3. Completions (Outcomes)
Strategies to Improve Completions
UNE employs similar strategies to increase Indigenous completion rates, student success and retention outcomes, as discussed in Section Two of this report. It is critical to provide academic support to students. Oorala plays a significant role by managing programs such as TTA, PREP, and TRACKS and with assistance from the Oorala student experience team. Oorala provides Indigenous students with culturally appropriate well-being services at all stages of their academic careers. In addition to educational difficulties, life events beyond a student's control frequently impact their ability to complete their degree.
The UNE Employability and Careers Unit works to integrate employability into the curriculum and improve graduate outcomes. The team provides one-on-one consultations, online self-help learning materials, work-integrated learning, workshops, and employer seminars for on-and off-campus students. Work300: Integrated Learning-Professional Skills Development is an elective course that can be taken.
Data on Indigenous Completion from UNE
Ninety-Six Indigenous students completed course offerings at UNE in 2022. Indigenous students accounted for 3.2% of all UNE graduates in 2022.
Table 8: Student Completions
| Student Completion | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indigenous Graduates | 80 | 99 | 96 |
| All Graduates | 3,673 | 3,635 | 2,964 |
| % of Indigenous Graduates | 2.17% | 2.72% | 3.2% |
New strategies
The efforts to embed Indigenous support in the Faculties have been popular, and we hope to see an increase in completions due to this support. As the project started in 2022, it is too early to tell what impact the activities will have. However, the anecdotal feedback has been positive. The Academic Portfolio Executive Committee has also discussed exit points to ensure students receive acknowledgement of efforts at all stages of study.
Student Ambassadors
In 2022, Oorala recruited student ambassadors to improve completion for Indigenous students at UNE. The seven student ambassadors included two commencing students, three students in their final year and two doctoral candidates. Five of the seven students were linked with residential colleges and connected Oorala with on-campus students often not seen after orientation. Student ambassadors played critical completion-focused roles in several standing activities, including orientation, graduation and student recruitment. The Student Ambassadors also play an important role in bringing student voices to the fore and supporting the students’ transition back onto campus. The program aims to provide an opportunity for professional development while a student studies and the ability to support their academic endeavours financially. We see these ambassadors as critical to developing the Indigenous Student Association.
It is too early to tell the impact of changes implemented in 2022. However, we do track data on student success. Included in those graduation numbers. Three Oorala student ambassadors completed their undergraduate studies in 2022. Two have decided to pursue postgraduate studies, and the third ambassador is fulfilling the professional terms of her scholarship.
Broad strategies that support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander student’s completion
The University is nesting courses to ensure exit points for students discontinuing study. These exit points will allow students to complete levels of study that will provide qualifications and awards and articulate to higher-level awards at a later date. These strategic exit points recognise the work achieved and capture levels of success.
Restructuring across the Student Experience portfolio will better resource students and provide support at milestones in the student lifecycle. In addition, a recruitment process to bring substantial experience and qualifications into the changing environment is expected to enhance digital engagement and tools to impact student completion and success.
