Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025

Dear colleagues

It seemed not too long ago we had our inaugural ACSES Policy Symposium in May 2024, titled Access, Achievement, Accord. Since then, the team has been hard at work preparing for the 2025 instalment of our flagship event, and I am pleased to announce that Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025: The Australian Student Equity Symposium will be held in Sydney from 9-10 September 2025.

Australian higher education has seen major changes in the last few years, such as COVID-19, generative AI, cost-of-living issues and student debt, and higher education financing. These changes have enormous implications for higher education student equity.

Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025 will bring together experts in the sector, policymakers, and students to discuss policies and practices to improve equity in higher education. Stay tuned for more information.

Today we also open nominations for our inaugural ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice. This new award will recognise outstanding contributions to student equity and success, with winners to be presented at the Student Equity in an Era of Change 2025 symposium.

The Research and Policy Program's 2024 Fellows have been busy preparing their final reports, and the upcoming cohort of 2025 Equity and First Nations Fellows will commence their Fellowship this month. ACSES will host a two-day event from 11-12 March to celebrate both cohorts with introductions, research presentations, mentorship, and robust discussion. 

We are also looking forward to the Trials and Evaluation team's Equity Frontiers Forum and a Community of Practice being held on 13 and 14 March. These events will provide valuable opportunities to engage with the latest research, share insights, and collaborate on advancing equity in higher education.

More details will be shared soon. In the meantime, we invite you to mark these important events in your calendars and get involved. 

Regards
Professor Ian Li
Research and Policy Director
Australian Centre for Student Equity and Success

Paving New Paths: Harmonising Equity Data Across Institutions

How can we ensure higher education equity data truly reflects student needs?

In her piece, "Paving New Paths: Harmonising Equity Data Across Institutions", ACSES Data Program Director Gemma Cadby explores how universities are creating "desire response fields" born from real needs, but not formally recognised in national frameworks.

She argues that, much like "desire paths" in urban design, these unofficial data fields reveal gaps in current systems.

Read the full article here.

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Visit our new Trials Registry

ACSES recently launched the Trials Registry—a free resource showcasing innovative, evidence-based initiatives to improve equity outcomes in Australian universities. The Registry provides universities and education professionals with open access to detailed trial methodologies and outcomes.

Visit the site now.

Opportunities

ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice

The ACSES Awards for Innovation and Excellence in Impact on Higher Education Policy and Practice 2025 recognises individuals or teams that have made significant contributions to shaping policy and transforming practices in ways that drive positive outcomes in higher education student equity.

Nominations are open to individuals or teams employed at a Table A or Table B provider. Both self-nominations and third-party nominations are welcome. Applications close on 30 June 2025

Find out more on the ACSES website.

Banner image with text at top "NEW Capacity Building Grants Program". Below is an image of four people who are all looking at sticky notes on a clear board, working together. Bottom of the image has the words "Find out how to apply for funding now: acses.edu.au"

ACSES Capacity Building Grants Program

The Capacity Building Grants Program provides support for institutions to develop their internal capacity for engaging in impact evaluations. The grant can be used to develop institutional capacity to implement impact evaluations of equity initiatives.

The Program is an open and competitive process. The deadline for applying is 28 February 2025.

Find out more about eligibility, available funding levels, and how to apply on the ACSES website.

Equity Frontiers Trials Program

Our Equity Frontiers Trials Program funds trials to test the effectiveness of programs, activities, or other initiatives designed to improve higher education access and success for students. We fund both small and large-scale trials that are either sector-led or T&E-led. Applications for funding can be made at any time.

We are accepting Expressions of Interest now. Find out more on the ACSES website.

ACSES events

WEBINAR | Investigating relationships between first-in-family status, equity groups, and university access

Join Dr Tomasz Zajac for an insightful webinar to discuss the findings of his research project "Investigating relationships between first-in-family status, equity groups, and university access".

Date: Thursday 13 February 2025
Time: 11am AWST
Location: Online

Find out more and register here.

ROUNDTABLE | Talking about time and assessment: Ideas to improve equity

This free event will present findings from the ACSES-funded research project "Time for a rethink: Assessment policy to enable equity", which analysed Australian university assessment policies and their impact on students, particularly those from equity backgrounds.

Date: Tuesday 18 February 2025
Time: 12-3pm AEST
Location: Queensland University of Technology and online

Find out more and register here.

ACSES Equity and First Nations Fellowship Forum 2025

The ACSES Fellowship Forum celebrates the completion of our 2024 First Nations Fellows and Equity Fellowships. Please join us for a livestream of this event to hear from the 2024 Fellows on the outcomes of their ACSES Fellowships and how they will bring their work forward post-Fellowship completion.

Date: Tuesday 11 March 2025
Time: 9am AWST
Location: Perth and online

Find out more and register here.

Equity Frontiers Forum

Join us in Perth or online on 13 March for the Equity Frontiers Forum, where we will help practitioners use evidence to enhance outcomes for both prospective and current students, while generating further impact evidence for the sector.

Date: Thursday 13 March 2025
Time: TBC
Location: Perth and online

Find out more here.

Community of Practice

The Forum will be followed by another dynamic day of discussions at the Community of Practice on 14 March.

Date: Friday 14 March 2025
Time: TBC
Location: Perth and online

Stay tuned for full details of these hybrid events.

Partner and other events

HEDX | Equity & Wellbeing: Keys to Sustainable Universities

Equity and wellbeing are critical to the future of sustainable universities.

Join leading experts for the Equity and Wellbeing: Keys to Sustainable Universities panel, a satellite event of the Universities Australia 2025 Solutions Summit and hosted by HEDx.

Find out more and register here.

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ACSES in the news

"Paving New Paths: Harmonising Equity Data Across Institutions", Needed Now in Learning and Teaching
"EXPERT REACTION: How will Trump's decisions affect the world?", Australian Science Media Centre
"Launch of critical tool to bridge gap for disadvantaged Australian students", EducationDaily