Indigenous Education and Research Strategy 2019–2023

1. Purpose and strategic alignment

1.1 The Indigenous Education and Research Strategy 2019–2023 (the strategy) is UTS’s primary strategy for the achievement of the university’s strategic vision with respect to Indigenous education and research, and achievement of the specific objectives articulated in the Indigenous Policy (the policy).

1.2 This strategy has been developed by extensive consultation with a range of stakeholders, beginning with the Indigenous community by way of the Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. As a result of this consultation, and at the Vice-Chancellor’s behest, this strategy (working with the policy and the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy 2019–2023) aims to position UTS as a world-leading university in Indigenous education and research by 2023.

This aligns with the commitment in the UTS 2027 strategy that the university will be home to a culture of excellence in Indigenous higher education, research, employment and community engagement.

1.3 In addition to aligning with the UTS 2027 strategy, this strategy:

1. aligns with and is designed to realise the sentiments and commitments within the UTS Reconciliation Statement
2. supports the university’s commitments under the Universities Australia Indigenous Strategy 2017–2020, and
3. satisfies the requirements for Indigenous education strategies under clause 13 of the Indigenous Student Assistance Grant Guidelines 2017.

2. Strategic vision

In being a world-leading university in Indigenous education and research, and with a commitment to Indigenous self-determination at the heart of what we do, UTS will contribute to the transformation of the higher education sector by being a beacon of Indigenous best practice and by setting a high national benchmark.

By 2023, UTS will be characterised by the following achievements.

2.1 We will have doubled our Indigenous student participation rates, with Indigenous students representing 2% (approximately 750 students) of our domestic student cohort. Our longer-term interest is in achieving population parity or 3% Indigenous student participation by 2028 (the final year of the next iteration of this strategy).

2.2 We will have achieved this increased participation by the development of a much broader and deeper national aspiration-raising program, with increased capacity in staffing, technology and other resources. We will continue to offer Indigenous students cost-covered accommodation and a stipend.

2.3 We will have no gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous success, retention and completion rates. This will be achieved by a cross-UTS network of student support, an ability to develop learning capability regardless of location and a growing number of scholarships.

2.4 We will also have a nationally significant Indigenous Graduate Attribute (IGA) commitment, one that will make an important contribution to the professions, and will bear close scrutiny by Indigenous professionals.

2.5 We will be a leading site in the country for Indigenous higher degree by research (HDR) scholarship. We will have the largest Indigenous HDR cohort in the nation, and will achieve parity with non-Indigenous HDR student retention and completion rates.

2.6 We will have a strong and vibrant Indigenous research environment. We will have an outstanding record of success in Australian Research Council and other competitive grants and publications. This will be supported by an increasing number of Indigenous research entities across the university and the largest professoriate in the country.

2.7 Our Indigenous research will be Indigenous led, interdisciplinary and have tangible positive outcomes for Indigenous people. We will significantly contribute to public debate regarding Indigenous rights and the position of Indigenous people within the nation.

2.8 We will have a strong culture of international engagement. This will be demonstrated by a high level of international Indigenous scholarly exchange and collaboration. Our Indigenous undergraduate students will have the highest rate in the country of international student experience.

2.9 Under the Wingara Indigenous Employment Strategy 2019–2023, we will have achieved at least 3% Indigenous employment. We will also have increased the Indigenous competency and professional capacity of our non-Indigenous leadership and workforce. The UTS workforce will demonstrate a high level of commitment to the university’s Indigenous agenda.

2.10 With the support of our broader Indigenous community, UTS will be on the way to establishing Australia’s first Indigenous Residential College. The college will transform thinking within the sector and will contribute to the establishment of an international network of similar colleges. It will contribute to the achievement of a fully inclusive Australian nation, one in which Indigenous Australians thrive and that, at its heart, celebrates Australia's first peoples.

3. Strategic initiatives and key success indicators

In addition to the numerous Indigenous education and research initiatives embedded across the university, UTS has identified 10 additional areas of special priority to further advance Indigenous education and research. Each priority area has one or more strategic initiatives to help achieve UTS’s Indigenous strategic vision by 2023.

The aspiration of doubling our participation rate in particular is a challenge that will require a significant increase in our effort and focus on new and extended programs and activities to support growth. While a key element of this is the proposed Indigenous Residential College initiative, other programs outlined in this strategy to increase participation will need to be successful in order for the new target, and the longer term goal of population parity, to be met.

