Navigating new realities: First-year regional students' expectations in a post-pandemic world

Higher education can transform lives. In Australia, a university education enables social mobility for students from identified equity groups. The focus of the Australian Government on increasing the participation and success of students from regional and remote locations requires new research to better understand how pre-commencement expectations among regional and remote university students are formed. Fuzzy trace theory is an emerging area that examines how gist representations influence expectations and their subsequent impact on cognitive dissonance, satisfaction, and retention intentions. This research will examine these linkages as experienced by first-year, first-time regional and remote university students. A three-stage mixed methodology will be used, comprising qualitative interviews, a quantitative survey, and a quasi-experimental design. The findings of the interviews will be presented, revealing students’ gist-informed expectations of an ecosystem of connection. It is anticipated that this research will produce useful guidance for regional universities in post-pandemic times.