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Forum examines transition to uni life

4 November 2009

Professor Rob Willis meets with students
Professor Rob Willis meets with students

Monash will host a two-day conference in December to provide a platform for academic and professional staff to address the challenges students face adjusting to university life.

The 2009 Monash Transition Retention and Progression Forum from 9-10 December will also discuss the Federal Government's Bradley Review of Australian Higher Education, which calls for universities to focus on a student-centred, demand-driven approach to higher education.

The forum will include a keynote speech from Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard, in her capacity as Minister for Education, and Professor Marcia Devlin, the inaugural Chair in Higher Education Research at Deakin University.

Monash Vice-Chancellor Professor Ed Byrne said the Federal Government's new education targets meant universities would need to put strategies in place to encourage student enrolment from under-represented groups as well as mechanisms to support their transition to university life.

"As a high-quality research-intensive institution with more than 56,000 students and campuses in regional and metropolitan Melbourne we have a long track record in the provision of a wide range of transition programs to assist students to settle in and succeed," Professor Byrne said.

Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Affairs) Professor Rob Willis said the forum would build on the wealth of ideas generated at last year's Transition Roundtable.

"This conference is a fantastic opportunity for University staff and students, secondary school teachers and key stakeholders to discuss new strategies to encourage people to undertake university study and also the issues faced during the transition from secondary study or work to university study," Professor Willis said.

"This year we're particularly interested in looking at the transition process for international and Indigenous students as well as students from low socio-economic backgrounds and regional areas.

"I look forward to hearing from staff about their experiences of student transition and their views about the current transition-related initiatives and programs at Monash."

For more information or to register visit Monash Transition Retention and Progression Forum website.