A move to maturity
by Michele Nardelli
The stereotype about Universities is persistent – young guys and
girls straight from school soaking up campus life – the pubs, the
sports, the extra-curricular activities – and lots of exploration of
knowledge in between.
But the demographic truth is that these days unis are not only a haven for the young.
In 2004 about 42 per cent of UniSA students were over 21 when they applied for university.
Most of those students did not rely on their Year 12 results to get in to uni – some studied for and sat the Special Tertiary Admissions Test, some went to TAFE first and still others have been credited for their work experience and qualifications achieved years before.
So in many ways the stereotype is 20 or 30 years out of date. Unlike in the 1970s the challenge is not so much being the only ’oldie’ on campus, it is more likely to be about balancing life and study and working out ways to engage across the diverse student population that exists today.
In fact according to UniSA’s senior marketing officer, equity and diversity, Judy Sykes, it is not uncommon these days for younger students to seek some experienced advice from their more senior peers.
“It is not that mature age students find the adjustment to uni easy, in fact there are some real difficulties with juggling things like their children’s or parents’ needs, a job, keeping a household running,” she said.
“But their experience of life is a real boon for tutorial discussions –
it broadens the learning environment for all students.”
Sykes says that older students can find it difficult to get back into the
flow of study.
“It is a big investment in both time and money for mature age students and sometimes at the start of a degree they can feel a little overwhelmed or daunted by the academic challenges. That’s why our Learning Connection runs special Return to Study workshops and other workshops on everything from academic writing to presenting a tutorial paper. These are a great help for people who have been out of the learning loop for a while.”
But Sykes says one of the most important things mature age students can equip themselves with is an open and friendly manner.
“It is a good idea to make connections with other people in your classes – old or young. This way you can discuss the work, share ideas and help each other learn and understand the material you are studying. It also helps to know that whatever your age, you can face the same problems in learning. And for mature age students who do sometimes have some pressing needs – such as sick children or parents – if there is an occasional lecture missed, it is handy to have some friends in your program that you can get the notes from.”
Mature age students can always seek advice and help through Learning Connection www.unisanet.unisa.edu.au/learningconnection/students or by dialling 66666 on campus or off campus on (08) 8302 6611.