Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands

Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands – also referred to as Oceania – constitute one of the focal regions within Network of Areas (NoA) at the University of Innsbruck. Oceania holds particular relevance in view of the complex historical, cultural, political, and economic interactions between this region and Europe. The colonial history, for example, has significantly shaped political boundaries, economies, and cultures including the introduction of European governance and Christianity, while also disrupting Indigenous societies and traditions.

Understanding the past legacies of colonialism as well as other intercultural social dynamics within the region can inspire new ways of thinking and can gain a deeper understanding of practices of social change but also persistence of inequalities.

The focal region ‘Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands’ builds on the university’s collaborations with international colleagues in this region. At its core, it fosters interdisciplinary engagement with research addressing questions that include regional disparities, equity in education, decolonising approaches to teaching and learning as well as socio-cultural and spatial equality. In this way, this NoA highlights both the regional diversity of Oceania as well as its embeddedness in global contexts.

The cluster seeks to establish ties with universities, networks, and cultural institutions across the region and Europe, thereby promoting research, academic exchange, social dialogue, and scholarly cooperation. It aims to build bridges across disciplines and social contexts to contribute to a deeper intercultural understanding and a more equitable future for all.

Contact persons for the region

Franziska LESSKY, A/Prof (Faculty of Educational Sciences): franziska.lessky@uibk.ac.at

Elisabeth GRUBER, Dr (Department of Geography): elisabeth.eg.gruber@uibk.ac.at

Projects

Equitable Futures: Advancing Equity for Rural First-Generation University Learners in Australia and Austria (2025/26)

This project investigates the so far under-researched question of how do young people from rural and remote areas, who are also the first in their family or community to consider university, navigate the decision to pursue higher education? It combines disciplinary areas within sociology of education and human geography particularly looking at educational transitions and spatial mobilities of first-in-family students from rural and remote areas. Building upon existing research and interventions in both countries, the overriding objective is to identify how we might better leverage family, community, and educational networks to improve university participation and success.

The research builds on a mixed-methods design and is conducted comparatively in two regions in Australia and Austria, where rural learners and first-generation students show a significantly lower university participation and higher attrition rates, underlining how these groups face stark disadvantages. When attributes of being from a rural area and first-generation intersect, the barriers are amplified. Findings will contribute to more nuanced, systemic understandings of how universities can better support students who are disadvantaged by both biography and geography.

Contact persons