Purpose

The University of the Sunshine Coast is a vibrant young institution focusing on academic success, community, and culture. The University’s Vision is to be Australia’s premier regional university, driven by its Mission: Enriching our regions, connecting with our communities, and creating opportunities for all. These aspirations are consistent with an institution that seeks to be safe, sustainable, and future-focused.

The University of the Sunshine Coast has a strong relationship with the local communities in its footprint and works for Indigenous success. The Indigenous Education Plan 2023-2028, therefore, recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the host culture on whose lands the University is located.

Strategic Focus

The Plan provides direction for building Indigenous academic success at UniSC and is aligned with the University’s Strategic Plan. Supported by the UniSC Executive team, the Plan's timeframe is 2023 to 2028 and is a work in progress. Enhancing student participation, success, and completion is at the core of the Plan, along with Indigenising curricula, inculcating Indigenous Knowledges and perspectives, and cultural capability. Additionally, the Plan aligns with the Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy, is supported by the Reconciliation Charter, and meets the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP) requirements.

The six strategic goals of the University help to inform the Plan's strategic intent:

• Opportunity: Inspire more people to achieve their ambitions through education
• Employability: Enable more people to work, contribute, and innovate in their local and global communities
• Research Impact: Produce research outcomes that make a difference
• Engagement: Empower communities to thrive through dynamic and productive partnerships
• Infrastructure: Build a contemporary, sustainable, accessible university
• People and culture: contribute to the values of UniSC, including:
  • Advocating for equitable access to education and knowledge
  • Recognising and embracing diversity and inclusion
  • Championing environmentally sustainable principles and practices
  • Committing to fair and ethical behaviour
  • Respecting our people, our communities, and their potential
  • Being accountable to ourselves and each other
  • Striving for excellence and innovation in all that we do

Goals of the Plan

The UniSC Indigenous Education Plan (2023-2028) seeks to:

• Address standards outlined in the Higher Education Standards Framework
• Improve student access, participation, retention, success, and employment outcomes
• Embed Indigenous knowledges and perspectives comprehensively in all curricula
• Improve campus climate through cultural capability

The goals relate directly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Goal 1. Increasing the number of Indigenous students enrolling in coursework programs to 4.5% by 2028.

1.1 Focus on multiple pathways to higher education across the curriculum framework.
1.2 Create higher education success as a rite-of-passage for Indigenous peoples.

Goal 2. Grow Indigenous achievements in Research to 2.5% of HDR students.

2.1 Increase the number of HDR students.
2.2 Improve the retention and completion of HDR students.
2.3 Increase Indigenous academics and HDR students’ research capability to conduct and lead research projects and produce impactful research outputs and outcomes.

Goal 3. Seek parity with the Institution’s retention, success, and completion data for students by 2028.

3.3 Implement a plan for tiered levels of student engagement.
3.4 Develop student leadership structures to drive success.
3.5 Create an Institutional student engagement framework.

Goal 4. Create a campus climate conducive to student success.

4.1 Assess student cultural safety through campus climate indicators.
4.2 Enhance knowledge, skills, and attitudes toward Indigenous culture, social, and political history to support quality.
4.3 Embed tiered social and educational activities to build cross-cultural understanding and appreciation.
4.4 Implement a cultural capability framework to guide actions.
4.5 Create culturally safe and supported places on all campuses.

Goal 5. Indigenise curricula to reflect accreditation standards, value alternate epistemologies, and support sustainability.

5.1 Meet TEQSA Requirements 2.2.2 and 6.2.1.
5.2 Employ Indigenous subject matter experts across the university to support quality curricula.
5.3 Create curricula to ensure compliance with standards and accreditors.
5.4 Embed Indigenous knowledges and perspectives in the curriculum.

Table 1. Goals and accountabilities for delivering the Indigenous Education Plan