UNSW woos Chinese students by accepting Gaokao scores for admissions

SYDNEY, April 22 (Xinhua) -- With Australia's 'Asia Literacy' looming as a key issue in the upcoming federal election, Aussie universities, led by the University of New South Wales (UNSW) have launched a furious campaign to woo Chinese students and the potential boom in knowledge they provide.

In a ground breaking policy launched this week in Guangzhou, UNSW will accept Gaokao scores as the basis for entry into undergraduate programs spanning the humanities, commerce and economics, actuarial studies, architecture, fine arts, media, engineering and science.

China is UNSW's largest source of international students, with 5,748 Chinese students accounting for approximately 10 percent of the entire UNSW student population.

Accepting China's Gaokao scores from 2014 directly for admissions across the majority of undergraduate degree programs reflects both the shifting mission of Australian universities and the close working relationships UNSW enjoys with a receptive Chinese government.

Speaking ahead of UNSW's April 23 Open Day event in Guangzhou, UNSW's Pro-Vice- Chancellor (International) Fiona Docherty told Xinhua the Gaokao policy a first for Australian universites "is a sign that UNSW's engagement with China has well and truly come of age."

The Gaokao policy is part of UNSW's wider China Ready program designed to deliver premium higher education solutions tailored to the Chinese market. The China Ready program includes offering more information about UNSW in Simplified Chinese available on a new China Web Portal to be launched in August.

"This is a sign of respect for China's hard working students and their families. It is an acknowledgement that we regard Chinese students as among the world's most dedicated and gifted groups of students," she said.

"UNSW's Gaokao entry policy is designed to balance our premium brand and reputation for world-class quality with respect for China's students and their families," Docherty said.

Gaokao entry requirements are based on the percentage average of all attempted subjects in the Gaokao exam. Students from provinces with a maximum Gaokao mark of 750 for example, require scores ranging from 600 to 660 (being a range of 80 to 88 per cent) , to gain entry into prestigious degree programs at UNSW.