Fast track to 2nd year UTS Engineering and IT

Fiona:
Welcome to our session, Another Way to UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT. My name is Fiona Davidson, and I will be your host for this session. Our intention of our UTS Insearch webinars is to help explain alternative ways to UTS, and this session will specifically focus on UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT. We acknowledge that this has been an incredibly disruptive year, especially for those who are studying their HSC, and many of you have really had your confidence knocked about. The aim of today’s session is to really inform you on how to optimize your options, how to restore and reset, and get into UTS. So, our agenda will be an overview of UTS Insearch and the role our college plays in preparing students for UTS. You will meet our engineering and IT program manager, who will go through the diploma in details, meet a diploma graduate, always good to hear the student voice directly.
I will go through how to apply and followed by live Q&A. So please use the Q&A function at the bottom of the screen, rather than use the chat one. You can type in your questions through the session, and we’ll answer with a live panel of experts at the end. Starting today’s session, we have Susan Sherringham, our program manager for UTS Foundation Studies. Sue will be essentially explaining who is UTS Insearch and what are those pathway programs that have a guaranteed entry into UTS, but more importantly, how to get back on your feet and thrive at university once you get there, and beyond. Susan has over 20 years’ experience in education across secondary, vocational, and tertiary education sectors. She also leads a curriculum design team to enhance the development of 21st-century skills for those preparing to study at university. Welcome, Sue.
Susan Sherringham:
Thank you Fiona, and welcome to you all. I’ll be talking to you today about UTS Insearch, who we are and what we do, and how we help you get to UTS. So UTS Insearch is your pathway to UTS. It has a proven track record of helping students to reset their future. We offer a uniquely supportive environment, and it’s one where you can build your confidence as you begin your journey to university, and to develop those independent skills that you need to thrive at UTS, and also in your future career. So I can imagine also that many of you have concerns about this challenging year and where this leaves you in regard to your journey to university and whether or not those career choices you had at the beginning of your HSC are still within your reach. Well, I would say that there’s no reason not to follow your dreams.
I think you should reach out and go for it, for that career that you wanted. And because of these uncertain times, more than ever, quality education is really, really important because it represents a really good start and preparation both for university, but also for the challenging times we’re facing and a good quality education opens up opportunities to deal with what lies ahead. Students who start that UTS journey at UTS Insearch enjoy a first year that combines caring, personal, and differentiated academic support with a real-world practical approach to learning something UTS is known for. So at UTS Insearch, you will experience a supportive learning environment where your teachers can get to know you, where you can get to know them and where you can get individual guidance and feedback, and sharing that journey with your classmates. In addition to face-to-face classes, there’s also learning support programs that can help you both one-on-one in workshops, and also through our study success advisors.
We have a student-centred approach to learning. And what do I mean by that? Well, essentially, the focus is on you, helping you become independent in your learning, developing skills and attitudes to become lifelong learners, which is so important in an ever-changing world. And this independence and the skills and attitudes that you develop will really stand you in good stead for your university experience and on into professional life. Courses here are designed in collaboration with UTS, which means we’re delivering the same educational outcomes as first year at UTS. When you successfully complete a UTS Insearch diploma, you’ll receive a guaranteed entry to the corresponding UTS undergraduate degree. I’m sure you still have questions about studying with us in semester three, including, “Will classes be face to face?” We don’t expect to resume face-to-face classes until 2021.
However, while things are uncertain, we will continue with the remote learning model that we successfully implemented at the beginning of the year. I’d love to share with you a little bit about that remote learning approach and the sort of experience that you might have while you’re studying with us and how we will help you reach your goals. Unlike online learning, which is usually self-directed with little to no support or interaction with others, the remote learning classes at UTS Insearch are taught in real-time, learning with your fellow classmates, interacting, collaborating, and receiving immediate and personalized feedback. It’s just like a classroom. It just happens to be through an online video platform. Like face-to-face classes at UTS Insearch, class sizes are limited, and we have small groups of up to 20 to ensure you get that personal attention. So stay tuned to learn more about the great diplomas we have on offer, and above all, stay safe, stay positive, and come and reset your studies with UTS Insearch. We’ve got your best interests at heart.
