Indigenous Education Strategic Plan
Vision Statement
The University of Adelaide will be recognised as a centre
of excellence for Australian Indigenous research and education through
partnerships with Indigenous people that recognises the principle
of self determination by sharing knowledge and understanding.
Principles
- The provision of a supportive environment for Indigenous students
which is based upon the principles of equity, access and retention
- The creation of an inclusive culture through collaboration, respect
for Indigenous knowledge and recognition of the diverse backgrounds
of Indigenous students
- A recognition of the contribution which Indigenous knowledge makes
to the intellectual, cultural and social life of the university and
community at large
- The fostering of commercially viable activities while honouring
the intellectual property value of Indigenous knowledge
- Recognition of the benefit of the merging of cultures with Indigenous
and non-Indigenous staff working together
- The utilisation of research practices which are ethical, cross-cultural
and multi-disciplinary
- The allocation of appropriate physical resource including buildings,
space and technical set up, which acknowledges the special needs of
Indigenous education and allows it to be a respected and significant
component of the university
- A continued commitment of the creation and transmission of Indigenous
knowledge
Goals
- To establish effective arrangements for the participation
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in educational decision
making.
- To increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples employed in education.
- To build the profile of Indigenous education.
- To ensure equitable access of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students to education and training services.
- To ensure participation of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander students in education and training within a culturally
inclusive environment.
- To carry out ethical state of the art research and
create a research culture in cross-cultural issues.
- To ensure equitable and appropriate achievement
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
- To promote, maintain and support the teaching of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, cultures and languages
to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
- To sustain formal partnerships with Indigenous peoples
and their community.
- To provide community development training services
including proficiency in English literacy and numeracy for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander adults.
1 To establish effective arrangements for the
participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in
educational decision making.
Strategies
- The university will undertake to identify and appoint Indigenous
members to decision-making bodies such as university councils, curriculum
and research committees.
- Ensure the university develops and implements ethics policies
which guarantee the consultation and participation of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples in all areas that involve research
and Indigenous issues and topics.
- The university will employ, where possible, Indigenous academics
to conduct Indigenous research.
- Set up Indigenous forums at all levels of the university (faculty,
department)
Outcomes
- Advisory and management committees which make decisions across
the university will have Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander membership
and will make their decisions in an inclusive way.
2 To increase the number of Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples employed in education
Strategies
- The university to prepare and implement an Indigenous employment
strategic plan which includes:
- affirmative action in recruitment, retention, selection and promotion,
in both mainstream and designated career pathways;
- just and equitable salary and working conditions; and
- formal training plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
employees.
Outcomes
- An increase in the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
staff employed across the university so that the percentage is reflective
of the Indigenous population of South Australia.
- Indigenous leadership in management and decision making
- Mentors for Indigenous staff within the university system, including
faculties and administration
- Organisational structure which reflects the importance of Indigenous
education
3 To build the profile of Indigenous education
Strategies
- Developing an Indigenous education unit located in the organisation
structure in a way which reflects the importance of Indigenous education
and with links to all academic areas of the university
- Maintain and extend links into the Indigenous communities, organisations
and educational forums
- Promote and enhance positive Indigenous role models to the university
- The appointment of a senior Indigenous academic consistent with
the centre sitting under the academic arm of the university
Outcomes
- Knowledge / skills of marketing Indigenous education will be augmented
- Organisational structure which allows impact across all areas
and is represented at Full DVC level
- A stronger profile in the community which will positively affect
access
- Awareness will be raised regarding how Indigenous education adds
value to the university, community and society
- Appropriate location within the university structure of the Centre
for Indigenous education, which includes Wilto Yerlo, CASM, and learning
'and' 'or' teaching and also research.
