New Research Confirms Regional Study Hubs Widen Access to Higher Education

A comprehensive research study has examined how Regional University Study Hubs (RUSH) enable people in regional, rural, and remote areas to access higher education. The report was submitted for the ACSES Equity Fellowship project “Roadmap to success: Decoding the regional university study hubs” and written by Danielle Keenan at the University of Technology Sydney.

The mixed-methods research involved interviews with 57 stakeholders across nine hubs, surveys of 26 hubs, and ethnographic observations. The study found that Regional Hubs successfully widen participation by providing dedicated study spaces, fostering student identity, and building community partnerships. The research proposes three key recommendations: renewing funding and reconsidering funding mechanisms, developing standards of practice, and strengthening partnerships across the sector. A new Operational-Distinction Model is also introduced to better understand how different hubs operate.

Click here to read the full report.