campusreview.com.au
news
Offer they can’t refuse
Year 11 results will count
for uni entry, says Western
Sydney University.
By Wade Zaglas
School leavers affected by the
COVID-19 disruption will have less to
worry about now that Western Sydney
University will base entry requirements
partly on Year 11 results.
The offer is part of the university’s HSC
True Reward early offer program, which
gives current Year 12 students the choice
of using their Year 11 results to supplement
their HSC results.
Western Sydney University said it was
taking “important steps not to undermine
the importance of the HSC, with the offers
being made on the condition that students
successfully complete their HSC exams”.
Paige Persijn, studying at home in Sydney. The Year 12 student is
looking to go to university next year. Picture: Richard Dobson
True Reward was launched in 2017 and
provides students with an early offer to
Western Sydney University “based on their
HSC subject results instead of the scaled
ATAR”. This follows analysis by the university
showing that subject performance, not
necessarily a scaled ATAR score, is a
“robust indicator” of a student’s potential
to succeed.
The vice-chancellor and president of
Western Sydney University, Professor
Barney Glover, said the True Reward
program demonstrates “yet another way”
in which the university is leading the sector
in developing alternative pathways for
capable, diligent students and fostering
their potential.
“For over 30 years, Western Sydney
University has been opening up access to
higher education for the people of Greater
Western Sydney. This year, with all its
challenges and disruptions to the school
year, is certainly no different,” Glover said.
“We know how much stress the
COVID-19 pandemic has caused Year 12
students and their families, worrying about
what this might mean for gaining entry into
their preferred course for next year.
“We wanted to help relieve students and
their families of some of that anxiety, so
they can focus all their energies on the HSC
and doing well in their final year exams.
“By transforming our True Reward early
offer program to incorporate Year 11
results, we are ensuring that the COVID-19
situation does not derail Year 12 students’
exam preparations and prevent them
from gaining access to their course
of choice and ultimately fulfilling their
career ambitions.”
The True Reward program has been
adapted this year to include the university’s
Alpha platform – a new digital experience
“that provides tailor-made content for
students based on their personal and
professional development needs and goals”.
True Reward applicants will receive
access to Alpha’s Edge playlist, which
includes a suite of self-development
activities. Students complete tasks and
micro-learning experiences to build their
study skills, learn independently and
much more.
Angelo Kourtis, vice-president (people
and advancement) and registrar, said that
Alpha’s Edge playlist is a unique initiative
designed to provide an advantage to
high school students in relation to future
employability and graduate success.
“The addition of the Alpha’s Edge playlist
is an exciting new element we have
introduced this year, helping students
explore the careers that most interest them
so they can make more informed course
choices,” Kourtis said.
“Not only does the playlist provide
insights into their chosen careers, but
as students complete the tasks, they
receive recommendations into the
courses and careers they might not have
initially considered. This occurs through
sophisticated algorithms that match their
interests, capabilities and aspirations,
suggesting where they have the greatest
chance of success.”
After completing their HSC exams and
Alpha’s Edge playlist, successful school
leavers who have applied through True
Reward will be issued an offer by Western
Sydney University as early as November. ■
5