Skip Ribbon Commands
Skip to main content
Sign In Skip to Content

VCAA Bulletin
No. 77 – April 2022

VCE Offshore school partnership model builds high-quality teaching and learning

Since the VCE Offshore Program was established in 2000, over 7,000 students have successfully completed the VCE internationally, with 94 per cent of graduates going on to enrol in Australian universities. There are currently 29 offshore programs delivering the VCE to students in China, Malaysia, Timor Leste, Vietnam and the Philippines, and the program is expanding to Sri Lanka in 2022.

VCE Offshore is delivered through a unique school partnership model between Victorian and offshore schools. Victorian teachers mentor VCE offshore teachers at their offshore partner school, to support delivery of the VCE and build teacher capacity. Mentors build offshore VCE teachers’ understanding of the VCE study designs, approaches to learning and teaching, and assessment of student work.

The VCE Offshore partnership model leads to strong relationships between school leaders, VCE coordinators and teachers, provides professional learning opportunities for Victorian and offshore teachers, and ensures a high quality of teaching and learning to support offshore VCE students achieve their academic goals.

We implement a quality assurance framework to ensure the integrity of the VCE. This includes visits to each offshore school, observation of examination delivery and school audits.

In response to COVID-19, technologies are being used to conduct virtual site visits, remote audits and online surveys. Survey data collated at the end of 2021 showed that out of 291 VCE offshore teachers surveyed, 91 per cent indicated that working with a Victorian teacher mentor was a valuable experience and 93 per cent responded that delivering the VCE has supported them to develop their teaching practice. Similarly, 93 per cent of Victorian teacher mentors said that mentoring has been a valuable experience and has developed their professional practice.

Information collated through offshore program and school-based audits, student results, teacher survey responses and student tertiary pathways data is analysed and reported back to the VCAA International Committee and licensed Victorian schools. This rich data and analysis supports the VCAA and Victorian schools to identify areas of strength, focus and improvement in following years.

The VCE Offshore Program is delivered on the Victorian academic timetable and the Northern Hemisphere timetable.

To learn more about the VCE Offshore Program, please email the International Manager.

Curriculum

On-demand videos exploring the new VCE English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) and VCE Literature study designs

Refer to Notice to Schools 38/2022.

VCE Biology (2022–2026) teaching resources

Refer to Notice to Schools 39/2022.

VCE Systems Engineering (2019–2024) update

Refer to Notice to Schools 42/2022.

VCE Extended Investigation professional learning

Refer to Notice to Schools 44/2022.

Amendments to VCE English and English as an Additional Language (Units 1 and 2: 2023–2027; Units 3 and 4 2024–2027) study design

Refer to Notice to Schools 51/2022.

Webinar series to support the new VCE English and English as an Additional Language (EAL) and VCE Literature study designs

Refer to Notice to Schools 52/2022.

New VCE Mathematics school-assessed coursework professional learning videos available

Refer to Notice to Schools 53/2022.

Applications for the 2023 VCE Drama and Theatre Studies playlists

Refer to Notice to Schools 54/2022.

Evaluation of VCE studies online monitoring questionnaire

Refer to Notice to Schools 56/2022.

Consultation period for proposed VCE study designs (to commence in 2024)

The consultation period for the proposed study designs for VCE Legal Studies and VCE Sociology will open on Monday 2 May and conclude on Monday 30 May.

Feedback from teachers, students and other stakeholders is an important part of the review and accreditation process for VCE studies. Please review the relevant consultation documents (including the proposed study design, summary of proposed changes to the study design and study review plans) and respond to the online questionnaires via the study pages.