Fiona:
Thank you, Sue, and thank you for your time today. We now have our program manager, Jasmine Cheng to go through the Diploma of Engineering, as well as the Diploma of IT, to help explain the program structure and the core benefits. Jasmine has been with us for 18 years, so comes extremely experienced and works very closely with the UTS Faculty of Engineering and IT to create programs that are very closely-connected to the degrees at UTS. Hi, Jasmine?
Jasmine Cheng:
Thanks, Fiona. Welcome to engineering and IT. If you are interested in helping people, if you like solving problem, if you are always curious in finding out how things work, and if you are creative, then engineering and IT is right for you. My name is Jasmine and I’d like to share with you practical information about our engineering and IT programs at UTS Insearch, and also how you could successfully articulate to your second year of study at UTS. Our Diploma of Engineering and Diploma of IT are the perfect preparation for you to embark on a career in engineering, as well as to become an IT practitioner in the future.
Now let’s look at the pathway to UTS. Depending on your HSC subject average, you will be able to join our Diploma of Engineering, or our Diploma of IT, and complete the course in 8 months, 12 months, or even 16 months. And then move on to UTS second year of study at UTS. Our goal is to provide a high-quality education that focus on student-centred learning as well as practical practice-based learning. Upon the successful completion of the diploma, you’ll be able to move into the second year of UTS bachelor degree courses.
Engineering with us will allow you to fast track into your second year at UTS. And the degree that you receive will be the bachelor of engineering honours. And with your major included. Now, with an additional year, you can add on to your bachelor degree in engineering to do an internship and gain real-world experience as an intern, which is part of the program for domestic students and optional for international students. Now, in engineering and IT, our approaches are not just limited to classroom, textbook, lectures, and exams. We try to make learning more fun and enjoyable and engaging for our students. So some of our science students will actually use the UTS science lab for their practical sessions.
Engineering students also design and build model bridges as part of their course, they learn to use AutoCAD in one of the subjects. And as far as we could, we make learning interactive and engaging, and practical for our students. Now in engineering students, all students complete eight subjects, and these subjects could be completed as I said before in 12 months, or eight months. So in that 12 months program, you have three semesters to complete your eight subjects. So all students have to do at least two mathematics subjects, one subjects on physical modelling. We also introduce students to civil and environmental engineering network, fundamental electrical and electronic engineering, and an engineering computation subjects.
Now, after you have completed the deeper math engineering with us, you will receive 48 credit points to work your UTS degree courses. So these are some of the exciting majors that you can choose from. So choosers can choose to do biomedical engineering, civil constructions, civil structures, electrical, electronic engineering, data engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics software, or even a flexible major. Now, next for students who are interested in Information Technology, the program is very similar to engineering where you can foster into the second year of a UTS IT degree and the subjects that you are doing in your Diploma of IT is similar, it’s the same as UTS first-year subjects.
Second-year students focus on the major subjects. So that means in the second year, students have a number of majors to focus on. So while they are with UTS Insearch, students will complete eight subjects in 12 months or eight months. So in the diploma information technology, we teach students different subjects. Most of these are core subjects. So students will learn technical communications. They will do a subject in Information Systems, another subject in Business Requirements Modelling. And then we have two programming subjects. One is the programming fundamental and then followed by second semester more advanced programming subjects where you will develop applications. Now, students will also learn networking and a database subject. So all this will contribute to your second-year study at UTS, regardless of which major you will be selecting. Now, these are the different degrees that students can articulate to when they go to UTS with the 48 credit points.
