A100 medicine interview selection process November 2019
Dear Cardiff University,
Could you kindly provide anonymized information on applicants to the A100 course for 2020 entry indicating fee status, academic grades and score assigned to the personal statement, separating applicants who have been selected for interview and those rejected for interview? In addition, could you please share the instructions you have given professional scorers for scoring the personal statement?
Yours faithfully,
Caroline Van Rijckeghem
Dear Caroline,
I acknowledge receipt of your email received by this office on 29/11/19 in
which you requested information regarding A100 applications.
Your request will now be dealt with under the Freedom of Information Act
2000 and has been allocated reference FOI19-481 which should be quoted in
all correspondence. We will respond to your request within 20 working days
starting the next working day after receipt, therefore you can expect to
receive a response no later than 31/12/19.
Where we consider that we will not be able to meet this deadline or if
further time is required to consider the public interest test we will
contact you as soon as possible and give you a revised date for response.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and, if that is the case, we
will let you know. A fees notice will be issued to you, and you will be
required to pay before we will proceed to deal with your request.
Yours sincerely
John Groves John Groves
Project Officer Swyddog Prosiect
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 02920 879870 Ffon: 02920 879870
E-mail: [1][email address] E-bost:
[2][email address]
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.
Dear Caroline
I am writing in response to your Freedom of Information request dated
29/11/19
For ease of reference, I have reproduced your question below and set out
our corresponding response.
Could you kindly provide anonymized information on applicants to the A100
course for 2020 entry indicating fee status, academic grades and score
assigned to the personal statement, separating applicants who have been
selected for interview and those rejected for interview? In addition,
could you please share the instructions you have given professional
scorers for scoring the personal statement?
Whilst the University holds information about student applications this is
withheld under the exemption provided by S43(2) of the Freedom of
Information Act entitled “Commercial Interests”. In particular section
43(2) states that information is exempt if its disclosure under this Act
would, or would be likely to, prejudice the commercial interests of any
person (including the public authority holding it).
The information requested includes commercially sensitive details
regarding the University’s recruitment strategy and processes. Disclosure
of this data would allow other higher education providers to gain and
insight into University practice and use this information to shape their
own strategies, thus prejudicing our commercial interests. To release this
information at this time would impact upon our ability to attract
students. Any loss of market share and reduction in enrolled student
numbers would have significant impact on the University’s student fee
income, with attendant impact on the University’s long term financial
sustainability.
The recruitment of students is a very competitive environment where UK
universities face competition not just from each other but also from other
institutions around the world. Students are highly mobile and have wide
choices over where they may study. The ability for the universities in
general, and Cardiff University in particular as a major research
intensive university in Wales, to compete effectively in a global market
is an important strategic objective as set out by the Welsh Government in
'For Our Future: the higher education strategy plan for Wales' and in the
Welsh Government Policy Statement on Higher Education which is available
at:
[1]http://wales.gov.uk/docs/dcells/publicat....
It is also important that Cardiff University is able to continue competing
on an equal footing with similar large, research intensive institutions in
the UK and overseas.
Based on the above it is considered that the commercial interest of the
University would be prejudiced by release and as such the Section 43(2)
exemption is engaged.
The University must consider the public interest test when applying this
exemption and this is considered below.
Public Interest Test
Factors in Favour of Disclosure
It is in the public interest to release information that provides a
greater public understanding of the way the University operates and its
provisions for future delivery of its services.
Factors in Favour of Non-disclosure
It is not in the public interest to release information that would be
likely to damage the commercial interests of the University by undermining
its ability to compete in the market place.
It is not in the public interest to release information that would reduce
the efficiency and effectiveness of the University by having the effect of
damaging the ability of the University to pursue its recruitment
strategies on an equal footing to other public and privately funded
education institutions.
On balance it is considered that it would not be in the public interest to
release the number of student places that the University plans to offer in
the years specified and therefore the information will not be released at
this time.
I trust this information satisfies your enquiry. The University has a
Freedom of Information Complaints Procedure should you feel dissatisfied
with this response or the way in which your request was handled.
Complaints must be made in writing and must set out why you believe the
University has not met its obligations under the Freedom of Information
Act. You may email your complaint to [2][email address] where
it will be forwarded to the Director of Strategic Planning and Governance
who will be responsible for overseeing the review.
If you remain dissatisfied following the outcome of your complaint, you
have the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for
consideration. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at the
following address: Information Commissioner's Office, Wycliffe House,
Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your interest in
Cardiff University. If you require further assistance please feel free to
contact me.
Yours sincerely
John Groves John Groves
Project Officer Swyddog Prosiect
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 02920 879870 Ffon: 02920 879870
E-mail: [3][email address] E-bost:
[4][email address]
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.
Dear InfoRequest,
I am disappointed that my request for information has been denied, based on the information being possibly damaging to the University of Cardiff commercial interests. University of Cardiff Medicine is the largest medical school in the UK, has received about 3,500 applications, more than the 3,000 last year, and more than double the number of interview spaces. To claim that the environment of attracting students to apply is extremely competitive and that other universities would unfairly be able to benefit from learning Cardiff's criteria for inviting people to interview is facetious. Medicine applicants need to be very strategic in which university they apply to and the University needs to be open to explain their criteria. It is unfair to try to attract students to apply in order to boost your applicant per place ratio. I don't believe this could be in the public interest.
