Overview

− VCE Extend enables high achieving year 12 students to complete two university courses as part of their VCE.

− Courses taken at RMIT contribute towards students’ VCE completion and a boost of up to an addi-tional five points to their ATAR.

− VCE Extend offerings are accredited by the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA). − RMIT has offered VCE Extend since 2012 and has a growing range of offerings across two Colleges.− VCE Extend allows RMIT to have early and meaningful engagement with high achieving students,

with the goal of converting them to undergraduate students.− In 2014, the position of Senior Coordinator, VCE Extend was created with the purpose of centralising

all administration and reporting; ensuring compliance with VCAA, and driving university-wide growth to the program.

Key achievements in 2015

100% complianceRMIT has re-established a strong relationship with the VCAA in 2015. This has been achieved by; − completing all reporting in a punctual and compliant way. This is a significant improvement from 2014

where RMIT had incorrectly accepted and commenced teaching some Year 12 students, and sought exceptional provisions from the VCAA so as to not disadvantage these students.

− Successful reaccreditation of existing offerings through prompt and thorough submissions coordin-ated by the Senior Coordinator, VCE Extend.

− Timely submission of three new offerings submitted for introduction in 2016, now approved by the VCAA as follows:

o Calculus and Analysiso Geospatial Science and Surveyingo Project Management

The Senior Coordinator, VCE Extend has developed tools to aid schools, colleges and students and con-tribute towards ongoing compliance. These include; − Higher Education Studies in the VCE instruction, approved by Education Committee in 2014.− Thorough documentation of all internal and external processes and deadlines.− Cohort specific enrolment and orientation processes.− Draft documentation for schools for the timely and thorough submission of proposed offerings to

VCAA.

VCE Extend grows by 100%Working collaboratively with staff in other areas of RMIT the Senior Coordinator, VCE Extend has; − developed clear distinct branding of RMIT extension and advanced standing programs under the

new VCE Extend banner.− Redeveloped website content, resulting in an increase in web traffic from 19 to 563 unique views per

month.− Developed and implemented an online application process for the 2016 cohort.− Successfully trialled use of RMIT Enrolment Online (EOL) for VCE Extend: Computer Science stu-

dents (2016 intake).− Implemented centrally coordinated, cohort specific orientation and enrolment sessions (2015 and

2016 intakes). o Sessions received positive feedback from stakeholders, including school professional and

academic staff, parents and students.

o Centralised sessions are a substantial cost and resource saving to the University and ensure VCE Extend students feel well supported from the commencement of their studies.

− Developed and implemented an early offer process for VCE Extend students into RMIT undergradu-ate programs.

o 60% of 2015 VCE Extend students returned to RMIT in 2016 (see Tables and Figures, figures 1 and 2 for full details).

− Developed a targeted marketing strategy including;o in collaboration with Student Recruitment and Marketing, the promotion of VCE Extend in

schools and to key influencers via in school activity and other existing channels such as Bul-letins and School social media platforms

o Competitor analysis of VCE Extend offerings, identifying key opportunities for future offerings at RMIT.

o In collaboration with the Survey Services Centre, developed a VCE Extend specific student survey. This will be used to gain insight into the unique experience of the VCE Extend cohort. The data will influence future expansion, student support and marketing strategies (com-mences with 2016 cohort).

− Raised awareness of VCE Extend internally througho regular liaison with RMIT marketing areas; central marketing and college marketing teams.o Meetings with senior Academic and Professional staff within Schools and Colleges to discuss

VCE Extend opportunities within their teaching areas.

VCE Extend cohort scores one grade point higher than undergraduate cohortIn 2015 VCE Extend students in all but one offering performed significantly higher than the correspond-ing undergraduate cohort in the same courses. On average the VCE Extend students scored one grade point higher than students in the standard first year cohort in their courses. For example VCE Extend: Computer Science students achieved an HD av-erage over both courses while the undergraduate cohort sat at a CR average.Table 1 (Tables and Figures) has the breakdown by offering.

Strong conversion of VCE Extend students to undergraduate cohort60% of 2015 VCE Extend students returned to RMIT in 2016 (see figures 1 and 2, Tables and Figures, for full details).Only five of the 2015 cohort did not return to RMIT for their undergraduate studies in 2016. − Significantly; only one of these students has accepted a place in a competitor program (a program

that RMIT also offers) at another university (Software Engineering at Monash University). − The other four students went to: Law, Art and Medicine pathway studies, which RMIT does not offer.

See Table 2 (Tables and Figures) for further details.

Further growth in 2017

Due to the solid foundation now built for this program, and the achievements secured by the Senior Co-ordinator, VCE Extend in 2015, Schools are already proposing to offer new VCE Extend course pairings for 2017. The following offerings are under development for 2017 (to be finalised and submitted to the VCAA by 21 March by the Senior Coordinator, VCE Extend):

o School of Architecture and Design Landscape Architecture

o School of Global, Urban and Social Studies Global Politics Sustainability

o School of Health and Biomedical Sciences Nursing/Indigenous Health Psychology

o School of Science Advanced Mathematics for Problem Solving (online offering)

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Statistics

Further improvements will be delivered in 2017 including;− Integrating VCE Extend application process into the RMIT Admissions System.− Further streamlining the process for applicants by working with the VCAA and secondary schools to

remove the need for students to provide their results to RMIT.− Implementing online enrolment for all VCE Extend offerings.− Working to refine the early offer process and have VCE Extend students clearly indicated in VTAC

work lists to simplify the offer process for RMIT selection staff.− Increase enrolments for 2017 by 100% though increased collaboration with marketing areas.− Work with web teams to continue to improve public information on VCE Extend. Including develop-

ment of a process for secondary students and teachers to easily register their interest for appropriate follow up.

− Embed further market insight activities into the program to drive improvements and identify opportun-ities for future growth.

Conclusion

VCE Extend enrolments have increased by 100% (2015 to 2016) providing RMIT with a reliable stream of high achieving undergraduate students. Awareness of the VCE Extend program is growing within key feeder secondary schools. RMIT’s relationship with the accreditation body is strong (a significant stabilisation from mid-2014). Student administration processes are integrated with the general student body.The risk to RMIT of non-compliance with VCAA requirements has been removed by providing centralised support and coordination.The cost of offering VCE Extend for schools has been lowered by providing centralised support and co-ordination.

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Tables and Figures

Table 1. 2015 Average results by offering

Computer Science Engineering Environmental Science Science

Average Grade

Average Mark

Average Grade

Average Mark

Average Grade

Average Mark

Average Grade

Average Mark

2015 VCE Extend Students HD 85 CR 69 DI 74 DI 76

2015 Undergraduate Cohort CR 62 DI 74 PA 53 CR 62

Table 2. Where did non-returning VCE Extend students go?

Monash University Deakin University University of Melbourne

Software Engineering (Hons)+

Biomedical Science * Science *

Arts/Law * Arts *

* No comparable RMIT program

+ Comparable RMIT program

Figure 1 Conversion from 2015 VCE Extend offerings to 2016 Undergraduate programs

Computer Science Engineering Environmental Science

Science0

1

2

3

4

5

6

Returned to RMIT

Series2

Did not return to RMIT

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