But Dean of Education Professor Paul Chandler and Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor John Patterson were only too happy to take a break from a suit-and-tie dress code to talk up National Hoodie Day, to be held next Wednesday.

The event is the work of the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience (AIME), a not-for-profit program, now in its third year at UOW, that pairs young Aboriginal people with indigenous and non-indigenous mentors from university to improve educational outcomes.

Come Wednesday, some big names will be donning the distinctive hoodie, including swimmer Ian Thorpe, mining magnate Andrew Forrest and former St George Illawarra Dragon Wendell Sailor.

Prof Chandler, an AIME board member, said the university was proud of its partnership with the organisation, which began in 2007.

"UOW is very passionate about the AIME program and reducing the educational gap between indigenous and non-indigenous young people."

He said the hoodies were a great equaliser. "The hoodie is something that everyone can relate to. You've got to have things that relate to young people," he said.

AIME's Wollongong program manager Jake Trindorfer urged people to grab a hoodie from the National Hoodie Day website (www.nationalhoodieday.com) and upload a photo or video of themselves wearing it to the site or the event's Facebook page.

"Every hoodie that is purchased goes towards getting a mentor onto the front line," he said.