Consideration of disadvantage
The removal of estimated data from the system, in light of VCAA's decision to incorporate Consideration of Disadvantage into a single score from 2003 ie. there will be no estimated scores reported to students and VTAC represents a fundamental change in the Victorian selection culture. The transposition of estimated scores on the database (see report of Scaling Committee) means that prior year VCE applicants can, also, be treated on a single score basis.
Discussions with the Career Education Association of Victoria and other career groups revealed that there is a group of VCE students, specifically those experiencing chronic conditions of disadvantage throughout their year 12 studies, who may fall outside these revised VCAA special provisions in relation to examinations. The Committee agreed, therefore, to institute a VTAC form to collect information about such conditions. This data will be transmitted to institutions only where a derived examination score is not awarded by VCAA. Institutions will make use of data emanating from this process according to their policies, some may not use it at all because of the difficulty of incorporating non-specific information into decision-making for highly competitive courses and because of possible overlap with special entry scheme processes.
GPAs and TAFE results
The Committee investigated again calculating GPAs and ranking applicants with TAFE results, in association with the issue of one university, Monash, not considering applicants with ungraded results. While the calculation is straight forward the propriety of so doing in relation to the guidelines governing TAFE assessment and the value to be assigned competent grades, have been questioned. The availability of electronic data from TAFE institutes is also an issue, multi-sector institutions only being able to currently effect this supply.
The Committee noted, as has been the case with previous investigations, that TAFE institutes are unlikely to utilise resources to undertake the required development necessary to underpin electronic transfer of data without additional funding and that this problem, which does mitigate against selection of TAFE applicants and thus the TAFE to university pathway, remains.
The Committee agreed that GPAs should be calculated where graded assessments are available.
Risk management
Pursuant to the adoption of a risk management schema as part of the strategic plan exercise, the Committee focussed on several areas, in particular, during the course of the year.
- An extensive internet security plan, covering risk analysis and application of model rules and guidelines, based on industry standards, to VTAC's website and associated processes was adopted.
- Institutional liaison officers were requested, and all institutions responded, to provide an assurance that their selection officers would conduct selection according to the agreed system rules and published selection criteria.
- Institutions were requested to sign an Undertaking, before receipt of applicant files, agreeing, with respect to personal information relating to or concerning the joint selection process, to comply with the provisions of the Privacy legislation.
Computing infrastructure
VTAC's computing infrastructure was enhanced and upgraded during the year with higher speed servers being installed at Telstra which overcame the problem of slow access at critical times experienced during the 2000/01 selection reported to the Board last year, and in May 2003 higher capacity main processors at VTAC which will substantially reduce run times of major processes in December/January.
Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning
It was noted in the last report to the Board that VTAC would seek advice from institutions about the acceptability of VCAL for tertiary entrance purposes. In the event only RMIT indicated formal acceptance with Victoria University reporting that applications would be considered on an individual basis.
Selection data
The matter of selection data, in particular, clearly-ins has been a problematic element of the system, largely because the concept has been difficult to understand since its inception. The Management Committee established a working party, the deliberations of which in terms of reaching a simplified definition and re-designing the presentation and availability of trial data, were most positive leading to resolution of this long standing difficulty.