It is well-known in the student community now that Cardiff rejected many students for interview who achieved a 27/27 on their scoring system. It is also know that Cardiff has claimed that it encourages students with a range of grades to apply, while those applicants have zero chance of receiving an invitation.
I also note that my request consisted of 2 parts
1) data on applicants showing their score on grades, indicating whether they are successful or not in securing an interview
2) instructions provided to personal statement scorers.
I would like to request data on part 1) only at this point. I have not seen a request for this type of information denied in any FOI.
Yours sincerely,
Caroline Van Rijckeghem
Dear Caroline,
I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act Complaint
received by this office on 05/12/19.
Your complaint has been referred to the Director of Strategic Planning and
Governance, Mr John Britton, who will aim to respond to your request
within 20 working days starting the day after receipt. Therefore you can
expect to receive a response no later than 07/01/20.
In some circumstances we may not be able to meet this deadline and if this
is likely to be the case we will contact you as soon as possible and give
you a revised date for response.
Yours sincerely
John Groves John Groves
Project Officer Swyddog Prosiect
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 02920 879870 Ffon: 02920 879870
E-mail: [1][email address] E-bost:
[2][email address]
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.
Dear Caroline
Further to our email of 9 December 2019, I am sorry but we are still
finalising our response and are not in a position to respond as
anticipated.
We will aim to respond by 14 January 2020 and apologise for any
inconvenience caused.
Regards
Alison
Alison Preece Alison Preece
Assurance Adviser Ymgynghorydd Sicrwydd
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Gynllunio Strategol a
Llywodraethu
Cardiff University Prifysgol Caerdydd
2nd Floor, Friary House Llawr 2, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Cardiff Caerdydd
CF10 3AE CF10 3AE
E-mail: [1][email address] E-bost:
[2][email address]
We welcome correspondence in Welsh
or English Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy’r
Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg
From: InfoRequest
Sent: 09 December 2019 09:48
To: Caroline Van Rijckeghem <[FOI #624405 email]>
Subject: RE: FOI19-481 A100 applications
Dear Caroline,
I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act Complaint
received by this office on 05/12/19.
Your complaint has been referred to the Director of Strategic Planning and
Governance, Mr John Britton, who will aim to respond to your request
within 20 working days starting the day after receipt. Therefore you can
expect to receive a response no later than 07/01/20.
In some circumstances we may not be able to meet this deadline and if this
is likely to be the case we will contact you as soon as possible and give
you a revised date for response.
Yours sincerely
John Groves John Groves
Project Officer Swyddog Prosiect
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 02920 879870 Ffon: 02920 879870
E-mail: [3][email address] E-bost:
[4][email address]
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.
Dear Caroline
With regards to your request for a review of the response to your request
under the Freedom of Information Act, please find the attached letter.
Regards
Alison
Alison Preece Alison Preece
Assurance Adviser Ymgynghorydd Sicrwydd
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Gynllunio Strategol a
Llywodraethu
E-mail: [1][email address] E-bost: [2][email address]
We welcome correspondence in Welsh Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy’r
or English Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg
From: InfoRequest
Sent: 07 January 2020 15:33
To: Caroline Van Rijckeghem <[FOI #624405 email]>
Subject: RE: FOI19-481 A100 applications
Dear Caroline
Further to our email of 9 December 2019, I am sorry but we are still
finalising our response and are not in a position to respond as
anticipated.
We will aim to respond by 14 January 2020 and apologise for any
inconvenience caused.
Regards
Alison
Alison Preece Alison Preece
Assurance Adviser Ymgynghorydd Sicrwydd
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Gynllunio Strategol a
Llywodraethu
Cardiff University Prifysgol Caerdydd
2nd Floor, Friary House Llawr 2, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
Cardiff Caerdydd
CF10 3AE CF10 3AE
E-mail: [3][email address] E-bost:
[4][email address]
We welcome correspondence in Welsh
or English Rydym yn croesawu gohebiaeth trwy’r
Gymraeg neu’r Saesneg
From: InfoRequest
Sent: 09 December 2019 09:48
To: Caroline Van Rijckeghem
<[5][FOI #624405 email]>
Subject: RE: FOI19-481 A100 applications
Dear Caroline,
I acknowledge receipt of your Freedom of Information Act Complaint
received by this office on 05/12/19.
Your complaint has been referred to the Director of Strategic Planning and
Governance, Mr John Britton, who will aim to respond to your request
within 20 working days starting the day after receipt. Therefore you can
expect to receive a response no later than 07/01/20.
In some circumstances we may not be able to meet this deadline and if this
is likely to be the case we will contact you as soon as possible and give
you a revised date for response.
Yours sincerely
John Groves John Groves
Project Officer Swyddog Prosiect
Strategic Planning & Governance Adran Cynllunio Strategol a
Cardiff University Llywodraethu
2nd Floor, Friary House
Greyfriars Road Prifysgol Caerdydd
CF10 3AE
LLawr 2, Friary House
Heol y Brodyr Llwydion
CF10 3AE
Tel: 02920 879870 Ffon: 02920 879870
E-mail: [6][email address] E-bost:
[7][email address]
The University welcomes
correspondence in Welsh or English. Mae'r Brifysgol yn croesawu
gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg neu'n
Saesneg.
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