CQU's pilot Tertiary Initiative Program (TIP) successfully held its first session with local high school students today at CQU.

The TIP project is a collaborative effort between CQU, Education Queensland and Catholic Education to explore the best strategies to assist students to make informed decisions about their post school pathways to further education.

A total of 23 Year 11 students from St Ursula's, Cathedral College, North Rockhampton High and Glenmore High attended the program aimed to give students a clear understanding of what tertiary life and study is all about. The students will attend career and personal development sessions at the University over the next 18 months as well as participating in study skills workshops while in their first term of university in 2006. CQU First Year Experience Coordinator and facilitator of TIP, Olive Mallory said the program was about ensuring that the students' expectations of tertiary education match reality and about giving them the confidence to ask questions about something that is unfamiliar.

Ms Mallory said the program helps students to develop their self-awareness, career opportunities, decision-making and action planning skills.

"It is important that they realise it is not only a new environment, but its a new life stage," said Ms Mallory.

"TIP gives students a better chance of making the best decision regarding pathways and developing commitment to that decision."