Admissions transparency implementation plan released
A joint higher education sector and Australian Government plan has been released today to implement the recommendations of the Higher Education Standards Panel’s 2016 report, Improving the transparency of higher education admissions.
Fifty-four submissions were received in response to the consultation draft of the plan, and Admissions Transparency Implementation Working Group (IWG) members met with over 30 stakeholder organisations in formal discussion, including:
- provider peak bodies
- tertiary admission centres
- career educators
- students, parents
- school principals
- state and territory secondary curriculum and assessment authorities
- equity interest groups and practitioners
- the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.
There was strong stakeholder support for the principles and objectives articulated in the plan, which sets out a phased approach to implementation, with some changes to be put in place this year for the benefit of 2018 higher education applicants. This includes delivery of consistently framed whole-of-institution information on admission policies and processes, along with comparable data on recent student admissions and the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) profile of places offered for every course available. A broader suite of course-level information will be delivered in 2018 to support those applying to study in 2019.
The Improving the transparency of higher education admissions: Joint higher education sector and Australian Government implementation plan is available on the Department of Education and Training website.