Celebrating Community-Led Change in Regional Higher Education

SPERA is proud to acknowledge the Eastern Australia Regional University Centre Partnership (EARUCP) for receiving national recognition for its bold reimagining of university outreach in regional, rural and remote communities.

Led by the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and the Country Universities Centre (CUC), the partnership spans 25 universities and 14 Regional University Centres across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT. Unlike traditional outreach models, EARUCP works hand-in-hand with local communities to co-design initiatives that respond directly to each region’s unique needs and educational landscape.

Chris Ronan, SPERA CEO and Country Universities Centre CEO, emphasised the power of this approach:

“When communities define their own needs, build their own programs, and deliver them consistently with local people, then incredible impact can happen. We hope that Regional University Study Hubs across Australia will soon be able to build off this initial project and develop their own widening participation activities from 2026.”

The success of EARUCP demonstrates what’s possible when universities and communities collaborate for long-term, sustainable impact. Since its launch, the initiative has reached thousands of students, parents, teachers, and Indigenous Elders through mentoring programs, immersive career experiences, and culturally embedded micro-credentials.

Funded through the Australian Government’s Regional Partnerships Project Pool Program, the initiative is now informing a national roadmap for place-based equity in higher education – an achievement that aligns closely with SPERA’s mission to advance education opportunities for rural, regional and remote Australians.