This is the transcript for the video UTS Insearch Virtual Info Session
Olivia Barnes:
Good evening. I’m Olivia Barnes, Regional Head of Onshore at UTS Insearch and I’d like to welcome you to the UTS Insearch Information Session. The aim of tonight’s session is to share with you the alternate way to UTS by studying with us at UTS Insearch. Tonight, we will be sharing who we are and what we do, the types of programs that we offer, how we can help you fast track your studies at UTS, and the application processes and entry requirements for our programs. Tonight, to help explain who we are and the benefits of studying with us, we have a panel of experts joining us. I’d like to welcome Janet Gibson, Program Manager for Communication.
Janet Gibson:
Hi everybody.
Olivia Barnes:
Hi Janet. Susan Sherringham, Program Manager, UTS Foundation Studies.
Susan S.:
Hello everyone.
Olivia Barnes:
And two UTS Insearch graduates who are currently studying at UTS, [Dinesh Chandola 00:01:12] and Nathalie Castro.
Dinesh:
Hi everyone.
Nathalie C.:
Hi.
Olivia Barnes:
And of course, Aline Chiron, our Partner Manager is also joining.
Aline Chiron:
Good evening.
Olivia Barnes:
The structure of the information session will consist of a panel discussion with our staff and students who you just met, followed by a live Q&A session with our Program Managers and our Admissions team. Now, for some housekeeping for this session, to help sound and internet quality, we suggest you close any other tabs or browsers that you may have open. We welcome your questions during the panel. You can do this by using the Q&A function at the bottom of the screen to type in your questions. Please use this, rather than the chat function. So please, get your questions ready, and we will then answer all the questions after the panel discussion. So let’s hear from our education experts. I’d like to say hello again to Janet and Susan. Thanks for joining.
Janet Gibson:
My pleasure.
Olivia Barnes:
A question for you both, in a snapshot of what UTS Insearch offers, what are the key benefits for students who choose to commence their studies at UTS Insearch?
Janet Gibson:
So we’re talking about a snapshot of what UTS Insearch is like, and the key benefits. For me, I see UTS Insearch as a warm, supportive, pathway to UTS which prepares students incredibly well for, usually the second year of their degree, or sometimes halfway through the first year of their degree. I think its benefits, and I’m sure this will be expounded upon as we continue talking and talking to Sue, that it is small classrooms, we do exactly the same subjects in the diplomas, the diplomas as are done at UTS. But we do them with more support, more time, and much more personalized, differentiated, learning environment.
The programs we offer include six diplomas, Sue will talk about the foundation diplomas, but we offer Business, we offer Science, Engineering, IT, Design and Architecture, and of course, Communication. We also offer these programs, which are very different disciplinary areas, in different modalities. So we have an accelerated program, for students who feel that they want to, for whatever reason, get into UTS faster. Maybe they want to take a little bit of a gap year, half a gap year. And that’s an eight-months program. We have standard, which is 12 months, and we also offer extended, which is 16 months, which is great for students who, perhaps, really struggle with what university is about, and it’s a soft landing in a sense, into what the university study can be like.
I think another important part of this snapshot is to, with the diplomas, is to emphasize that the subjects are written in conjunction with UTS [inaudible 00:04:15], that we are very much a part of UTS, which is why we’re called UTS Insearch. And so, unlike some, maybe some other pathway programs which are getting you ready for university, which are great, and that’s what we do too, but we’re actually getting you ready for UTS University, for your studies at UTS specifically. Susan I don’t know if you want to add to that?
Susan S.:
No, I mean, I concur with all of those things and likewise, foundation has different options in terms of length of study, depending on where students are at, so we do try and meet students where they’re at in their learning journey. And definitely the thing that I’d like to stress is that it is a space, a safe space, where students can really grow, and develop, and gain their confidence, so that they are ready to take that big step to go and study at university, which is a very different type of environment to school. And it takes quite a bit of growing up, and development of self and confidence for students to be able to operate in a successful way and thrive in that type of university environment. And that’s really what we’re offering them here at UTS Insearch.
