(1) This Procedure is effective from 27 June 2019. (2) This Procedure incorporates the Academic Staff Qualifications and Equivalences Framework set out at Section 6. (3) This Procedure sets out the processes that apply to the development and delivery of courses. (4) This Procedure applies to higher education award courses offered by the University. (5) This Procedure is pursuant to the Higher Education Courses policy. (6) Course teams are assigned by the Head of Academic Unit (approved by the Faculty Board) for each course or group of courses to coordinate their design, ongoing development and review. Course teams comprise: (7) A Course Director is assigned by the Head of Academic Unit (approved by the Faculty Board) as the leading academic member of each course team. Course Directors are responsible for ensuring that the requirements of the Higher Education Courses policy and associated procedures, and professional accreditation requirements are met. (8) For each unit, a Unit Chair is assigned by the Head of Academic Unit (approved by the Faculty Board) for each period of study that the unit is delivered. Unit Chairs are continuing or fixed term (three years or more) Academic staff members and are responsible for coordinating the curriculum, teaching and assessment in a unit. In exceptional circumstances, the Executive Dean may temporarily assign another appropriately qualified staff member to carry out the responsibilities of a Unit Chair with appropriate guidance and support. (9) For units delivered across multiple campuses and/or student periods, the responsibilities of the Unit Chair may be distributed among appropriately qualified staff teaching in the unit providing overall responsibility remains with the nominated Unit Chair. (10) Casual Academic staff or external specialists may be appointed to contribute to the design and/or delivery of courses or units under the guidance and supervision of Course Directors or Unit Chairs. Casual Academic staff who teach for at least one teaching period within an Academic Year will have access to learning and development activities in accordance with the Staff Development policy. (11) Course Directors, Unit Chairs and other staff with responsibilities for academic oversight, teaching and assessment in a course or component of a course will have: (12) Courses are designed in accordance with the: (13) The design for each course (including nested courses) includes the following specifications: (14) Bachelor Degrees will include: (15) Course specifications provide sufficient detail to allow a judgement to be made on the standing and quality of the course and allow prospective students to compare comparable offerings from different providers. (16) All courses include compulsory learning experiences for students to develop an understanding of the principles of academic and (where relevant) research integrity and how to apply them to their learning and assessment. This will include academic integrity training at the beginning of the first year of the course and further development in later years (in accordance with the Student Academic Integrity procedure). (17) All Bachelor Degrees include opportunities for one or more of the following work-integrated learning experiences directed by the University: (18) Courses that are delivered in accordance with the Trimester Academic Calendar make use of the trimester system to enhance student flexibility in relation to study load and study duration. To shorten the duration of particular courses, study in all three trimesters may be required. (19) Courses are structured to: (20) Courses include units that are either required or elective. To graduate students must successfully complete all required units and any specified electives for their course. Elective units may be chosen from: (21) Each unit enables students to achieve clearly articulated learning outcomes that contribute to the achievement of the Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (set out in the Higher Education Courses policy) and course learning outcomes. (22) For each unit, the following are specified: (23) Units may be designated to identify their role in supporting student progress and achievement through the course and/or the nature of learning activities as follows: (24) The proportion of units of a course that are at the AQF level of the award that will be conferred may vary but must be sufficient to enable students to develop their knowledge, skills and application of knowledge and skills to enable them to achieve the course learning outcomes. (25) Sequences of units that constitute majors, minors or specialisations may be included in one or more courses as follows: (26) Where possible courses should be designed to enable students to complete a coherent secondary sequence of study in addition to their primary field of study, including a sequence from another faculty. (27) Majors, minors and specialisations: (28) Courses may require the attainment of Deakin Professional Practice Credentials that recognise achievement of learning through professional experience in accordance with the Deakin Micro-credentials policy. Courses that include the attainment of Deakin Professional Practice Credentials are designed in accordance with principles approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education. (29) A Bachelor Honours Degree may be: (30) All Bachelor Honours Degrees include project work and/or research and scholarship executed by students with some independence. (31) The duration of Masters Degrees by coursework may vary depending on their admission criteria and purpose. (32) Unless otherwise approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, or if restrictions apply due to external accreditation requirements, Masters Degrees by coursework: (33) All Masters Degrees by coursework include some form of learning activity that develops knowledge of research methods and principles appropriate to the discipline, field of work or professional practice. Such a learning activity would typically include a research-based project, capstone experience and/or a piece of scholarship. (34) Masters Degrees (Extended) include a significant proportion of practice-related learning developed in collaboration with a relevant professional, statutory or regulatory body. (35) Combined or dual Bachelor and Masters by Coursework Degrees may be offered in different or related disciplines with reciprocal credit arrangements