July 10, 2017

Improving the transparency of higher education admissions: Joint higher education sector and Australian Government implementation plan

The Australian Government released today a plan to implement the recommendations of the Higher Education Standards Panel’s 2016 report: Improving the transparency of higher education admissions. 

54 written submissions were received in response to the consultation draft of the plan. IWG members also met with more than 30 stakeholder organisations in formal discussion, including provider peak bodies, tertiary admission centres, career educators, students, parents, school principals, state and territory secondary curriculum and assessment authorities, equity interest groups and practitioners, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School leadership. There was strong stakeholder support for the principles and objectives articulated in the plan.

The plan sets out a phased approach to implementation, with some changes to be put in place this year for the benefit of 2018 higher education applicants. This includes delivery of consistently framed whole-of-institution information on admission policies and processes, along with comparable data on recent student admissions and the Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) profile of places offered for every course available. A broader suite of course-level information will be delivered in 2018 to support those applying to study in 2019.

Admissions Transparency Implementation Plan