Olivia Barnes:
So, Janet, we’re often asked about the experience of a diploma student in comparison to a student who goes directly into first year at UTS. Perhaps you could share your perspectives on this.
Janet Gibson:
Yeah sure. Immediately I thought about my own experience first year at university. I was really out of my depth, and I think this is because I went from a more closed, supportive high school environment, into an environment where there were hundreds of people in a lecture. I didn’t know anyone because your high school friends go to different universities, or perhaps don’t go to university. And I think this is a no for… this is the experience that a lot of UTS first year students have. And, as research has shown, a lot of first year students who go direct to uni actually don’t last, there’s a huge attrition rate.
I think the thing that happens at UTS Insearch that I think is so important is that we provide that kind of transitional pathway into university by stressing all the kinds of key pledge points, cultural practices that you need to be a successful student when you get to UTS. And students in my diploma who come back and talk to me a lot, say that they feel very well equipped, and very much part of what’s going on there because they’re not sort of suddenly thrown into this large first year different experience, that’s so different from high school. But they actually are going into second year with skills in independent learning, with knowing how to look after themselves, with having made a great body of friends who they can meet over there, or bring over to the second year with them.
Olivia Barnes:
So Susan, as our Program Manager for UTS Foundation Studies, what do you think some of the advantages that international students are, in doing the foundation course? And what are some of the benefits that this course offers students?
Susan S.:
Well, as you just said, it is for international students and that’s quite important. The course has been designed specifically to cater for international students. And it is an alternative to students doing the HSC or an offshore equivalent to get into university. Most of those offshore equivalents, and the HSC, involve quite high-stakes exams, but the way we approach assessment in foundation studies is through projects and ongoing learning and assessment. So it’s a different type of assessment regime, which students adjust to quite well, and it gives them more opportunities to be successful. But I also think that the way the subjects have been designed is very well scaffolded, which means that students get to learn step-by-step in blocks. The activities that they do every week supports them in their assessments. And in addition to this, academic skills acquisition, and also language acquisition, is embedded into the way the subjects have been designed, so they’re getting a really holistic, well-rounded curriculum that’s specific to their needs.
Olivia Barnes:
So Susan, could you run us through some of the other pathway options available to UTS, aside from our diploma programs?
Susan S.:
Certainly Olivia. So, for international students, there are two other pathways, other than the diploma, and that is Academic English, which can be studied independently and go directly into UTS, or you can study English, if you need additional English skills, come into foundation, and then you can go straight to UTS. Or if you don’t quite make the mark, or need just a little bit of extra time developing your skills, you can go on to the diploma. So there are quite a few ways that you can go through to UTS, through that Academic English Foundation and Diploma pathway network.
Olivia Barnes:
I’d like to move on to teaching in the current environment. Well, firstly, maybe a question for either of you. What is remote learning and what’s the difference between remote and online? And also, secondly, what does remote learning look like at UTS Insearch?
Susan S.:
Well, I’d like to speak to that. So, remote learning really, in its simplest sense, is simply a change of environment. So we’re used to having classrooms where we meet face-to-face. We have interactions, we have large group activities, group activities, automatic feedback, and really all we’ve done is shift from that physical environment to a video environment. So all of the wonderful things that can happen in a classroom, apart from physical contact, can still happen in our video classroom, and it is essentially a face-to-face learning environment. So the quality of the curriculum, the way students are learning, the way teachers are engaging with students, and supporting them, and monitoring their progress really is unchanged. And we’re very lucky because our teachers were already quite used to blended learning, using online technologies to support student learning. So the transition has been quite smooth, which has been fantastic, and if anything, it’s really just heightened the way teachers are supporting the students, because they realize that it has been a bit of a shift to this environment, which is quite unfamiliar to most people.
Olivia Barnes:
I have a question for both of you, or one of you. What are the plans for moving back to face-to-face teaching in the classroom?
Janet Gibson:
I’d like to answer that. I think, given the uncertainty in the world and in Australia, around whether COVID-19 will be recurring so much, at the moment we have decided that we will stay remote, and Susan might want to add to this, but I think that there are, we are looking to the advantages of remote, and possibly there might be ways in which that can be continued, because we are very much… online is not remote, but we are very much utilized online and blended learning in our subjects that we have… we can be very agile moving between those two, but everyone has their eye on the end game at the moment. We’re not, we’re just not sure what’s going to happen.