in accordance with the Recognition of Prior Learning policy. They may include courses at different levels of the AQF. (36) Variations to course requirements for individual students may only be made in exceptional circumstances where approved by the Faculty Executive Dean (or nominated Associate/Deputy Dean) in consultation with the Course Director. Decisions must take into consideration professional accreditation requirements. (37) All teaching, learning and assessment is in English unless: (38) Courses and units may be delivered at physical campuses or other physical sites or at the Cloud Campus (where approved under the Higher Education Courses Approval and Review procedure) as follows: (39) Students enrol in a course at an approved physical campus or site or at the Cloud Campus in accordance with the Admission Process, Enrolment, Fees and Charges procedure. Where course rules allow, students enrolled at a physical campus or site may elect to study individual units online and students enrolled at the Cloud Campus may elect to study individual units at a physical campus or site. (40) For the purposes of compliance with the requirements of the National Code under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000, students studying in Australia on student visas must be able to undertake at least two thirds of the units in their course onsite and at least one unit onsite in any compulsory study period, except where the student is undertaking the final unit of their course. Study plans will be developed for each of these students to ensure that they can meet their visa requirements and complete within the expected duration. (41) For the purposes of calculating the percentage of units delivered onsite or online, units are classified according to their dominant mode of delivery as follows: (42) Award courses are delivered during set study periods in accordance with academic calendars approved by the Academic Board. These calendars specify periods for teaching, independent study and assessment that maintain the integrity of the course and the quality of the student experience. (43) The University’s standard academic calendar for courses is the Trimester Academic Calendar which specifies, for each academic year, three periods of 15 weeks, comprising: (44) Other academic calendars may be approved by the Academic Board for specific courses or year levels of courses where the Trimester Academic Calendar is not suitable for one or more of the following reasons: (45) Where the Trimester Academic Calendar is not appropriate, where possible a standard Semester Academic Calendar should be used which would typically include, for each academic year, two periods of 20 weeks, including: (46) Approval for a course to be delivered using an academic calendar other than the Trimester Academic Calendar must be sought in accordance with the Higher Education Courses Approval and Review procedure when a new course is approved or as a revision to an existing course. Approval will require prior endorsement by the Academic Registrar. (47) Academic calendar dates for courses are approved annually by the Academic Board, on the recommendation of the Academic Registrar, for future implementation at least two years in advance. (48) Faculty Boards may approve the delivery of units within a course outside the approved academic calendar where compelling reasons can be established in accordance with clause 44, adequate pre-notification has been provided to students and the endorsement of the Academic Registrar has been obtained. This may include units involving student placements, field trips, intensives or other learning experiences that cannot be delivered within the approved academic calendar for the course. (49) Faculty Boards may approve the delivery of units using the Start Anytime Calendar. Students may enrol in an approved unit of a course at any time during the year, with completion of each unit expected within 6 months or 12 months of enrolment in that unit, depending on the maximum period allowed for that unit. (50) Courses are delivered within a learning environment that provides all students with equitable and consistent access to facilities, infrastructure, resources and support to assist student progress and achievement of learning outcomes. (51) Optimal use is made of online or onsite learning experiences to support student achievement of learning outcomes. (52) Terms used to describe learning experiences at Deakin are: (53) Onsite learning experiences may be conducted regularly throughout a study period or as an extended intensive session that may require overnight attendance (‘residential’). (54) Where possible, learning experiences should use resources available within the University. Students may be required to purchase specialised equipment, software or other resources providing they are informed about these additional costs before enrolment in the course or elective unit and the resources will be useful for professional practice. (55) Units are designed and delivered in accordance with standards specified in clause 68. (56) An equitable opportunity to participate in timetabled learning experiences is provided regardless of whether the learning experience is delivered onsite or online. (57) Onsite and online learning spaces are equipped with appropriate technology to enable student learning and support their achievement of course learning outcomes. The University adopts digital platforms, devices and/or tools to make student learning effective, engaging, efficient and accessible and this includes adhering to Digital Accessibility Guidelines. (58) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education will publish annually, in a prominent position on the University's public website, information on the following requirements for effective study at the University: (59) Research conducted in a Bachelor Honours Degree or Coursework Unit is delivered in accordance with the Research in Honours and Coursework Units procedure. (60) Where courses, components of courses, learning resources or student support are delivered or provided by or with partner institutions, the University assures the quality of student experiences in accordance with the Academic Partnerships procedure, the Student Placement procedure or the Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) Partnership procedure (as appropriate). (61) Faculties are responsible for implementing quality assurance processes