Trek Program Spotlight: How Tanya Weiler Is Strengthening Student Transitions Beyond University

The challenge

Associate Professor Tanya Weiler from Adelaide University studies student transitions into and out of higher education, with a particular focus on non-vocational degrees, especially in business schools.

Through her work in pathways education and with business students preparing to graduate, Tanya observed a complex challenge: graduates are increasingly expected not only to possess knowledge and skills, but also to actively develop, demonstrate, and communicate their employability to prospective employers. While this can be difficult for many students, it may be particularly challenging for those from equity backgrounds, who often have less access to professional networks and opportunities to build confidence and career capital. As a result, capable graduates may struggle to navigate the transition from education to employment, and for employers – this can limit efforts to create a more diverse and inclusive workforce.

For Tanya, this raised bigger questions about how universities, employers, and the broader higher education system can better support diverse students to thrive beyond graduation.

While Tanya could clearly see the problem through her research and teaching, she wanted to better understand whether others saw the issue in the same way. She also wanted to identify who wanted to be part of the conversation and build her own confidence engaging with the people and systems her research could inform.

“I was very underconfident about doing that. Connecting in with both industry and the community was really important to me.”

Our response

Tanya enrolled in Cruxes Innovation’s Trek Program in mid-2024 to explore how her research could connect more meaningfully with the stakeholders who could shape, inform, or apply it.

Through the program, Tanya mapped the broader ecosystem around her research. She considered who might have a stake in student transitions, how different groups might define the issue, and what assumptions she was bringing into those conversations. She also spent time thinking, discussing and reframing how her research could translate into real-world impact.

This helped Tanya shift from starting with the problem as she understood it, to approaching engagement with more curiosity about how others understood the same challenge.

“That was a fairly pivotal moment for me in the Trek Program… Just because you see the problem in a particular way doesn’t mean other people see the problem as you do, or even see there being a problem at all.”

The peer workshops, 1:1 coaching calls, and pitching practice also helped Tanya refine how she communicated the value of her research in plain language. This strengthened her confidence in speaking with different audiences, including internal senior leaders and sector stakeholders.

The results

Since completing the Trek Program, Tanya has continued to apply this more stakeholder-aware approach to her research and leadership work. 

One important outcome has been her continued leadership of Starting Strong, a project focused on positively onboarding students into the academic environment. The initiative has since been rolled out across Adelaide University, helping students begin university with a stronger sense of belonging, confidence, and support, and seeks to demystify university and how to be a successful student. 

Tanya is also extending her research into transitions out of university. Having explored graduate experiences, she is now looking to engage with more employers and build collaborations with scholars working in similar areas both in Australia and overseas. 

Looking ahead, Tanya’s vision remains centred on students. She wants more people to experience university as a place where they feel they are welcome, where their success matters, and where their background or previous educational experience does not limit their ability to thrive whilst studying and then beyond. 

For other researchers, Tanya’s advice is to start before they feel completely ready. 

“Even if you don’t feel like you’re ready, start talking about your research with as many different people as you can -  you might be surprised how quickly you clarify your thinking and your message about what you are trying to achieve once you do it.” 

Through the Trek Program, Tanya built greater clarity and confidence in navigating research translation pathways, engaging with the people who could shape the direction of her work, and identifying how her research could contribute to meaningful change for students.