Olivia Barnes:
I understand.
Janet Gibson:
I don’t know if you want to add to that.
Susan S.:
I just think that there are so many wonderful ways that this type of remote learning enables us to connect with our students anytime, anywhere, to make sure they’re progressing well, and that every everybody’s in touch and knows what’s going on.
Olivia Barnes:
It’s really interesting to hear our education staff, we’re already embracing the benefits of technology and adapted a blended approach, or had a blended approach to teaching and supporting student performance before COVID. So, I think it would be… it’s great to hear those perspectives, but I think it’s also great to hear from some students. So what I’d like to do now is just show a quick video that shares some of our students, current students’ feedback on their remote learning experience.
Margarita R.:
The main platform that we used in the previous semesters, and we use again with learning is Canvas, which I find incredibly helpful and incredibly convenient because all the materials are on there.
Maria Jamal:
The main part of the remote learning are the teachers. They are helping us the most, but they are guiding us through each and every step there in making us aware of the new assignment pattern or the quizzes online. And they are very approachable.
Olivia Barnes:
I have to say that the education team have done a brilliant job moving our students to remote learning so efficiently, and to help students stay on track to reach UTS. Thank you so much Janet and Sue for sharing your insights and a passion for what you do. Just a quick housekeeping reminder to keep your questions coming, please continue to type them into the Q&A function and we will respond to all of the questions at the end of the panel session. To help explain the role UTS Insearch plays in the student journey, there is no one better to hear it from than the students. I’m delighted to have two of our recent graduates joining us today. Hi both.
Nathalie C.:
Hi.
Olivia Barnes:
Dinesh is a UTS Insearch graduate now studying Mechatronics in Bachelor of Engineering at UTS, and Nathalie is also a UTS Insearch graduate who is now studying Bachelor of Engineering, majoring in Biomedical at UTS. Welcome, and thank you for joining tonight. Perhaps you could tell us, both tell me a little bit about yourself. Where you’re from and what you’re studying. Nathalie, we might start with you.
Nathalie C.:
Thank you Olivia. So I’m actually from Columbia and I’m doing Biomedical Engineering at UTS, and I did a Diploma of Engineering at UTS Insearch.
Olivia Barnes:
Great, and Dinesh?
Dinesh:
I’m Dinesh, and I’m studying Mechatronics Engineering at UTS, and I did a Diploma of Engineering in UTS Insearch as well. And yeah.
Olivia Barnes:
So Dinesh, why did you decide to study at UTS Insearch?
Dinesh:
While I was studying HSC, I noticed that there’s UTS Insearch and UTS, but the advantages I saw in UTS Insearch was they have smaller classrooms, which I believe would be good for me so as to bridge the gap between high school and universities because the teachers can pay more attention towards me. That’s why I chose UTS Insearch.
Olivia Barnes:
Great. And Nathalie, what about you?
Nathalie C.:
So, as an international student, I feel like when you try to look at universities, you sometimes don’t fill all the requirements, and then I found Insearch really supporting to actually allow us to do the diploma first year, the strong connection with UTS, and actually have these guarantee entry into your second year at UTS.
Olivia Barnes:
And Nathalie, as an international student, now that you are at UTS, how do you feel UTS Insearch prepared you for university?
Nathalie C.:
Oh, I definitely feel it prepared me a lot. As an engineering student you need a lot of maths, and I feel getting the basis really, really, really good is really important. So during this first year, I really feel this support, having a smaller classes, being able to actually ask your teachers when you have doubts, actually helped you. Now that I’m at Insearch third year or fourth year, I really know what to do, how to do things right. So I think that’s one of my plus sides, with UTS Insearch.
Olivia Barnes:
Yes, for sure. And Dinesh, you mentioned that you studied high school locally. How do you feel UTS Insearch prepared you for your life at UTS?
