UniSA PAL 2003 Agreement

The second agreement between the University and the Minister for Education in the then relatively new Labor Government set out the terms for the expansion of the initial pilot to the group of four adult re-entry high schools: Hamilton College Adult Campus, Marden Senior College, Thebarton Senior College, and the original pilot school, Para West Adult Campus. Brief information about the three additional schools, their locations, the nature of their student bodies, their educational specialisations etc is given below in section 6.1.

In broad terms this second agreement replicated as well as simplified the terms of the original agreement. Once again reference was made to the spirit of goodwill between the University and the schools as well as their shared commitment to equity. The responsibilities of the schools on the one hand and of the University on the other are almost identical to those set out in the earlier agreement, with the exception that reference is made to the provision by the University of one camera-ready copy of materials to each of the schools for each of the eight courses. As in the original agreement, the schools were to market the PAL course to prospective students, conduct the selection, acceptance and enrolment procedures, teach the course, and provide accommodation, materials, equipment and other facilities. Of interest is the omission of any specific reference to student support services since experience with the first year of the pilot had shown that, not unexpectedly, this aspect was highly significant both in terms of the demands on the school and the success of the pilot.

Rather than attempting to quantify the time which would be given by the University to induction and professional development, the second agreement simply refers to an initial briefing for the whole student cohort and on-going support to the staff of each of the schools through the pairing of academic staff with the teachers and coordinators in each school. Once again the University would provide moderation of assessed materials, a career information session to the students, and a record of completion to each student for courses (or subjects, in school terminology) completed, as well as a certificate of achievement to all students who completed the program as a whole. Any students who completed the program and subsequently enrolled in the University would be given the same credit for their studies as students who complete stage one of the Diploma in University Studies, as well as access to the same range of undergraduate level programs.

Other differences between the two agreements are that no reference is made in the newer agreement to minimum numbers of students, perhaps reflecting increased confidence on both sides from their experience of the first year of the pilot, nor to the size of a nominal student cohort. The fee to be paid by each of the schools had been increased significantly, following an internal costing of the services it was estimated would be provided by the School of International Studies. The $6,000 licensing fee, plus $145 per set of materials was now to be one sum, for licensing, of $14,545 (plus GST as before). While there was some disquiet from the schools about this increase, there was also an expectation that it might be re-visited if the actual services provided and costs involved did not in fact accord with expectations.

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IN THIS SECTION
Collaboration between the Institutions

Introduction

Students’ Levels of Disadvantage – Summary

Data Collection

Relationships between the Pilot Institutions

Qualitative Data

Quantitative Data Collection

A New Pathway for Adult Learners: Evaluation of a School-University Access Pilot

Socio-economic Backgrounds of Students

Conclusions

Reasons for Participating in the Pilot

The Students

Bibliography: UniSA PAL

Recognition as Completion of Secondary Education

Quantitative Data – Educational Outcomes

Executive Summary

Notes

The School-University Access Pilot 2002-2004

Teaching in the Pilot Course

Quantitative Data – Students’ Characteristics

Defining Success

2002 Pilot: The 2002 Agreement

Expansion and Innovation

Appendices

Teaching, Learning, Assessment and Curriculum Matters

Barriers to study

Management and Administration of the Pilot

Retention, Success, Transition to and Success Rates in Higher Education

Students’ Level of Disadvantage

Para West Adult Campus

Diploma in University Studies

Students with a Disability

Age, Marital Status, Number of Dependants and Gender

The South Australian Adult Re-entry Schools

Motivation

Expanded Pilot

Students’ Motivation

Relevance of the Research

Students from Non English Speaking Backgrounds

2002 Pilot: Implementation of the 2002 Agreement

Scalability of the Pilot

The Full Report: New Pathway for Adult Learners

Retention Rates

National Policy Context

Transition Rates to University Study

Professional Engagement, Development and Satisfaction

Research Questions

Recommendations

Indigenous Students

Relationship between UniSA-PAL and the Diploma in University Studies

2004 and Beyond

Scalability

Expectations and Experience of the Course

Implementation of the 2003 Expanded Pilot

Research Methodology

Qualitative Data Collection

The 2003 Agreement

Rural and Isolated Students

Success Rates

The University of South Australia

The Pilot Institutions