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| University admissions confusion to be addressed with My School-style website University admissions confusion to be addressed with My School-style website | |
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| The federal government will push universities to publish more transparent admission information in an effort to clear the “fog” and “double speak” around entry standards. | The federal government will push universities to publish more transparent admission information in an effort to clear the “fog” and “double speak” around entry standards. |
| On Friday the education minister, Simon Birmingham, announced the government would adopt all 14 recommendations of the higher education standards panel, including the call for a My School-style website to compare admissions standards across universities. | On Friday the education minister, Simon Birmingham, announced the government would adopt all 14 recommendations of the higher education standards panel, including the call for a My School-style website to compare admissions standards across universities. |
| In November, the panel report found the practice of some universities publishing only main round offer cut-offs misled students, because many were admitted in later rounds with lower ranks. | In November, the panel report found the practice of some universities publishing only main round offer cut-offs misled students, because many were admitted in later rounds with lower ranks. |
| It recommended a national one-stop-shop information platform to include information on the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (Atar) requirements for the course at the completion of all offer rounds. | It recommended a national one-stop-shop information platform to include information on the minimum Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (Atar) requirements for the course at the completion of all offer rounds. |
| The report proposed a template for universities to disclose the percentage of students admitted to a course with bonus points, the maximum number of bonus points available and the Atar required to be in the top 25%, bottom 25% and the middle of the student intake. | The report proposed a template for universities to disclose the percentage of students admitted to a course with bonus points, the maximum number of bonus points available and the Atar required to be in the top 25%, bottom 25% and the middle of the student intake. |
| “These reforms are about clearing away the fog and doublespeak that has clouded higher-education admissions processes so prospective students can make well-informed decisions about if and what they want to study,” Birmingham said. | “These reforms are about clearing away the fog and doublespeak that has clouded higher-education admissions processes so prospective students can make well-informed decisions about if and what they want to study,” Birmingham said. |
| Birmingham said the federal government would put the onus on universities and higher education providers to be upfront about what they could offer prospective students, suggesting the information platform could also include graduate outcomes. | Birmingham said the federal government would put the onus on universities and higher education providers to be upfront about what they could offer prospective students, suggesting the information platform could also include graduate outcomes. |
| The government will ask universities to adopt the recommendations voluntarily. But Birmingham warned it would use “additional regulatory or funding obligations” if necessary, potentially using commonwealth grants to universities to force the changes. | The government will ask universities to adopt the recommendations voluntarily. But Birmingham warned it would use “additional regulatory or funding obligations” if necessary, potentially using commonwealth grants to universities to force the changes. |
| As part of its transparency push, the government has also published new data from the graduate outcomes survey on the quality indicators for learning and teaching website. | As part of its transparency push, the government has also published new data from the graduate outcomes survey on the quality indicators for learning and teaching website. |
| “There will be no more hiding behind fluffy descriptions of entry requirements or inaccessible information on graduate outcomes,” Birmingham said. | “There will be no more hiding behind fluffy descriptions of entry requirements or inaccessible information on graduate outcomes,” Birmingham said. |
| In November the Universities Australia chief executive, Belinda Robinson, welcomed the panel’s report as “a measured and sensible way out of an increasingly complex and confusing admissions information mire”. | In November the Universities Australia chief executive, Belinda Robinson, welcomed the panel’s report as “a measured and sensible way out of an increasingly complex and confusing admissions information mire”. |
| “The university sector is unified in its acknowledgement of the need for greater transparency, consistency and clarity of information on university admissions policies, processes [and] procedures,” Robinson said. | “The university sector is unified in its acknowledgement of the need for greater transparency, consistency and clarity of information on university admissions policies, processes [and] procedures,” Robinson said. |
| In August the head of the Group of Eight universities, Vicki Thomson, called for a single national application process and greater transparency around admission standards to counter a perception that the sector tossed around bonus points for special university entry “like confetti”. | In August the head of the Group of Eight universities, Vicki Thomson, called for a single national application process and greater transparency around admission standards to counter a perception that the sector tossed around bonus points for special university entry “like confetti”. |
| “Only total transparency can reassure potential students and their families that the system is just,” she said. | “Only total transparency can reassure potential students and their families that the system is just,” she said. |
| Some universities, including the Group of Eight, have already committed to publish more transparent information about their entrance requirements. | Some universities, including the Group of Eight, have already committed to publish more transparent information about their entrance requirements. |