Stuart Mossman, CEOScott Adkin, Manager Applicant Services

INTERSPECC Presentation 2018

The education sector

Who are we?

South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre• Incorporated not-for-profit entity

Our participating institutions:• Five ‘member’ institutions

• Four ‘fee-for-service’ institutions

What do we do?

We process domestic & international applications for tertiary study in SA/NT (VET, UG, PG)

• 100k applications per year• 1,500 HE and 1,100 VET courses

Our institutions …• Set the rules for:

• Assessment of qualifications & relative merit• Course eligibility & pre-requisites• Course and admission pathway quotas

• Provide study program and career counselling

What do we do?

• Calculate ATAR and issue TES (SACE Board)• Administer STAT in SA/NT - 2,600 per year• Administer Universities Equity Scheme and (some)

Equity Scholarships• School Liaison & School Counsellor sessions• University Open Days• Applicant services

One-stop shop for objective course admission information and application

SATAC website, SATAC Guide, Tertiary Entrance Booklets

What do we do?

• Conduct research with interstate TACs & Boards of Study (e.g. subject equivalence, ATAR derivations)

• Provide data for educational planning through annual statistical reporting and other ad hoc analysis

• Collaborate with TACs re national priorities (HESP transparency & HEAIP)

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Source: docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/undergraduate_applications_offers_and_acceptances_2017.pdf

• Direct Entry represents one in three admissions Australia-wide, yet only one in six admissions in SA/NT

• Tasmanian structure is unusual as the sole HE institution, University of Tasmania, effectively operates as a TAC

• SA market is approximately 9% of Australian Market

• Due to higher penetration and inclusion of VET volumes, SATAC handles similar application volumes to TACs in larger markets

0.0

10.0

20.0

30.0

40.0

50.0

60.0

70.0

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100.0

-

20,000

40,000

60,000

80,000

100,000

120,000

140,000

NSW/ACT VIC QLD WA SA/NT TAS

Undergraduate Admissions by State

Via TAC Direct % TAC

The TAC landscape in Australia

Undergraduate applicant profile

13,15580% 13,271 81%

15,809

66%

15,548

64%

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

SA/NT 2016 Offers 2016 SA/NT 2017 Offers 2017

Year 12 Applications & Offers

Current Y 12 Non Y 12

https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/undergraduate_applications_offers_and_acceptances_2017.pdf

Undergraduate basis of admission

Secondary Qual56%

Special Entry(inc STAT)

17%

HE Qual15%

VET Qual10%

Other2%

2018 Undergraduate Offers

Sources: Advertiser, http://whatshouldistudy.com.au

“Flinders University is trialling “assessment centres” to evaluate school students’ creativity and critical thinking, resulting in early offers to Year 11s and 12s from certain schools”

“Adelaide University will next year pilot an early offer program aimed at encouraging high schoolers considering engineering careers to stick with the toughest maths subjects, even if it means a lower ATAR”.

Observations

• Universities are investing significantly in attracting students & improving outcomes

• Local universities are piloting new admissions approaches

• Tertiary institutions consistently cite student retention as a key strategic issue –opportunity to enhance the impact of admissions processes

What Should I Study, Recommendations

Student Enrolment Choice model referenced in What Should I Study research

UniSA vice-chancellor David Lloyd told a Committee for Economic Development of Australia forum yesterday that uni bosses “couldn’t give a stuff” about ATARs, which were not the only predictor of success.

Advertiser, 13/8/18

Advertiser, 13/8/18

Advertiser, 13/8/18

Future admissions pathways?

Undergraduate selection explained

Undergraduate admissions pathways

Completed SACE or equivalent & ATAR

1 full-time semester of study

Completed VET qualification

Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT) overall score and/or Personal Competencies Statement/ Employment Experience (more details to come)

Year

12

TAFE/ VET

Higher

Education

STATetc

Undergraduate admissions pathways, cont’d

A rank – relative performance in an academic course of study preparatory to university

Actual performance in higher education

Success, i.e. VET completion

Aptitude indicative of success

ATAR

GPA

VET rank

STAT rank

Year 12 admissions pathway

Eligibility determined by:• Completed SACE (or equivalent), and• University aggregate > ATAR, and (if required)• Prerequisite subjects (SACE Stage 2 level subjects with

minimum grade of C_), and (if required)• ‘Additional application requirements’ listed in course

entries

University aggregate/ATAR & Year 12 Selection Rank

University aggregate, ATAR & Selection Rank• University aggregate is a measure of

achievement (score, result)• Australian Tertiary Admission Rank

(ATAR) is a rank derived from the aggregate

• Year 12 Selection Rank is derived from uni agg/ATAR but also considers ‘adjustment factors’

TAFE/VET admissions pathway

• Completed VET qualification, ranked on level of award

• Certificate III and up for some institutions

• Certificate IV and up for most degree courses at some institutions

Special entry admissions pathway

• Special Tertiary Admissions Test (STAT)• Personal Competencies Statement (PCA)• Employment experience• A combination of the above 3• Age and previous study affect eligibility

Adjustment factors

Bonus-type adjustment factors for 2019 entry

• Universities Equity Scheme

• Universities Language, Literacy and Mathematics Scheme

• ‘Bonus points’ aka ‘adjustment factors’

→ School-based adjustments→ Individual adjustments

School-based equity adjustments

Universities Equity SchemeSchool-based equity adjustments are data driven• Remoteness of each school

• Percentage of students in each school gaining an ATAR

• Mean ATAR achieved in each school

• ICSEA value of each school

Scheme is administered by SATAC, rules belong to institutionsEquity adjustment = 5 points

Individual equity adjustments

Students from non-’equity’ schools• Applicants asked if they wish to apply for an adjustment on

the basis of individual equity in their application

• Students in person receipt of a Commonwealth means-tested income support payment (MTISP) or holding a concession card → enter Centrelink Reference Number (CRN) into the application, normally no docs required

• If parents receive a Commonwealth MTISP or hold concession card, student must apply via form

• (SA) DECD School Card recipients are also eligible: will need to apply via form

Subject adjustment

Universities Language, Literacy &Mathematics SchemeTo strengthen preparation for undergraduate studies by undertaking a language other than English, or specified English or Mathematics subjects:• LOTE• English/English Literary Studies• Mathematical Methods• Specialist MathematicsSubject adjustment = up to 4 points

Contact us

General enquiries

8224 4000 or 1300 138 440

‘Contact us’ link on SATAC web

For school staff only

• Scott Adkin 8224 4060Manager Applicant Services scott.adkin@satac.edu.au

• Dorothy Pawlowski 8224 4033 Deputy Manager dorothy.pawlowski@satac.edu.au