Achievement of this vision will require:

1. funding – the need for greater resources
2. capability – an ability to attract, retain and develop talent, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous
3. the right culture and attitude – serious internal engagement with the strategy, overcoming tokenism or resistance to ensure the UTS Indigenous commitment is seen as not optional.

As outlined in the Indigenous Policy, all areas of UTS share responsibility for the progression of Indigenous initiatives. Accordingly implementation teams and formal accountabilities have been set for UTS staff in progressing this strategy’s initiatives and achieving related key success indicators.

Planning and reporting

3.1 Consider Indigenous objectives in all strategies, plans, programs and reviews.

Physical infrastructure

3.2 Provide high quality and culturally appropriate facilities for Indigenous students, staff and community.

Indigenous student participation

3.3 Achieve an overall Indigenous student participation rate of two per cent (approximately 750 students) by 2023.

Indigenous student success, retention and completion

3.4 Achieve parity between Indigenous and domestic non-Indigenous student success, retention and completion rates by 2023.

Indigenous teaching and learning

3.5 Progress development of a nationally significant Indigenous Graduate Attribute.

Indigenous graduate success and engagement

3.6 Achieve and maintain a rate of Indigenous graduate employment that is at least equal to that of other UTS graduates.

3.7 Develop a highly engaging, values-based Indigenous alumni program that supports life-long learning and graduate success.

Indigenous research and research students

3.8 Participate in Indigenous-led and community-driven research that embraces Indigenous self-determination.

3.9 Hold a leading role within a global Indigenous research network, positioning ourselves as the drivers of leading practice.

3.10 Further develop our existing strong and growing Indigenous research culture, one particularly focusing on research that is Indigenous led and having tangible positive impact.

3.11 Enhance the capacity of our non-Indigenous staff and students to work collaboratively with Indigenous researchers and Indigenous communities.

3.12 Increase our Indigenous higher degree by research (HDR) student participation rate, seeing annual growth to achieve 5 per cent participation by 2023 (approximately 76 students, of which at least 50 per cent are PhD students).

3.13 Achieve at least parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous HDR retention and completion rates.

Internationalisation

3.14 Promote Indigenous international experience, exchange and collaboration.

Communication and profile-raising

3.15 Generate, through the use of media, greater external and internal awareness of UTS’s Indigenous commitment, work and achievements.

Advancement and engagement

3.16 Develop and implement an Indigenous advancement program.

4. Strategy owner and contact

4.1 Strategy owner: The Provost is responsible for managing compliance with the strategy and for initiating the review process.

4.2 Strategy contact: The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Leadership and Engagement) (PVC (ILE)) is the primary point of contact for advice on implementing, administering and reporting on progression of the strategy, for establishing and maintaining the official file, for proposing amendments as required, and for managing the consultation process when the strategy is due for review.

4.3 Others:

Deans are responsible for reporting at least annually to the Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Strategies Committee on their progress toward the initiatives in each section of their multi-year Indigenous action plans.

The Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Strategies Committee is responsible for reviewing and referring to Academic Board for noting annual reports on progression of the strategy and reports from deans in relation to their multi-year Indigenous action plans.

5. Definitions

The following definitions apply for this strategy. These are in addition to the definitions outlined in Schedule 1, Student Rules.

Associate Dean (Indigenous) means a senior Indigenous academic appointed by a faculty in this role to be the primary source of Indigenous strategic advice within the faculty, advising the dean and senior faculty leadership on matters of Indigenous strategic importance, including alignment of faculty Indigenous plans with broader university-wide Indigenous policy and strategy. Where an associate dean (Indigenous) does not yet exist within a faculty, this definition should be read as referring to the faculty’s senior Indigenous academic designated by the dean as holding a similar strategic advisory role.

Category 1–4 research means research funded by the following income types:

1. Category 1: Australian competitive grant research incomes (for example, the Australian Research Council)
2. Category 2: Other public sector research income (ie, other than that funded by Australian competitive grants)
3. Category 3: Industry and other research income
4. Category 4: Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) research income.

Formal accountability means senior staff (including members of the university’s senior executive and faculty executive) who have a strategic accountability and/or ultimate responsibility for the achievement of the key success indicator.

Implementation team means senior staff who have a practical responsibility for implementing and/or supporting activities that will lead to the achievement of each key success indicator.

On-country research means Indigenous research that is conducted outside of the UTS campus, within the Indigenous community or on the Indigenous traditional land to which the research relates.