Cate Gilpin from Welcoming Universities explains why tailored support in UTS’ Pathways Plan will work for low SES and ATSI students
This article has been republished from Campus Review. First published on April 9, 2025.
General view of the UTS campus in Sydney. Picture: Bianca De Marchi
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) has taken bold steps to reach its own equity targets in a time when sector voices are calling on institutions to take action.
The tertiary education sector had equity student targets laid out for it in the Australian Universities Accord 14 months ago, but that goal isn’t due to be reached until 2050; those students aren’t due to be born until 2032.
UTS is a university that has decided not to wait to increase its number of Indigenous and low-socio economic students, two major groups the Accord aimed to have more graduates from.
Its new Pathways Plan will offer tailored support to those who have historically faced obstacles in accessing and completing higher education, namely Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and students from low socio-economic backgrounds, until 2027. Under the plan, UTS aims to offer more flexible and equitable opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. This includes:
- Scaling up existing non-ATAR entry pathways
- Guaranteed places and packaged support for First Nations students, including scholarships and subsidised accommodation
- Expanding the Schools Recommendation Scheme, including changing the ATAR threshold from 69 to 60 for that program
- Integrating equity targets into institutional processes and strategic planning
- Developing discipline-specific outreach and marketing campaigns
- Securing external funding and philanthropic support to enhance equity initiatives. To achieve these outcomes UTS has lowered the matriculation ATAR requirement for the Schools Recommendation Scheme (SRS) from 69 to 60 for all courses, except those listed in the UAC’s institution-specific criteria. Additionally, the First Nations Guaranteed Entry pathway now applies to all courses at UTS.
A cornerstone of the Pathways Plan is the university’s commitment to providing a comprehensive suite of student support services: it doesn’t ignore the fact that vulnerable students need holistic support to succeed.
This includes tailored academic advising, financial assistance, career counselling, and peer mentorship.
UTS Pathways Plan launch, image from UTS.
These services are designed to address both the academic and personal challenges that students from disadvantaged backgrounds may face.
Too often student equity programs fall short because they focus narrowly on entry-point interventions or short-term support, without considering the broader, ongoing challenges students face.
For example, programs limited to one-off scholarships or isolated tutoring services may help students get through the door but fail to address the systemic barriers that can impact retention and completion – such as housing insecurity, cultural isolation, or limited access to professional networks.
These fragmented approaches can leave students navigating complex systems on their own, increasing the risk of attrition.
This Pathways Plan is not just an internal initiative; it has the potential to influence the wider higher education sector.
By prioritising diversity, equity, and inclusion, UTS is setting an example for other institutions to follow.
The plan underscores the importance of a systems-based approach to equity that addresses not only access but also retention and success.
As the program matures, UTS plans to track the outcomes of its students and refine the Pathways Plan so the approach can evolve alongside the needs of its diverse student body.
This plan represents a crucial step in dismantling the barriers that prevent many students from achieving their academic potential by not only increasing access to higher education but providing a holistic program that ensures students from all backgrounds can thrive.
This commitment to equity is one that will hopefully resonate far beyond the walls of the university, influencing the broader educational landscape for years to come.
Cate Gilpin is coordinator of Welcoming Universities, a network that aims to build inclusion and belonging in the higher education sector.
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