A “win-win” Geelong program encouraging secondary students into tertiary studies has celebrated its sixth anniversary with around 180 supporters.
Representatives from Deakin University and partner secondary schools from across Geelong gathered at Waurn Ponds last week to acknowledge the Aspire program’s successes.
Aspire provides weekly on-campus learning at Deakin’s Waterfront and Waurn Ponds campuses for up to 250 students from Years 6 to 10 at Northern Bay, Bellarine Secondary and Newcomb Secondary colleges.
The program was a win-win for the students and Deakin pre-service teachers working on Aspire, said the university’s masters of applied learning and teaching course director.
“The secondary students take part in a curriculum designed and delivered by pre-service teachers studying at Deakin University as well as Deakin academics, current Deakin students, and industry partners,” Kellie Tobin said.
“This gives future primary and secondary school teachers an opportunity to build their applied learning knowledge and develop their skills in a real-world environment.
“At the same time, it gives us the opportunity to highlight pathways to further study and show the kind of amazing careers that can come as a result of university study.”
Guests at the Aspire celebration included Geelong MP Christine Couzens, a graduate of Northern Bay College.
The Geelong Indy first reported on the program in 2014 when Australian Bureau of Statistics figures showed that 48 per cent of Corio residents had educations no higher than Year 10.
