System enhancements - institutions
Two significant enhancements to the on line offering system were carried out, both flagged during institutional visits, as part of the annual reporting cycle.
Firstly, details of interstate applicants which have to be appended to the on-line system in the second week of round one offer simulations because of the later release of interstate compared to Victorian Year 12 results, were loaded, where prerequisite specifications had been satisfied, into the rank order created from Victorian results. This obviated the need for selection officers to individually rank these applicants, a considerable saving in time and ensuring greater accuracy.
Secondly, an automatic re-ranking facility was introduced allowing selection officers automatically to re-rank applicants in a nominated middle band range, according to criterion published in the Guide. Again, this initiative saved time and increased the efficiency of the whole process.
Automatic facilities will be extended next year to cover institutions which award a designated margin for regionality and to allow selection officers to re-rank applicants according to estimated ENTERS without exceeding an agreed variation between the achieved and estimated values.
All of these improvements will be incorporated into a new web based on line system to be available for the 2001/02 selection cycle. This new system will be linked to the imaged file of documentation and transcripts, thereby rendering hard copy redundant.
System enhancements - applicants/schools
In 1999/2000 one-third of applicants used the web to apply. It is anticipated that this will increase to 50% in 2000/01. To provide greater flexibility for Year 12 applicants, an integrated database was developed enabling unlimited exchange between the web and IVR systems during the application process, a development strongly recommended by schools in their survey responses.
While an array of minor improvements was undertaken to the software package enabling schools to monitor and counsel their applicants during the selection process, priority development was accorded to the web based version of this package, to be trialled with schools in 2000 for introduction in 2001/02.
The installation of a new telephone system, Telstra Spectrum, combined with a 1300 number and Callscan software, greatly improved telephone access to VTAC. The new software facilitated monitoring of load and immediate allocation of additional resources when required, providing a more fully professional system that eliminated most complaints about inaccessibility.
To complement the July and December briefings for Career Teachers and information sessions for mature age students or those contemplating return to study, a small series of sessions for parents of VCE students was piloted. These proved successful and will be expanded in the future. A special guide about the selection process is being investigated.
The joint release of results services in cooperation with the Board of Studies proved to be a successful venture. 29,218 students contacted the telephone component of this service. 31,843 students accessed the service via the web. An enquiry service staffed by trained personnel complemented both automated systems.
Systems enhancements - VTAC's infrastructure
A major revision of the Constitution was completed during the year. This revision reflected the outcomes of the review of committee structure undertaken in 1998/99 and VTAC's broader role in both providing information and promoting tertiary education in Victoria. The revised Constitution also recognizes a series of decisions by the Management Committee in relation to the setting of administrative charges and clarifies the responsibility for fixing charges.
Following legal advice, arrangements were made during the year to upgrade Professional Indemnity and Directors' and Officers' Liability insurance on behalf of committee members and staff, notwithstanding that representatives nominated by institutions are covered by institutional policies and staff by Monash University policies respectively. The standard indemnity and directors' policies were amended to take account of VTAC's unincorporated association status.
A proposal to establish a careers and course counselling service was submitted to the Review of Post Compulsory Education and Training Pathways for funding support.