Australian Universities Take Steps to Increase Numbers of Indigenous Students and Academics

[Judi Lynn]

Source: New York Times

Australian Universities Take Steps to Increase Numbers of Indigenous Students and Academics
By LIZ GOOCH
Published: April 10, 2011

Indigenous Australians have long been under-represented in their country’s universities, but now some institutions are creating leadership posts to help increase the number of indigenous students and academics.

Last week, the University of Sydney announced that a new deputy vice chancellor would be responsible for the institution’s strategy and services for the indigenous.

The University of Queensland created a similar position, with the title pro vice chancellor, last month, while Charles Darwin University has had a pro vice chancellor dedicated to indigenous leadership since 2008.

Indigenous people account for 2.4 percent of the population but constitute only 1.25 percent of students entering universities, according to a report by the Center for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Melbourne.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/11/world/asia/11iht-educSide11.html?_r=1&ref=world