Calls for changes to university entry
Updated
The anxious wait for thousands of school leavers in Australia will come to an end this week as they receive their final results.
For many, the marks will determine what university courses they get into. But there's growing support among vice-chancellors and school principals for a broader selection method based on attitude, aptitude and motivation.
Presenter: Michael Edwards
Speakers: Professor Gerard Sutton, Vice-Chancellor, University of Wollongong; Jim Mcalpine, president, New South Wales Secondary Principals Council
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MICHAEL EDWARDS: In most cases, marks are the only things that count when it comes to getting a place in a course at university.
But, there is a prevailing among many vice-chancellors that a single score should not be ultimate way to judge a student's ability to be a successful university student.
One of those vice-chancellors is Professor Gerard Sutton from the University of Wollongong.
GERARD SUTTON: Because it doesn't all come down to just a single number, and certainly personalities, background, particular subjects that are studied in the HSC (Higher School Certificate) are critical.
So, for example, even if you had a high single score and you hadn't done mathematics and physics, it would not be a good background for engineering for example.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Some universities are trialling supplementary assessments to allow students from disadvantaged backgrounds or who have just missed out on marks, into courses.
Professor Sutton says an integrated approach to student entry is something the sector should aim towards. However he says at this stage entry based on a score will remain in place, because there are too many practical problems with a widespread change to the other approach.
GERARD SUTTON: It is a measure, and it's a reasonable measure, and it's served us very well. But, I think, there are better ways of doing it, it's a question of whether we're able to find the manpower to let large numbers of students in on the basis of, for example, an interview.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: School principals are also in support of an integrated approach to university entry.
Jim McAlpine is the president of the New South Wales Secondary Principals Council.
JIM MCALPINE: I think that would be really good. If a student is very keen to do a course, has the right commitment, has the skills and so on, but might have, in the HSC had things working against them, then being able to demonstrate that they have an enthusiasm for the course and can demonstrate the work that they've done previously, that they have the talent to do that course, then I think the university should give them very serious consideration.
MICHAEL EDWARDS: Jim McAlpine says there are many ways in which a holistic approach could benefit talented students.
JIM MCALPINE: Depends on the particular course. Now, if a student is dead keen on doing something in the mathematical bent and has scored really well in maths at the Higher School Certificate, but have done not as well on the other subjects, then I think perhaps they should be able to skew the university admission for that particular course.
In the same way a student might be really, really great in the humanities area and specialise in literature and English, and do exceptionally well in extension two English in the HSC, but not do as well in the other subjects because they haven't really been interested in those things, but have the potential to do really well in an English course at a university, then I think the university should really look seriously at making sure that that can be taken into account.
