A new partnership between the Federal Government and Sydney universities aims boost the number of students from Greater Western Sydney going to university.

 

The four-year project was initiated by five Sydney-based universities to create new aspiration-building programs which will reach over 100,000 school-age children, Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans said.

 

The Building Bridges to Higher Education scheme employs innovative ways to raise educational aspiration, provide alternative routes to university, and improve outcomes for students from Western Sydney.

 

The project will receive $21.2 million over 2011-14 from the Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP) which has the objective of 20 per cent of university student enrolments to be from a low SES background by 2020.

 

The funding allows for expansion of proven techniques as well as piloting of innovative programs. Students will benefit from mentoring, tutoring, homework clubs, work experience, career coaching and scholarship incentives.

 

Bridges to Higher Education is managed by the Sydney Basin consortium, led by University of Western Sydney, together with partners Sydney University, University of Technology Sydney, Macquarie University and Australian Catholic University.

 

Launching the project at Fairfield High School in New South Wales, Senator Chris Evans said:

"In order to achieve greater national productivity as well as build greater social equity, Australia must break down the barriers to lower representation in higher education of people with low SES backgrounds.

 

"We have invested an unprecedented $1 billion over the next four years to profoundly change the landscape of higher education in terms of inclusiveness, diversity and accessibility."