2019 Symposium - Capabilites and Capitals: Student Persistence and Success at university

OVERVIEW THIS 2 DAY SYMPOSIUM WILL BRING TOGETHER KEY THINKERS AND SCHOLARS WHO HAVE APPLIED THE CAPABILITY THEORY (SEN 1992, 1993) AND CAPITAL THEORY (BOURDIEU, 1986, 1993) ACROSS DISCIPLINES TO CONSIDER HOW THIS FRAMING MAY ASSIST US TO RECONCEPTUALIZE STUDENT PERSISTENCE. WE KNOW LITTLE ABOUT HOW LEARNERS DRAW ON ‘INTERNAL CAPABILITIES’ (NUSSBAUM, 2011) WHEN PERSISTING IN UNIVERSITY; THESE CAPABILITIES ARE NOT INNATE BUT INSTEAD DEVELOP IN INTERACTION WITH THE INDIVIDUAL'S ENVIRONMENT (SOCIAL, CULTURAL, FAMILIAL AND POLITICAL). EXPLORING HOW INTERNAL CAPABILITIES ASSIST HE PERSISTENCE AND THE FUNCTIONINGS THAT SUPPORT THESE CAPABILITIES WILL CONTRIBUTE ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES TO THE ISSUE OF STUDENT PARTICIPATION AND RETENTION. RATHER THAN CONTINUING TO FOCUS ON WHAT PEOPLE LACK (I.E WEALTH, ABILITY, LANGUAGE) WHY NOT FOCUS ON STRENGTHS IN ORDER TO DEVELOP UNDERSTANDINGS THAT CHALLENGE TRADITIONAL NOTIONS OF ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION? WITH THE GROWTH IN DIVERSE STUDENT POPULATIONS, THE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE INTERNAL CAPABILITIES THAT SUPPORT ACADEMIC PERSISTENCE AND SUCCESS IS URGENTLY REQUIRED. THIS SYMPOSIUM DELIBERATELY SHIFTS ATTENTION AWAY FROM DEFICIT VIEWS OF STUDENT COHORTS AND INSTEAD UTILISES THE CAPABILITY APPROACH AND CAPITAL THEORIES TO UNDERSTAND THE WAYS IN WHICH STUDENTS SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE HIGHER EDUCATION AND REACH GRADUATION. WHO SHOULD COME? We have invited a range of speakers from across disciplines to contribute innovative perspectives to this broad field and the symposium would be of interest to the following: Researchers / scholars of HE (particularly those researching equity fields) Equity / Widening Participation Stakeholders Academic staff Policy Makers Representatives from not-for-profit / community organisations  DETAILS 21st-22nd November (2 days*) at University of Wollongong, NSW _*The symposium commences at 1.00pm on Thursday 21st November (Day 1) and reconvenes on Friday 22nd November (Day 2) from 8.30am to 3.30pm. **SELECT ‘THURSDAY’ TO REGISTER FOR BOTH DAYS** (otherwise select ‘FRIDAY’ to attend Friday only)_ ONE LAST THING... We have chosen not to charge any registration fees for this conference to enable as many people to attend as possible – as a result of the restricted budget, food options (lunch /morning tea) will be limited (meat and vegetarian options only). If you have specific dietary requirements (i.e. gluten free / vegan / halal etc) there are a number of food outlets on campus where these alternatives can be purchased. SPEAKER DETAILS AND BIOS (FORTHCOMING)