Presentation to IAAO May 2016 John Griffiths CEO

1. Presentation to IAAO May 2016 John Griffiths CEO

2. Overview of Presentation • QTAC overview • QTAC’s value proposition • Changing external environment • Current business model • New business model • Key challenges

3. QTAC Overview • Established in 1975, incorporated in 1990 • Operates a centralised tertiary admissions system for 16 institutions and graduate medicine (Australia wide) • Processes over 70,000 applicants annually • Helps applicants gain admission to a course for which they are qualified on the basis of merit and/or equity • Allows institutions complete autonomy in determining their own admission requirements and principles of selection • Once determined, ensures that the admissions rules and related procedures are correctly administered on behalf of the institutions and then makes an offer of a place

4. QTAC’s Value Proposition • Centralised repository of information for applicants • Consistent and transparent assessment • Single offer to highest eligible preference means that offer acceptance is much more likely and less wastage associated with applicants receiving multiple offers • Historical Year 12 Results Archive and Automated Results Transfer Service (ARTS) • Pooling of resources and effort results in lower cost for institutions • Part of ACTAC which streamlines the national experience by sharing data and agreeing common standards, conversions and dates

5. Changing External Environment • Bradley – previous unmet demand now largely satisfied • Fee deregulation • Need for faster turnaround • Direct entry pressures • Breakdown of geographical barriers • Shift from undergraduate to postgraduate • Entry cut-offs are falling for a number of courses

6. Current Business Model • Six prioritised preferences • Offer made to highest eligible preference • Offers only made as part of an offer round • Can’t hold more than one offer at a time

7. Benefits for Applicants • It provides a simple process for applicants that requires only one application and the presentation of only one set of supporting material, even for preferences at more than one institution • Year 12 data is sourced directly from the State authorities, streamlining the process and ensuring data accuracy • The selection process is fair and transparent and the applicant is assured of receiving their highest eligible preference

8. Benefits for our Clients • Provides highly valuable exposure in the QTAC Guide • The system is efficient, providing a range of services that providers could not easily replicate either at all or at similar cost by individual providers • Streamlines the admission/enrolment practices of participating providers, notably by removing/reducing direct offers to domestic undergraduate students, thereby making load management easier • Costs shared between applicants and providers through the charging of processing fee

9. New Business Model Current: • All courses are assumed to be quota managed • Full end-to-end assessment is undertaken for each preference • Institutions only have 30 opportunities during the year to make offers Proposed: • Assessment processes are tailored around the course levels 1, 2 and 3 • The introduction of “minimum ranks” and “definitely in” ranks will facilitate increased early offers • Institutions can choose to make offers in any of over 180 offer rounds

10. Course Levels Level 1 • Not quota managed • English Language Proficiency required Level 2 • Not quota managed • Ranks arranged highest to lowest • English language proficiency checked • Subject pre-requisites checked • Minimum rank hurdle Level 3 • Quota managed • Full assessment of all merit and eligibility requirements • Offers made in any round chosen by institutions

11. Advantages of Level 2 Relationships with applicant • Applicants are made offers as soon as they meet minimum eligibility and rank requirements • Applicants are not required to provide documentation where this is not required for their offer • Applicants have an affirming rather than discouraging experience • Requirements for entry are transparent to applicants

12. Advantages of Level 2 Benefits for institutions • Reduction in institution tasks • Reduction in administrative burden in course methodology during peak offer round period, allowing focus to shift to Level 3 courses • Fewer enquiries from applicants as offers will be made earlier • Manage internal workflows by releasing offers at a time that suits Benefits for QTAC: • Fewer assessment tasks • Fewer enquiries from applicants • Increased processing speed

13. Key Challenges • Groningen Declaration • Transparency • Systems renewal • Scope of service offering