Nurturing merit: the role of alternative pathways to university

Meritocratic university admission systems are founded on the principle of equality of opportunity but often fail to address structural inequalities. This limits the ability of universities to provide substantive opportunities and achieve equity. In response, many higher education institutions implement alternative pathway programs as equity measures. These programs challenge the notion of merit as a fixed attribute that locates success solely in individual talent and effort, instead recognising that academic potential is relational and can be cultivated through the provision of equitable educational opportunities. In this study, drawing on interviews and focus group discussions with students enrolled in associate degree courses at an Australian university, we explore how alternative pathway programs nurture merit. The paper specifically highlights the role of alternative pathway programs in (a) expanding access to opportunities, (b) providing targeted support, and (c) enhancing students’ self-efficacy. With this insight as a backdrop, we propose that the substantiveness of alternative pathway programs be assessed through three criteria: sufficiency, relevance, and convertibility. We close the paper underlining the transformative potential of alternative pathways in addressing educational inequities and promoting a more just and inclusive higher education system.