Dinesh:
I feel like when we study HSC, there are few concepts of Maths, and Physics, and everything. We study that, but we are still not good with that. But when we go to UTS Insearch they actually builds your… the base properly. And when you actually go to UTS and apply all those concepts in the upcoming years, it becomes really strong because, as Nathalie said, base of an engineer should be really good, only then you can build anything on top of that. So I believe UTS Insearch helped me to make my base stronger for studies.
Olivia Barnes:
Well, I think you’re both engineering students so it’d be interesting to hear your perspectives, and if you feel you had an advantage over other students who may not have gone through a pathway. So when you joined the Engineering Faculty in your second year, how did you feel you were prepared in comparison to some of your peers? Maybe Nathalie, if you could share your thoughts.
Nathalie C.:
So I definitely could feel I was more prepared as I was telling you before. So I was more ready, it was a more smooth transition. I feel that when you come maybe from high school to university, you were more ready to talk to academics, to start working in different projects, as well it gives you the opportunity at Insearch, just getting involved in different things. So when you jump into UTS, you’re more open, you’re more ready to all of… to do all of these studies.
Olivia Barnes:
And Dinesh, how about you? How was your experience when you transitioned across to university?
Dinesh:
Feel like, first of all, the transition from Insearch to UTS is really smooth, because I was scared that if I skip a date of applying or something, but it was all smooth. My grades were automatically transferred and the transition was smooth. And one thing was really important after studying from UTS Insearch, because I got a certificate that says Diploma of Engineering. That was the first year certificate. So if I tried applying for internships with that certificate, I was still getting into, as well as, I believe if I was in UTS, I wouldn’t have gotten that. So that was really helpful for me. And moreover, if I see about the volunteering options at UTS Insearch is most really good because it helped me to grow as a human being, and my public speaking skills were improved, and everything were improved that actually helped me in UTS.
Olivia Barnes:
That’s great. It’s great to hear that you feel like your soft skills developed and put you in a good position when going across to the university. If you could, this is a question for you Dinesh, if you could advise you old self or students who were thinking of studying a pathway program, such as UTS Insearch, what would you say to them?
Dinesh:
I feel like being a university student, one main thing for all the students should be, break the ice. If you see a person there, sitting over there, and you need help, they need help, break the ice, go and speak to them. Communication is the key. And to be honest, what I’ve felt is the more number of friends do you have, the more better marks you get because everyone, all the students works as a group and then you can get even better marks, so just communicate with everyone.
Olivia Barnes:
Yeah. That’s great advice. And Nathalie, what would you say to an international student who was thinking of studying a pathway program at UTS Insearch?
Nathalie C.:
I will definitely tell them not to be a scare. Yeah, there are like so many amazing things coming and if you’re really open about it, like not to be closed, just be really open, be open to new opportunities, to new things, and that’s the only way you’re going to keep learning, and actually a lot of doors are going to open in front of you. Even before you go into your second year at UTS, you will get a lot of opportunities working, meet with teachers. So I think that’s a really good advice I will give.
Olivia Barnes:
That’s fantastic. Thank you both so much for joining our session. Good luck with your future engineering studies at UTS. And thank you so much for staying in touch and supporting other students who are thinking about what their options might be after high school. So thanks so much for joining.
Dinesh:
[inaudible 00:21:18].
Nathalie C.:
Thank you Olivia.
Olivia Barnes:
Finally, I’d like to welcome Aline, our very experienced Partner Manager from Student Recruitment Team to talk about what’s next, how to apply, and what costs are involved. Hi, Aline. Thanks for joining.
Aline Chiron:
Hi Olivia. Hi, Thank you.
Olivia Barnes:
You have all the, “What’s next?” questions, so we’ll start with an important one, how to apply. So, could you run us through the process for a student who’s wanting to apply to UTS Insearch?
Aline Chiron:
So, it’s very easy, very straightforward. If you’re a domestic student, meaning as an Australian student, you just have to go online into our website, and there is an “apply now” sort of field that you can just click on and you’ll be asked several information about yourself, and right after, you will receive an offer. It’s up to you to accept the offer or not. Of course there is no obligation, but it’s just a good option to have, just in case. If you’re an international student, we will ask you to actually speak to your education agent. If you do not have an education agent yet, there is a list of authorized agents into our website. So just consult the list and you can choose one from the list.
