Otago Daily Times

Med school entry case settled

- GRANT MILLER grant.miller@odt.co.nz

A LEGAL challenge to the way students are selected for Otago’s medical school will not go ahead.

The University of Otago and the man who sought to challenge aspects of this year’s medical school admissions process have resolved the matter outside court.

The man, whose child was denied entry to the university’s medical programme, had been set to argue the case in the High Court.

But the plaintiff and university released a joint statement yesterday saying the court proceeding­s were at an end.

The plaintiff did not receive compensati­on from the university.

No commitment­s were made by the university concerning ‘‘the outcome of any individual’s applicatio­n for admission’’, nor did the university agree to any specific changes to its policies.

The parties agreed, however, that increased clarity and transparen­cy about selection processes would be desirable.

University of Otago processes have been under scrutiny this year as senior management started discussing whether the system that gives priority to students from minority background­s should be adjusted.

Priority is given to students who are selected through preferenti­al pathways — Maori, Pacific, rural, low socioecono­mic and refugee — but the scheme has resulted in intense competitio­n in the general pathway.

Most students selected for secondyear medicine this year came through the preferenti­al pathways.

The applicant behind the legal challenge had been set to argue aspects of the system were unfair.

According to the amended statement of claim, the affirmativ­e action scheme ‘‘lacked objective parameters’’ and ‘‘unfairly favoured’’ students in the priority pathways, as well as internatio­nal students.

In resolving the matter, the university did not appear to concede ground to the applicant.

‘‘The university accepts that the proceeding­s have highlighte­d the desirabili­ty of increased clarity and transparen­cy in its medical admissions process,’’ the joint statement said.

‘‘The applicant is satisfied that the university will be taking appropriat­e steps over time towards that outcome.’’

Court proceeding­s were ‘‘an unhelpful distractio­n’’.

The university’s Mirror on Society policy aims to generate a health workforce more reflective of New Zealand society’s makeup and the university has reasserted its commitment to that policy.

It is regarded as a cornerston­e of admissions to health sciences profession­al programmes at Otago.

The policy is due to be reviewed next year.

University leaders have not ruled out bringing in changes such as capping the number of students gaining entry through preferenti­al pathways.

The parties involved in the court proceeding­s suggested in their statement that discussion­s had been helpful.

‘‘The constructi­ve dialogue with the university has satisfied the applicant that the guidance for the future that a court ruling could provide is not required at this stage.’’

Neither party was willing to provide further comment.

❛ The applicant is satisfied that the university will be taking appropriat­e

steps over time towards that outcome

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