Diversity and achievement research project: How students from diverse backgrounds succeed in higher

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Diversity and achievement research project How
students from diverse backgrounds succeed in
higher education
Chief Investigators Dr Robyn Benson, Centre for
Health Sciences Education, Faculty of Medicine,
Health Sciences and Nursing Dr Anita Devos,
Faculty of Education and Ms Lesley Hewitt,
Department of Social Work, Faculty of Medicine,
Monash University. Other project team
members Ms Margaret Heagney, Student Equity
Coordinator, Equity and Diversity centre Ms
Glenda Crosling, Learning Adviser, Faculty of
Business and Economics and Centre for Australian
Indigenous Studies, Faculty of Arts.

• Project outline
• The Diversity and Achievement project
  investigates the factors that contribute to
  non-traditional students succeeding in their
  studies at Monash University. The project at
  Monash is one of a number of longitudinal studies
  being undertaken in collaboration with
  researchers at other Australian universities and
  at Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK.
  In the Monash context, non-traditional students
  include Indigenous students, students from low
  socio-economic backgrounds, distance education
  students and mature age students. For the purpose
  of international and national comparisons, the
  students will all be drawn from the Bachelor of
  Social Work program (Caulfield campus/on and off
  campus students). The project is centrally
  concerned with contributing to inclusive
  education through the investigation of factors
  that contribute to success in studies for
  non-traditional students.
• Project aims and outcomes
• The aim of the project is to provide
  insight into the complex processes that are
  involved as students from diverse backgrounds
  pursue academic achievement. Studies are
  available of factors that interfere with the
  academic success of groups of non-traditional
  students, but there is little research on those
  that promote success. The current study will
  therefore add an important dimension to current
  debates concerning widening access and
  participation of under-represented groups, and
  will inform policy-making, course planning and
  teaching development at Monash University.
• The project will document evidence of the
  successes of non-traditional students in order to
  show how they access and use a range of sources
  to support and develop their learning, and how
  they meet and manage a variety of challenges
  during their undergraduate years. This
  information celebrates student achievement and
  could inform professional development for Monash
  staff.
• Project funding
• In 2006 the project is supported by a
  25,000 grant through the Higher Education Equity
  Support Program of the Commonwealth DEST.