Olivia Barnes:
Great. Thank you. What are the entry requirements for the programs at UTS Insearch?
Aline Chiron:
So we have three diploma programs at UTS Insearch, so different durations, and each one of them will have a different sort of entry requirements for them. Also, we will have to look at whether you’re international student or domestic student. If you are applying from offshore and you’re an international student, we will have to assess based on your education background from this country. If you are an Australian student or an international student applying here, and you’ve done your HSC here in Australia, we will have to assess based on your HSC average. We don’t look at the ATAR, we believe that the HSC average reflects more on your ability to be able to start the diploma program with us. So, if you are applying from Australia and you’ve done the HSC, the HSC is what would we be looking at. We will be taking four non-VET subjects, including English, and we will make the average.
So, as I said, we have three diploma programs. We have accelerated, which is eight months. We also have standard, which is 12 months, and we also have the extended diploma program, which is 16 months. For accelerated, we’re looking at 75% in the HSC. For the standard one, 12 months, we’re looking at 67%, and for the extended, 16 months, we’re looking at 63%.
Olivia Barnes:
Great. Thank you. So what are the costs to study at UTS Insearch?
Aline Chiron:
So for the extended, eight months, and standard, 12 months, we’re looking at A$32,000 for the diploma program, and for the extended it’s A$39,000. It includes access to UTS facilities, all of our buildings, and also at UTS Insearch. And includes books, text books are also included in that, plus the personalized support that I will tell you about just after that.
Olivia Barnes:
Great, and thank you. I think many students and parents often ask why Insearch is such a high investment. What are the benefits of studying at UTS Insearch over other universities or pathway providers?
Aline Chiron:
The first year at university is always one of the most challenging one. Basically Insearch is really specialized in transitional education. That’s what we do, we do really well for the students. So we support the students. Sorry. By support we mean small class sizes… so, different examples. So, small class sizes. We’ve got 20 students per classroom in tutorials, and no more than 80 in lecture room, which is completely different from what it is at university. You can end up in the lecture room with hundreds of students quite easily. So, teachers are able to build some sort of rapport with the students. They know them really well, they know their names, which makes a huge difference. They can identify those sort of issues that they might have and try to tackle them at the right time before the students are going to fail. So we’ve got these sort of things in place. They’re also assisted with the Study Success Advisors that are here to counsel the students.
So they, again, they are able to see which students will [inaudible 00:25:43] benefit from a bit of help, but also they we be able to meet the students and the students can definitely book some appointments with them to discuss any sort of issues, or little concerns that they might have. On top of that we also offer some extra tutorial, one-on-one tutorial, Study Skills Workshops, and all of that. So we’re really big in support. On top of that, as I mentioned before, and I think it’s been mentioned several times as well, our students have access to UTS facilities. So they’re already part of UTS community. And in fact some of our tutorials are taught at UTS, and I’m thinking about those lab courses that we offer that have to be taught at UTS, so you’re already part of UTS community. We also offer a few help for the students, which is important as well for you guys to know if you’re domestic or PR Humanitarian student.
And last but not least, we are, unlike universities, we are not government funded, so that’s why we don’t receive anything from the government. And we are also not-profit organization, meaning that every funds that we receive, we reinvest everything into our teaching methodology, our facilities, our teachers, to develop new programs, and so on.
Olivia Barnes:
Great. Thank you, Aline. This is where UTS Insearch can make a huge difference. University can feel like a whole new world and can be incredibly daunting, but UTS Insearch helps students develop and prepare for university life. We offer highly personalized support and students learn core skills needed at university and beyond. Thank you Aline and our panellists for sharing your expertise and valuable insights. We’re about to start our live Q&A session, so please have your questions ready and type them in the Q&A function at the bottom of the screen. We have a team of experts ready to answer your questions, including Program Managers from Business, Communication, Engineering, IT and Science. On behalf of UTS Insearch, I’d like to thank you for joining us in today’s information session. I hope we were able to shed some light on the various pathway options available for you to join UTS. I’ll now hand you over to the Q&A team.