So the 48 credit points that students gain in the Diploma of IT, will carry towards the bachelor degree at UTS and 48 credit points equivalent to one year of study in the university. So basically, the degree that most students were followed is the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology that’s for international students only domestic students will do their Bachelor of Science in IT plus the Diploma of IT Professional Practice, which is a nine-months internship for the IT students while they’re still studying in the course. Now, some students also like to do a combined degree so they can combine with a bachelor of business, and that’s another very popular and exciting bachelor degree that students can do is the Bachelor of Science in Game Development.
And those students who intend to do research or who are interested in doing research in the future, they can also follow the Bachelor of Computing Science honours degree. Now, last but not least, what I like to say to you is the Faculty of Engineering and IT at UTS is an innovative faculty with very strong reputation. It’s a practice-based learning and industry engagement and UTS Insearch is the best pathway to UTS, thank you.
Fiona:
Thank you, Jasmine, for your great overview of the Diploma of Engineering and Diploma of IT. Now, Jasmine did mention the accelerated version of the diploma of the two engineering or IT, this is a more intense version, so it’s over a duration of eight months rather than 12 months. As we have three intakes a year, our final intake for the year is coming up on the 6th of October. So if you did the accelerated program for semester three, you could be ready for a midyear intake at UTS next year. So I just thought worth pointing that out. Now, we will have a live Q and A session at the end of this. So Jasmine will be there as well as admissions and student centre for your questions. Right, so next to help explain the student experience of our programs, we have Dinesh who did a Diploma of Engineering. So we’re very grateful, he’s here with us today. Welcome Dinesh.
Dinesh:
Hey, how are you?
Fiona:
Great to see you again. And you also kindly participated in our general information session yesterday. So really appreciate your time again.
Dinesh:
Oh, no, t’s my pleasure.
Fiona:
So if you could share with us a little bit about yourself, what you studied at UTS Insearch and what are you studying now?
Dinesh:
So, first of all, hi, everyone, I’m Dinesh, and I studied in UTS Insearch back in 2017, and I studied Diploma of Engineering, and now, I’m in UTS in my fourth year, and I’m studying Mechatronics Engineering.
Fiona:
Sounds amazing, mechatronics, good lord. Good career for the future there, good choice! And if you could share with us, why did you decide to study at UTS Insearch?
Dinesh:
So, when I finished my HSC when I was applying for universities, I saw UTS Insearch as a guaranteed pathway for UTS. And the best path that I found for UTS Insearch was I can have smaller classrooms. So I have thought that the teachers would focus more and it was definitely correct. So you just were actually able to pay me more attention and that’s why I chose UTS Insearch.
Fiona:
Good choice. And tell me, what was some of your favourite practical experiences during studying your Diploma of Engineering?
Dinesh:
So I found that like, some students thought that if you’re in UTS Insearch, you won’t be able to access the labs for UTS students, but that was actually wrong. Like when I was in UTS Insearch, I was still able to do my all practical work in UTS labs and it was really good. And I still remember it was my first day at UTS Insearch and it was like a group of all the random students. Like, I didn’t know anyone, and we were supposed to make a bridge out of straws. And it was really great to see how everyone came together and build up a bridge actually.
Fiona:
Yeah, that sort of, a teamwork and collaborative approach to different projects. What’s one of your highlights or major achievements studying the Diploma of Engineering?
Dinesh:
In terms of studies, I was actually helping other students to do that. And when I was in my first semester, so there was a subject called as chemistry and material science. I actually did like top in that subject. I came first in that subject and the teacher disband the marks and I was pretty impressed with myself. And the great thing was I worked as a team. So my entire group of friends was positioned as second, third, and fourth. And it was really good to see like entire team going together.
Fiona:
Ah, that’s lovely. So you dominated the classroom, you and your friends having that lovely again, really working on that there’s teamwork and which is one of those really key skills that we keep hearing about for the future all good to hear. So you’ve already mentioned the small class sizes, and these are some of the key important features of UTS Insearch, small class sizes, and the extra layer of student support that you get in a Pathway Program. What sort of particular support services helped you through your time at Insearch?