- Indigenous representation on curriculum issues at faculty level
- Increasing the number of Indigenous academic role model scholars
across the university. e.g. visiting scholars
4 To ensure equitable access of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students to education and training services
Strategies
- The university will make a commitment to ensure the provision
of courses and programs which maximise the opportunity for Indigenous
students to enter the university
- The university shall ensure that Indigenous access and support
is of high quality. This includes maintaining a system which supports
collaboration between Indigenous access and support, and access to
other support services, thus eliminating systemic blocks
- Increase the number of pathways of entry into higher education
through:
- flexible entry requirements for example, foundation courses
- alternative models of delivery
- mixed modes of education
- any other methods which facilitate entry to the university
Outcomes
- Flexible access to other university and student support services
- Optimum use is made of open learning and distance learning technologies
to supplement existing forms of higher education delivery
- The articulation of learning pathways between secondary schooling
and higher education will be improved
5 To ensure participation of Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander students in education and training within a
culturally inclusive environment
Strategies
- Develop and implement programs which use culturally appropriate
instruction, an assessment methods and curriculum material
- Ensure implementation and ongoing review of anti-racism grievance
procedures within the university
- Ensure the provision of pastoral care for Indigenous students
- Each faculty to carry out an audit on the specific questions of
access, participation and outcomes for Indigenous students in their
faculty
- Ensure a mechanism for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies
to be available to all staff
- Provide Indigenous student support services, such as counsellors
and tutors, in mainstream university courses, with special training
for student support officers and student representatives
- Investigate the setting up of a formal mentoring system for Indigenous
students (peer, hierarchical, academic)
- Broadcast local successes from faculties regarding Indigenous
inclusive activity
Outcomes
- Awareness at all levels of the support given to Indigenous education
- Specific Indigenous support services will be resourced, including
pastoral care, formal mentoring and academic support
- Programs will affirm student identity, self-value and capacity
to succeed in the culture of universities
- Create Indigenous cross-cultural awareness throughout the university
- The number of skilled general and academic staff able to effectively
meet the learning needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
will be increased
- The proportion of students undertaking courses in current and
potential areas of employment will be increased
6 To carry out ethical state of the art research
and create a research culture in cross-cultural issues
Strategies
- Create and utilise research practices which are ethical, cross-cultural
and multi-disciplinary
- Undertake research into the success factors of Indigenous education
- Foster the production of Indigenous research by Indigenous people
- Formalise a system by which proposals for Indigenous research
goes through an Indigenous ethics committee
- Initiate a formalised training program for Indigenous students
to be research assistants
- Initiate Indigenous research through collaboration with other
local universities and stakeholders
- To develop collaborative arrangements on Indigenous research activities
with other universities in South Australia
Outcomes
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples will be involved
in and have control over Indigenous research
- Indigenous knowledge will be gained by Indigenous research
- Indigenous integrity will be assured in related research activities
- There will be pro-active research into Indigenous issues
- Utilise appropriate Indigenous representatives where necessary
in research
7 To ensure equitable and appropriate achievement
for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Strategies
- Undertake research on best practice in relation to universities'
ability to improve attainment in priority learning areas
- Develop high quality, culturally appropriate curriculum, teaching
delivery and resource materials with significant input from Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander community
- Target the use of resources including counsellors, specialist
staff and supplementary tutoring to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander students to improve their performance in priority learning
areas
- Commit resources to research and develop performance measures
to assess the qualitative provision of support to Indigenous students
attending university
Outcomes
- An increase in access, participation and outcomes for Indigenous
students
- Appropriate curriculum development for Indigenous students
- The number of Indigenous graduates working in Indigenous communities
will increase
- Improvement in the achievement levels of Indigenous students
8 To promote, maintain and support the teaching
of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, cultures and languages
to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous students
Strategies
- Create a respect for, and understanding of, the use of Indigenous
methods of passing on knowledge
- Investigate a centre of excellence and Indigenous knowledge -
that may include international delivery
- Investigate the development of interdisciplinary degrees in Indigenous
Studies
- Research and implement appropriate training for graduates whose
field will potentially impact on Indigenous communities
- Accredit the learning outcomes of all Indigenous Studies undertaken
- Include Indigenous content into mainstream curriculum material
where appropriate
- Continue to develop appropriate cultural resources (including
the use of technology) for all levels of education across the University
- The university to further develop and better utilise courses in
native title, land management and management practices in Aboriginal
communities through various faculties and departments
Outcomes
- Quality Indigenous education for non-Indigenous students
9 To sustain formal partnerships with Indigenous
peoples and their community
Strategies
- Promote the creation of Indigenous knowledge by involving the
Indigenous community
- Ensure a respect for, and use of, Indigenous methods of passing
on knowledge
- Provide continuing support and maintenance for cultural education
programs and studies developed by, or in consultation with, Indigenous
communities including those specifically for Indigenous students
Outcomes
- Recognition and respect of the Indigenous community as a contributor
to university learning
- A subsequent strengthening of formal partnerships with Indigenous
peoples and their community
- The university will recognise and respect the Indigenous community
as a contributor to university learning
- Increase effective Indigenous involvement from within and outside
the university in decision making processes which impact upon Indigenous
affairs
10 To provide community development training
services including proficiency in English literacy and numeracy for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults
Strategies
- Provide an accessible, secure and non-threatening learning environment
in recognition of the special needs of Indigenous adults
- Negotiate partnerships between communities, private providers
and systems to provide access to education and training services
Outcomes
- Appropriate space allocation for carrying out training activities
- Improved planning and coordination of community education and
training services across all sectors
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