Claire Pech – Careers Advisor

Last week I was on a university Zoom webinar with Macquarie University. The Vice Chancellor gave a talk on the changing landscape of the university, and their recently announced early offers.

Professor Sean Brawley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Macquarie University – MQ (Programs and Pathways)

My full transcript of notes can be found here, but below are the most relevant points:

• Only 25% of Macquarie University students are from other countries and so COVID-19 has not had as great an impact 
• The university’s online programs were live within five days (originally thought to take five years!)
• Macquarie University followed on with ANU’s announcement for early offers this year.
• Macquarie currently runs two early offer schemes: SRS and Leaders and Achievers Scheme (LAS). 15% of domestic students came from SRS and 28% from LAS in 2019. By comparison, 17% of the 8,000+ students they admit each year came from the ATAR pathway.
• Macquarie acknowledges that COVID-19 has impacted community engagement and leadership, which will subsequently impact LAS which opens on 1 June 2020
• All courses are now open to this scheme including the Bachelor of Clinical Science, which was not previously offered.
• Students will find they are in a “buyers market” this year 
• Last year’s HSC cohort (Class of 2019), will experience campus life, but their units of study will be delivered in a mixed mode and will be dependant on health advice. It may still be possible that courses remain online. The biggest issue for Macquarie University is the constraint of teaching spaces due to physical distancing. But the Vice-Chancellor confirmed that: “This year’s Year 12 cohort will be on campus for 2021, before session 1 starts, in a more meaningful way.”

TAFE information – webinar with TAFE NSW representatives

Full notes can be found here. Trials will most likely go ahead as per NESA directives. The Trial HSC TVET will be held on 18 August 2020 and currently no face to face TVET classes are taking place.

Year 10 subject selections

Students in Year 10 will be commencing with the Year 10 subject selection process in the coming weeks, so watch this space for more information and helpful tips.

Year 12 NESA

Year 12 students have been busily downloading their HSC schedule, which, for some, has made the HSC seem more real!

Make sure you note your pin for future log-ins and do not mix this up with your UAC information: https://educationstandards.nsw.edu.au/wps/portal/nesa/11-12/hsc/key-dates-exam-timetables

From Week 6 onwards, all careers appointments can be made via my online calendar.