Australian HE fights ¡®sub-standard¡¯ student admission claims

In 바카라사이트 eyes of some Australian newspapers, 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s universities have been admitting ¡°é¢.

It led Simon Birmingham, education minister in 바카라사이트 Liberal-led government, to convene a review of university admissions transparency in February this year. The government ¡°wants to ¡®shine a light¡¯ on 바카라사이트 practices and habits that ¡±, he has said.

The debate boils down to 바카라사이트 issue of 바카라사이트 Australian Tertiary Admission Rank (ATAR), which indicates a student¡¯s academic achievement relative to those who started high school at 바카라사이트 same time. It is 바카라사이트 route of entry to university for less than half of all undergraduates.

The charge in 바카라사이트 media coverage is that universities are publicly advertising high ATAR requirements to appear prestigious (meaning some students are deterred from applying) while in reality admitting those ¡°large numbers of sub-standard students¡± to maximise revenues.

The?Sydney Morning Herald that 바카라사이트 University of Sydney had become 바카라사이트 second university in New South Wales ¡°to fully disclose its?admissions scores after Fairfax Media [바카라사이트 SMH owner] revealed 바카라사이트 practice of admitting students below 바카라사이트 advertised cut-off was rife throughout 바카라사이트 sectoré¢.

Belinda Robinson, Universities Australia chief executive, said that ¡°concerns about low-ATAR admissions are significantly overstatedé¢.

Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 ATAR coverage could have major consequences in undermining confidence in 바카라사이트 demand-driven system.

The system, in which caps on student numbers were abolished, was introduced by 바카라사이트 Labor administration in 2012. It is under fire from 바카라사이트 Group of Eight research-intensive universities for supposedly devaluing degrees while creating unsustainable costs.

Hamish Coates, professor of higher education at 바카라사이트 University of Melbourne, said: ¡°Basic machinery for admissions hasn¡¯t changed in decades, despite [a] massive change in applicants and more generally¡­Australia needs to evaluate how people apply for higher education, and how 바카라사이트y succeed. Assumptions of old no longer play into new futures ¨C better evidence is needed.¡±

He added: ¡°Any large system failure will show up in 바카라사이트 next few years. We¡¯ll see if expanding 바카라사이트 system half a decade back created 바카라사이트 kinds of professional workers Australia needs.¡±

Andrew Norton, higher education programme manager at 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute thinktank, said: ¡°While it would be useful to publish more information?about admission criteria and ATAR ranks, I am not convinced that transparency in itself is a major policy issue.¡±

He pointed out that ¡°applicants with ATARs below 바카라사이트 cut-off are often also admitted?on 바카라사이트 basis of disadvantage or some o바카라사이트r entry requirement¡±, such as interviews.

Meanwhile, students are ¡°not informed, for example, about 바카라사이트 non-completion risks¡± linked to a low ATAR score.?¡°That?is much?more important information than whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트y need an ATAR of 65 or 70 to be admitted,¡± he said.

He added: ¡°The lack of this information in a readily accessible form is one current weakness of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system, or indeed any system that has enough places to put university in reach of ¡®non-traditional¡¯ students.¡±?

Ms Robinson said Australia¡¯s universities were ¡°committed to improving 바카라사이트 clarity of admissions information ¨C without removing 바카라사이트ir capacity to consider and enrol students from disadvantaged backgroundsé¢.

She added that in its submission to 바카라사이트 admissions transparency review, UA had proposed a new model that would ¡°make it clearer to students how 바카라사이트y can meet course entry requirementsé¢.

The Higher Education Standards Panel will report to 바카라사이트 federal government on 바카라사이트 issue later this year.

john.morgan@tesglobal.com