Online orientation, colloquially known as UNE 101, ran from 15-19 February with students joining the sessions virtually from more than 50 locations across Australia as well as internationally from locations such as Africa, the Philippines, India and Malaysia.
In total, the Student Experience team hosted over 1000 new students logging in to learn more about the university’s academic machinations.
Vice-Chancellor and CEO, Professor Brigid Heywood, said the numbers reflected one of UNE’s biggest online Zoom-mediated engagements to date.
“In addition to the Zoom sessions our team noted an incredible 2,324 playbacks of the recorded sessions. We had 20 presenters covering all matters academic while our moderators responded to over 340 questions from students during Q&A and live chat sessions,” Professor Heywood said.
“We also had a strong Indigenous presence with 30 students joining us over the course of the week”
UNE pioneered distance education in the 1950s and remains dedicated to supporting anyone with the desire to undertake higher education, and who has the capability to complete their studies, regardless of where they are located.
“The numbers reflect that we remain true to our founding principles,” Professor Heywood said. “Over 50% of the students we polled in the live welcome session were commencing university after previously completing Year 10 or a TAFE supported program of study. These numbers are in line with our demographic of mostly working, mature-aged students seeking to develop a new skill or progress their careers.”
The Zoom poll also reflected that over 70% of students were about to start an undergraduate study. Of the remaining respondents, just under half were commencing Pathways Enabling Courses or Tracks and the rest were enrolled in Postgraduate studies.
Student comments such as “pleased and amazed at the speed and quality of the responses throughout and following this activity. Great value in attending this live and virtually”; “thank you for a great presentation”; “Clarified a lot of things!” and “back after 22 years and 2 children” reflected the success of UNE 101 as well as students’ eagerness to begin their studies.
“I’m thankful to all the staff who have worked hard to make the Online Orientation for Trimester 1 such a resounding success and are very much looking forward to growing and bringing more targeted support to students for Trimester 2 Orientation,” Professor Heywood said.
