Change to Graduate-only entry into the MBChB programme
Ellen Veronica made this Official Information request to University of Auckland
This request has an unknown status. We're waiting for Ellen Veronica to read recent responses and update the status.
From: Ellen Veronica
Dear University of Auckland,
Currently, students wishing to enter the MBChB programme can enter through the first-year pathway (first-year BSc Biomedical Science / BHSc), or as graduates with a qualifying degree (https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/stud...). Given that increasing numbers of graduate students have been accepted into the MBChB programme relative to first-year students in recent years, there is speculation that the University is transitioning to graduate-only entrance.
In relation to this, please provide the following:
1. Any review(s) which consider the role of first-year entry into the MBChB programme, or a transition to graduate-only entry
2. Written minutes of any Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences meetings (including meetings of the Medical Programme Directorate, Board of Studies (Medicine), or any Working Party established for the purposes of reviewing the entry process into the MBChB programme) regarding the role of first-year entry into the MBChB programme, or a transition to graduate-only entry
Information prior to 2019 is not necessary to provide.
Yours faithfully,
Ellen Veronica
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Ellen,
I refer to your request of 20 September 2022. As consultations necessary
to make a decision on your request are such that a response cannot
reasonably be given within the original time limit, the University has
extended the time limit for your request until 9 November 2022 under
section 15A(1)(b) of the OIA. This is the new maximum time limit for the
University’s response; we will respond to your request as soon as
reasonably practicable. You have the right to make a complaint to an
Ombudsman if you are dissatisfied with this extension.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
University of Auckland
From: Ellen Veronica <[1][FYI request #20621 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2022 1:10 PM
To: legal <[2][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Change to Graduate-only entry into
the MBChB programme
Dear University of Auckland,
Currently, students wishing to enter the MBChB programme can enter through
the first-year pathway (first-year BSc Biomedical Science / BHSc), or as
graduates with a qualifying degree
([3]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/stud...).
Given that increasing numbers of graduate students have been accepted into
the MBChB programme relative to first-year students in recent years, there
is speculation that the University is transitioning to graduate-only
entrance.
In relation to this, please provide the following:
1. Any review(s) which consider the role of first-year entry into the
MBChB programme, or a transition to graduate-only entry
2. Written minutes of any Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences meetings
(including meetings of the Medical Programme Directorate, Board of Studies
(Medicine), or any Working Party established for the purposes of reviewing
the entry process into the MBChB programme) regarding the role of
first-year entry into the MBChB programme, or a transition to
graduate-only entry
Information prior to 2019 is not necessary to provide.
Yours faithfully,
Ellen Veronica
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[4][FYI request #20621 email]
Is [5][University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[6]https://smex12-5-en-ctp.trendmicro.com:4...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[7]https://smex12-5-en-ctp.trendmicro.com:4...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
show quoted sections
From: Landon Watt
University of Auckland
Dear Ellen,
I refer to your email of 20 September 2022. The University’s response
follows.
“Currently, students wishing to enter the MBChB programme can enter
through the first-year pathway (first-year BSc Biomedical Science / BHSc),
or as graduates with a qualifying degree
([1]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/stud...).
Given that increasing numbers of graduate students have been accepted into
the MBChB programme relative to first-year students in recent years, there
is speculation that the University is transitioning to graduate-only
entrance.
1. Any review(s) which consider the role of first-year entry into the
MBChB programme, or a transition to graduate-only entry”
The University has not made any decision to transition to graduate-only
entrance for the MBChB programme. Any decision of this kind would have
very substantial impacts on the University’s programmes and would have
been clearly communicated to staff, students and other stakeholders.
The University has, however, taken steps to consider the pros and cons of
moving to postgraduate professional Health degrees and the subsequent
development of a revised undergraduate degree. As requested, I have
attached a report from a Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences Working
Group entitled “The Future of Healthcare Professional Education”, on this
topic. Sections of the report considering other health professional
programmes have been redacted on the basis that they are outside the scope
of your request, which concerns only the MBChB programme. Financial
information has also been withheld under section 9(2)(j) of the OIA, to
enable the University to carry on negotiations without prejudice or
disadvantage.
“2. Written minutes of any Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences meetings
(including meetings of the Medical Programme Directorate, Board of Studies
(Medicine), or any Working Party established for the purposes of reviewing
the entry process into the MBChB programme) regarding the role of
first-year entry into the MBChB programme, or a transition to
graduate-only entry”
Due to the volume of material that staff would need to review to identify
the information requested, this part of your request cannot be granted
without substantial collation or research. Accordingly the University has
refused this part of your request under section 18(f) of the OIA.
As your concern appears to relate to current MBChB admissions policy, this
response may have provided all the information you need for your purposes,
despite the University’s refusal to provide some of the information
requested. If you wished to make a request for Faculty minutes concerning
a specific topic since the date of the report provided, 31 October 2021,
the University could provide these without substantial collation or
research, subject to consideration of substantive withholding grounds.
You have the right to make a complaint to an Ombudsman if you are
dissatisfied with this response.
Yours sincerely,
Landon Watt
Legal Advisor
Office of the Vice-Chancellor
University of Auckland
From: Ellen Veronica <[2][FOI #20621 email]>
Sent: Tuesday, 20 September 2022 1:10 PM
To: legal <[3][University of Auckland request email]>
Subject: Official Information request - Change to Graduate-only entry into
the MBChB programme
Dear University of Auckland,
Currently, students wishing to enter the MBChB programme can enter through
the first-year pathway (first-year BSc Biomedical Science / BHSc), or as
graduates with a qualifying degree
([4]https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/study/stud...).
Given that increasing numbers of graduate students have been accepted into
the MBChB programme relative to first-year students in recent years, there
is speculation that the University is transitioning to graduate-only
entrance.
In relation to this, please provide the following:
1. Any review(s) which consider the role of first-year entry into the
MBChB programme, or a transition to graduate-only entry
2. Written minutes of any Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences meetings
(including meetings of the Medical Programme Directorate, Board of Studies
(Medicine), or any Working Party established for the purposes of reviewing
the entry process into the MBChB programme) regarding the role of
first-year entry into the MBChB programme, or a transition to
graduate-only entry
Information prior to 2019 is not necessary to provide.
Yours faithfully,
Ellen Veronica
-------------------------------------------------------------------
This is an Official Information request made via the FYI website.
Please use this email address for all replies to this request:
[5][FOI #20621 email]
Is [6][University of Auckland request email] the wrong address for Official Information
requests to University of Auckland? If so, please contact us using this
form:
[7]https://smex12-5-en-ctp.trendmicro.com:4...
Disclaimer: This message and any reply that you make will be published on
the internet. Our privacy and copyright policies:
[8]https://smex12-5-en-ctp.trendmicro.com:4...
If you find this service useful as an Official Information officer, please
ask your web manager to link to us from your organisation's OIA or LGOIMA
page.
show quoted sections
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John Yang left an annotation ()
I do not think UoA is transitioning to graduate-only entry at all.
There has not been an increasing numbers of graduate students being accepted into the MBChB program. In 2020, 68 graduate students received offers and enrolled into MBChB but in 2021, only 30 graduate students received offers and 28 subsequently enrolled. Rather, there has been a decrease of 40 enrolments for graduate students from 2020 to 2021. Similarly, in 2019 only 29 graduate students enrolled in the MBChB program.
The reason why in 2020, a large number of graduate students were taken onboard compared to FYs was because the combined rankscore of FYs was below that of graduate (i.e. highest total combined rank score receives offers).
Link to this