Since 2017, we have worked in partnership with the State Government to deliver and grow our School-Higher Education Learning Hubs (Uni Hubs) at Claremont College and Newstead College.
In 2023, Uni Hubs were also embedded at Don College, Hellyer College, Scottsdale High School, St Helens District High School and St Mary’s District School through funding by the Commonwealth Emerging Priorities Program (EPP).
An evaluation of this Peter Underwood Centre initiative shows support for further expansion of the model, with 100% of the young people surveyed (n=76) agreeing that every secondary college in Tasmania should have a Uni Hub.
Last year the EPP Uni Hub team engaged with more than 4,000 students, teachers, parents and carers through information sessions, career expos, orientation days and masterclasses on campus, as well as providing enrolment support for the University Connections Program and personalised one-on-one pathway advice.
The program's success is reflected not just in statistics but in the voices of students from Years 9 to 12 who participated in Uni Hub activities. The end-of-year survey and activity surveys received overwhelmingly positive feedback:
"I believe the Uni Hub is an amazing place. It allows people to understand if University is the right pathway for them."
“I had no idea that University was for people like me…honestly never considered it. Now I am so excited for my future because I know that there are so many options for me.”
“I have loved attending sessions put on by the Uni Hub, sometimes if only to rule out something about my future. They offer great insight into career opportunities and university, and introduce us to the world of further academic study :)”
“Attending the masterclass day really set in stone the course I intend to study and gave me a good idea of what to expect.”
“My Uni Hub coordinator was so helpful and inviting and it felt as though she went to the ends of the universe to find information for me about the questions I had.”
Surveys also indicated that 83% of students strongly agreed / agreed that attending a Masterclass Day had provided them with useful information and experiences to help them consider university as a pathway, while 90% of students who attended an overnight excursion to a campus in a different part of the state agreed or strongly agreed that the trip had helped inform their aspirations for the future.
With funding for the program in the North East and North West now concluded, the University of Tasmania remains committed to the vision of fostering educational attainment and creating pathways for students, and the flagship Claremont and Newstead College Uni Hubs remain firmly in place. The success of the extended initiative in 2023 serves as a strong foundation for future endeavours, inspiring confidence in the ability to make a lasting impact on the educational journey of students in regional Tasmania.
Find out more about our Uni Hubs.