Close to 400 Indigenous students will get a taste of tertiary and vocational education when they visit Charles Darwin University’s (CDU) Casuarina campus as part of the ‘Taste of Uni’ program on 19-20 May.
The Taste of Uni program is an annual event open to Indigenous secondary school students, established in 2004 and hosted by CDU’s Indigenous Academic Support Unit (IASU).
Indigenous Years 9 to 12 students from high schools and Community Education Centres across the Territory will visit the Casuarina campus as part of the Taste of Uni program, to be conducted over two days, on 19-20 May.
Students will be guided by Indigenous academic support staff and will visit many different discipline areas around both Casuarina and Palmerston campuses to get a ‘taste’ of what university life will be like.
Organised by the IASU, the Taste of Uni program is part of CDU’s commitment to increasing Indigenous enrolments at the University and offers Indigenous students educational and career pathways through participation in Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Higher Education courses.
Students are provided with information that will assist them in making informed choices about their education on completion of high school, as well as finding out what support options are available to them when they commence study at CDU.
Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Leadership, Professor Steven Larkin said the Taste of Uni initiative continues to highlight the many opportunities available to Indigenous students at CDU.
“The program emphasises the choices we can offer to young Indigenous students through a friendly, culturally safe and supportive environment,” he said.
“I encourage all students to look beyond what is happening right now and be mindful of their future prospects. They do not have to be the highest achievers to gain entry into university, but they do need to commit to producing positive personal outcomes.”
Coordinator of the IASU, Roz Anderson will provide the opening address on the first day of the program, with Professor Larkin speaking on the second day.
For more information on the Taste of Uni program contact Cheri Williams on 8946 7763.