Dinesh:
It’s not basically like a support, but I was part of UTS Insearch volunteering and they admitted lots students who were like bought a few decent search and as well as they went to UTS and most of them were my seniors. So actually, peer group helped me to go through my studies, anyone like they add me to various other activities. Like whenever I was lost on the campus, I could just text them, “Hey, I can’t find this building, or I can’t find this class.” So student volunteering actually helped me, beside this, [you pass 00:21:32] in the classes was really helpful. So basically, [you pass 00:21:36] where a student actually helps you throughout your class to study that subject, and it’s really good, and he or she helps as like a assistant to the main lecturer in the class, and I found it really helpful.
Fiona:
Fantastic. So that was you pass. And the first one was the student volunteering. So were you a volunteer or the volunteers helped you? You were a vo-
Dinesh:
I was a volunteer as well.
Fiona:
Oh, that’s great. There are some great extra roles to take part of when you’re studying. And I think that’s really important to take advantage. So like the volunteer and the real roles, and that’s great for students who haven’t worked before too. It’s a really good experience. And we were hearing from one of the other students how they were involved in peer mentoring as well. So now, that’s great to get involved in those extra-curricular activities. Good tip Dinesh.
Dinesh:
Yeah.
Fiona:
And how you’re going through this challenging time of studying in COVID?
Dinesh:
I’m going to like really well, like all the teachers and now I’m in UTS. So like all the teachers are quite responsive. I thought that they would just like revaluing the university time, but actually, I’m getting like emails from teachers, even on weekends.
Fiona:
Wow.
Dinesh:
I’m getting like on an oral 24/7 support from teachers and everyone. And it’s really good. So I don’t feel like there’s any decrease in the quality of the studies that UTS provides us, but it’s constant and it’s really good.
Fiona:
Oh, that’s great to hear. I’m really pleased to hear because it is a disruptive time and everyone’s sort of working hard through it, but there’s no denying that. It is challenging. Now, also your you’ll want to UTS Insearch ambassadors?
Dinesh:
Oh yeah, I am.
Fiona:
And that’s great for people that are attending our session today. If you would like to talk to Dinesh, if you’ve got any questions, sometimes it’s nice for students to ask students those direct questions. So we’ll send you the link. So he’s up on our website where you can have one on one chat. So that’s great. Thank you, Dinesh.
Dinesh:
Thank you.
Fiona:
Finally, Ilene, a very experienced Partner Manager from our student recruitment team is here to talk to us about what’s next? How to apply? What are the costs involved? Hello Ilene?
Ilene:
Hi, Fiona, how are you?
Fiona:
Good. Good, good. Thanks for joining us.
Ilene:
Thank you for having me.
Fiona:
And I’ll leave all the nuts and bolts over to you.
Ilene:
As I said, I’m just going to talk you through about the entry requirements. I’m sure that everybody’s thinking about that and wanting to know how do I get into UTS Insearch? How to apply, the steps, the fees, and the intake dates. So the entry requirements, if you’re doing your HSC this year, or if you have already done it, everybody’s thinking about the ATAR, that’s something that everybody keeps in mind and that’s can actually become very stressful because you need this ATAR to be able to go to your course of choice at UTS Insearch. Insearch is a bit different in that sense that we did not look at the ATAR, but we assess based on your HSC results.
So we don’t believe the ATAR eight is defining your, we think that you’re more than ATAR. So that’s why we look at your HSC average, the way we do it is that we take your fault non-VET subjects, including English, we make the average, and then we can see if you can join the accelerated diploma or the standard diploma. So we tell you more about the different diplomas that we have eliminate, but yes just remember we do not look at the ATAR, we only look at the have average. We take the four non-VET subjects, including English, and then we’ve got the average, all right.
