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 Level 2 Level 3 Not quota managed
English Language Proficiency required
Level 2
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