Interfaculty projects
Alternative Admissions Research Project (AARP)
Overview | National Benchmark Tests Project (NBTP)
One of the most successful of the ADP's projects, AARP's main goal is to provide a means of access for educationally disadvantaged students whose school results do not necessarily reveal their potential to succeed in higher education. Over the past few years, many hundreds of these students have gained access who would not otherwise have been admitted to the institution on the basis of their school-leaving results; nevertheless, their graduation rate is substantially higher than that of comparable students who were accepted on the strength of their school results.
AARP is also home to the National Benchmark Tests Project (NBTP). The purpose of the NBTP is four-fold:
- To assess entry-level academic and quantitative literacy and mathematics proficiency of student;
- To assess the relationship between entry level proficiencies and school-level exit outcomes;
- To provide a service to HE institutions requiring additional information in the admission and placement of students; and
- To inform the nature of foundation courses and curriculum responsiveness
The NBT project is led by Assoc Prof Nan Yeld and colleagues Robert Prince and George van der Ross and looks at how well the new curriculum prepares learners for university, specifically around the entry-level academic and quantitative literacy. Through the provision of diagnostic information, the project will also assist institutions to draw up suitable curricula, particularly in foundation courses.
National Benchmark Tests Project (NBTP)
The purpose of the NBTP is four-fold:
- To assess entry-level academic and quantitative literacy and mathematics proficiency of student;
- To assess the relationship between entry level proficiencies and school-level exit outcomes;
- To provide a service to HE institutions requiring additional information in the admission and placement of students; and
- To inform the nature of foundation courses and curriculum responsiveness
The NBTP is led by Assoc Prof Nan Yeld and colleagues Robert Prince and George van der Ross and looks at how well the new curriculum prepares learners for university, specifically around the entry-level academic and quantitative literacy. Through the provision of diagnostic information, the project will also assist institutions to draw up suitable curricula, particularly in foundation courses.