So the entry requirements, to going to this standard diploma, we need 67% in your HSC. Standard diploma is 12-months program. We also have the accelerated diploma, which is eight months. And for that one, we are looking at 75% in your HSC. Okay, so 67 for the standard one and 75% for the accelerated one. Just a quick recap, because you’ve already heard about that before, of the reasons why it’s [inaudible 00:25:57] for you to consider UTS Insearch, and why you should be doing a diploma at UTS Insearch. So, as mentioned, we have the granted entry into UTS. You don’t need to reapply, you don’t need to compete with other students. If you successfully complete your diploma with us, then your place is granted at UTS. We have really good support, personalized support, small class sizes, one on one tutorial workshop sessions that is happening every week as well, study success advisors that are here to help you and guide you throughout anything, any issues that you have, they will be able to give you their expertise, advice on that.
So we make sure that we prepare you to gain confidence and be able to succeed at university, especially at UTS. So our goal is to make sure that not only you go to the diploma, and then you pass, we want you to thrive once you go to UTS. It’s all about building this confidence that you need once you start at university. We also experts in transitional education. We’ve been doing that for years, so we know exactly what the student needs to be able to progress to university. So we have the teachers that I expect. And again, that is success advisors to make sure that you do well once you go to university.
Now, you’re worried about the fees. So for 2020, a diploma program, whether it’s accelerated or standard, it’s $32,000 this year, and in 2021 is going to be $33,000. So you might want to know why it’s more expensive than starting first-year at university, there are different reasons why? First of all, the ratio between teachers and students is not the same. So obviously, it increases the cost of use a bit more, but we also have to remember that we are non-government-funded. So we do not receive money from the government hence why the fees are more expensive. We are also non-profits organization, meaning that all of the money that we received, we reinvested into the education. So into the facilities, into the teachers, into the whole, Insearch organization to make your experience even better. Also, one thing that we need to mention is that if you are Australian, so citizen of [inaudible 00:28:12] humanitarian students, you can get the fee help as well and get some help from the government.
So I invite you to have a look online. It’s actually pretty well-explained now, the intake. So we’ve got three intakes every year happening and the very next one is actually happening in October. So the 6th of October is our next intake. And if among you, there are students that actually have done already. They actually see last year, two years ago, that’s that might be your opportunity to actually not wait too long. You can start in October and there are lots of courses that have a major intake at UTS. Sorry, if you are interested into architecture, business engineering, IT, and also science, you could start in October and transfer to the first or the second year at UTS in July. So you will be able to fast track. And if you are considering this sort of option, then that’s very important for you to know that otherwise if you’re doing your HSC this year, we will have an intake in February, the 22nd of February next year, or another one on the 15th of June, which is our semester two, or another semester three next year on the 27th of September.
So different sort of options for you, How do you apply? So you basically, very easy. You just go to our website. There is an application form that you really need to fill out, just answer all of the fields. And within two days, then you get an answer from us, and hopefully, you’re successful. And if you are an international student, whether you are offshore or onshore doing your HSC here, you will need the help of an education agent. We have at least on our website of all of our authorized education agents that will be able to guide you through the process and also help you with the visa requirements and all of those legal things that you need to know. And you need experts to help you with.
I’m also inviting you to have a look at our website. There is at least some information as well regarding yet kind of making requirements for your country. If you’re not in Australia and also the English requirements for the foundation program that is offered to international students, also our diploma program. There is the list of also our scholarships that are available depending on your country, and we have also listed all of them [inaudible 00:30:35]. So please have a look at our website. There is a comprehensive range of information over there, otherwise, speak to your education agent, thank you very much, everyone. Good luck.
Fiona:
Thank you, Ilene, thank you for going through the application process and the entry requirements with us. We are about to start our live Q and A component of this webinar. So please fill in your questions in the Q and A function at the bottom of the screen, not the chat, but the Q and A. We have our program manager to answer your questions. We also have representatives from student centre, admissions, and the recruitment team. So they will be with us shortly, and we’ll get to it, thank you.

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