Monday, August 27, 2007

Year 12 on fast track to UniTas

STUDENTS could shave a year off their undergraduate degrees by starting university in their final year of high school under a radical plan proposed by the University of Tasmania.

The institution wants to set up shop in Tasmania's senior secondary colleges so bright students can study first-year university subjects while completing Year 12.

The proposal would mean students could start university with only two years remaining of an undergraduate degree and could fast-track an academic career to be undertaking a PhD by age 21.

The US-style college plan would also include a Year 13 for those students who wanted to ease into university by undertaking the first year in a school setting.

Secondary-school teachers would be trained by the university to teach the first-year subjects and the institution would set up centres of excellence in the state's senior secondary colleges, which now are just years 11 and 12.

The idea was sparked by government reforms, called Tasmania Tomorrow, of the state's senior secondary school system.

UniTas vice-chancellor Daryl Le Grew said the model would allow 16 and 17-year-old students to study university subjects while at school.

"We can actually design a university college system just for years 11, 12 and 13 (that) is effectively a crossover between secondary college and university," he said.

"It is very exciting and is very different to anything that is offered around the country."

He said he hoped the proposal would stimulate discussion and debate in the sector, much as the University of Melbourne's model did. The Tasmanian model would give students several options and pathways through university, and it would not just be for the elite.

"For some kids, the first year taught inside the school system would suit them better, while others, because they are really bright, can take their first year in Year 12 and move straight into second year at university," Professor Le Grew said.

He said Tasmania proposed a university certificate of education that would be the equivalent of a high school certificate.

"We have negotiated for some of our subjects to count into the score," Professor Le Grew said.

Previous academic acceleration programs had been successful and this model hoped to build on that popularity.

Professor Le Grew said many students were attracted to fast-tracking their university degrees.

"(Students think:) 'If I can do it a year ahead then I am an early bird in my professional field,"' he said.

He hoped the radical model would attract more international students by having structured pathways from senior secondary colleges straight into university.

The new model would offer built-in international exchanges meant to substitute for the gap year from which many prospective students never returned to study.

Professor Le Grew said the Tasmanian Government had given a 2009 deadline to formalise the proposal. He hoped the Tasmanian model would generate as much debate as the Melbourne model.

"The Melbourne model has been really useful in the sector. It has been a terrific stimulation and discussion point," Professor Le Grew said. "I hope this does a similar thing."

Print Milanda Rout | August 01, 2007
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22167627-13881,00.html

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