“Projects funded through this round of the program include workshops to encourage high school students to explore technology entrepreneurships and toolkits to help regional and culturally and linguistically diverse students bridge the skills gap between school and university.”
Projects funded through the Collaboration and Innovation Fund, include:
- Startup @ Schools (University of Technology Sydney and the University of Newcastle) with workshops to encourage Year 9 and 10 students to pursue technology-enabled entrepreneurship as a career;
- Teachers Aide Pathway (Charles Sturt University, TAFE NSW and Regional Development Australia Orana) to upskill teachers’ aides currently employed in NSW schools to become qualified teachers in regional communities;
- Start @ Uni (UNSW Sydney and The University of Sydney) for first-year regional and culturally and linguistically diverse students transitioning to university, which aims to address academic skills gaps between high school and university; and
- The Academy (University of New England and the Dhiiyaan Centre) preparing Aboriginal students for higher education from Year 8 through to tertiary enrolment via a curriculum that merges Aboriginal knowledge with science.
The Collaboration and Innovation Fund provides grants to support university projects that address education goals included in the NSW Higher Education Strategy.