From the President
Hello everyone
As we navigate the constantly changing landscape of higher education in Australasia, it’s crucial to reflect on the guiding lights that shape our journey in this part of the world: the Australian Universities Accord and the New Zealand Tertiary Education Strategy. Both pivotal initiatives aim to enhance the skills and prosperity of our nations, with a shared commitment to improving equity of access to higher education. This goal is not just about opening doors, it’s about ensuring those doors are wide enough for everyone to enter, especially those who have been left behind by traditional structures.
In Australia, the Accord is setting out to make higher education more accessible for students from regional, remote, and outer metropolitan areas, as well as for under-represented groups such as First Nations students, individuals living with disabilities, and those from non-English speaking backgrounds. Across the Tasman Sea, Aotearoa/New Zealand’s strategy mirrors these aims, focusing on increasing access for Māori, Pasifika, students from low socio-economic backgrounds, first-generation university attendees, and students with disabilities. We know Māori are disproportionately over-represented among those failed by the schooling system. The Education and Training Act 2020 includes provisions to honour the Māori-Crown partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring policies and curricula reflect tikanga Māori, mātauranga Māori, and te ao Māori. These efforts are not just about fairness; they’re about recognising and honouring the unique contributions and potential of every individual.
This brings us to an important distinction: the difference between equality and equity. While equality means giving everyone the same resources or opportunities, equity is about fairness and justice in the distribution of these resources. It’s about giving people what they need to achieve the same outcomes. Appreciating this subtle yet significant distinction is crucial in our work at the Australasian Association for Institutional Research (AAIR), and within our institutions.
One image that often comes to mind, illustrating the importance of equity, shows the difference between giving everyone the same support versus giving each person support tailored to their needs. This image serves as a powerful reminder of the principles we strive to embody in our pursuit of educational equity.
Image source: This image is free to use with attribution as per the Creative Commons licence: ‘Interaction Institute for Social Change | Artist: Angus Maguire.’ https://interactioninstitute.org/illustrating-equality-vs-equity/ (interactioninstitute.org and madewithangus.com).
So, how do we support equity? It starts with acknowledging the deep-seated trauma caused by racism and its impact on communities, including Māori in Aotearoa/New Zealand and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia. Inspired by a blog from an Occupational Therapy lecturer at my institution, I’ve been drawn to the concept of being a ‘critical friend’. This approach involves using our roles to challenge and support our institutions and higher education decision-makers to focus on equity, inclusion, and tackling racism and bias head-on.
At AAIR, we’re uniquely positioned to act as critical friends, offering support and insight to drive meaningful change. This role resonates with me personally, as it encapsulates the balance of challenge and support that is central to our mission. Being a critical friend also means confronting our own unconscious biases through reflexivity, a process I highlighted at the 2023 AAIR Forum in Melbourne. By acknowledging and managing these biases, we can better support equity and inclusion across the board.
As members of AAIR, we have a vital role in supporting the objectives of the Australian Universities Accord and the New Zealand Tertiary Education Strategy. Our commitment to help improve access to higher education for all learners is at the heart of what we do. Let’s continue to challenge biases, both within ourselves and within our institutions, and let’s be the critical friends our sector needs.
Together, we can make a difference.
Stuart Terry
President, AAIR
