School students get a foot in the door at university

Senior secondary school students can get a foot in the door at university by gaining advanced credit for studies at Charles Darwin University (CDU).

Under an arrangement between CDU and senior schools that offer the SACE subject Research Project B, senior students who successfully complete a research subject at school receive 10 credit points for the Academic Literacies Through Exploring Sustainability unit at CDU.

The unit focuses on developing students’ academic literacies and their skills and confidence to think critically, research, read, write and present ideas in a range of modes.

Students who achieve a B or higher and provide an oral presentation of their research outcome to a panel of CDU experts will receive the advanced standing for the unit.

CDU Senior Lecturer in Academic Language and Learning, Dr Nicola Rolls, said the arrangement was helping to encourage students into pathways into tertiary education.

“Academic literacy forms the foundation for students’ higher education studies and completing a unit like this successfully boosts their confidence at university,” Dr Rolls said.

“Hundreds of school students are gaining advanced standing at CDU, which has given them a taste of university and encouraged them to undertake further studies after school.”

More than 25 students from participating schools such as Casuarina Senior College, Darwin High School, NT Christian Schools and the Good Shepherd Lutheran College attended a certification ceremony at CDU’s Casuarina Campus on March 10 and received recognition for their hard work.

The project is part of the ‘Into Uni’ Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program (HEPPP), in partnership with CDU, senior schools and the Department of Education.