to ensure that information for prospective and current students about courses, units and other course components (e.g. professional practice credentials) meets the standards specified in the Student Communication and Information policy. (62) Information that must be included in the University Handbook, the University’s public website, unit guides, and course and unit sites is specified below. (63) Faculties will communicate changes to course and unit information to current or prospective students as soon as possible to ensure students have accurate and timely information for decision-making. (64) Faculties will publish in the University Handbook and on the University’s public website information for prospective and current students about courses and units as follows: (65) Faculties will publish a Unit Guide for each study period in accordance with a template approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education or nominee. Unit Guides will be available to current students through the University's learning management system and will include the following information: (66) Faculties maintain course and units sites in the University's learning management system that include information for students in accordance with minimum standards that are set annually. The minimum standards for ‘course sites’ are set out at clause 67 and ‘unit sites’ are set out at clause 68. (67) Minimum standards for course sites: (68) Minimum standards for unit sites: (69) Staff with responsibilities for academic oversight or teaching and supervisory roles in courses or units will have appropriate qualifications or equivalent experience as set out in clause 74 (except as specified in clause 70 below). Such roles involve the exercise of academic judgement and include conducting classes or seminars, online course delivery or facilitation, summative assessment and laboratory demonstration. (70) Staff without appropriate qualifications or experience may teach components of a course under the supervision of staff with appropriate qualifications or experience where they are employed: (71) The criteria set out in clause 74 are applied in the context of the discipline and relevant course learning outcomes. The criteria may be varied or added to by the Faculty Board for particular courses as appropriate for the discipline or for individual staff members provided staff can demonstrate equivalence of professional or practiced-based experience (with reference to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) criteria) and are equipped to meet students’ educational needs. (72) Decisions about the equivalence of experience of staff are made by heads of academic units or associate heads teaching and learning (as nominees) on the advice of senior member/s of academic staff with expertise in the relevant discipline as appropriate. (73) Evidence to support decisions about equivalence of experience under clause 72 might relate to (but is not limited to): (74) Note relating to equivalent experience: The assessment of equivalent experience will be made with reference to the course learning outcomes. The number of years of experience stipulated in the below table is indicative and may be varied as appropriate for particular disciplines or professions. What is considered to be ‘current experience’ will depend on the pace of change in a particular discipline or profession. (75) For the purposes of this Procedure:Course Design and Delivery procedure
Section 1 - Preamble
Section 2 - Purpose
Section 3 - Scope
Section 4 - Policy
Section 5 - Procedure
Roles and responsibilities for coursework programs
Course design
Units
Majors, minors and specialisations
Sequence
Credit points
Bachelor Degree major
6-8, with at least 2 credit points in each of levels 2 and 3 of the course
Bachelor Degree minor
4
Masters Degree (Coursework) specialisation
4-8
Professional practice courses
Bachelor Honours Degrees
Masters Degrees by coursework
Combined or dual degrees
Variations to course requirements
Course Delivery
Language of delivery
Campus of delivery
Physical campus
The course is delivered through onsite learning experiences at a Deakin campus or other physical site. Students will also have access to online learning resources and experiences.
Cloud Campus
All units in the course are delivered online. Students may be required to attend a designated physical site for some assessment and learning tasks.
Onsite delivery
More than half of scheduled learning experiences are at a physical campus or other physical site. For this purpose, learning experiences include classes, seminars, regular consultations and supervised activities at a physical site (including placements, field trips, study tours and research activities). Students will also have access to online learning resources and experiences.
Online delivery
More than half of the scheduled learning experiences entail online learning resources and experiences. There may be some compulsory contact hours and students may be required to attend a designated physical site for some assessment and learning tasks.
Academic calendars
Learning environments and experiences
Term
Description
a.
Class
A timetabled session where teaching staff engage students, often in large numbers, through presentations and active learning activities.
b.
Consultation
An optional onsite or online consultation with staff or industry experts.
c.
Field trip
An excursion to a physical site beyond a campus or learning centre.
d.
Meeting
An occasional onsite or online individual or group session to discuss organisational or administrative matters.
e.
Peer Assisted Study Session (PASS)
An optional onsite or online mentoring session led by students.
f.
Placement
An industry-based experience at a physical site or workplace.
g.
Practical
A timetabled onsite or online session using equipment or simulations to conduct experiments and/or test and practice skills.
h.
Seminar
A timetabled interactive smaller group session.
i.
Simulation
A learning experience that uses equipment to create scenarios or replicate real world situations to test and practice skills.
j.
Studio
A timetabled onsite or online practical experiential session to create and/or design a product, performance or process.
k.
Study tour
An extended tour requiring physical attendance usually in another region or country.
Third party arrangements
Communicating course information to students
University Handbook
Unit Guides
Course and unit sites
Framework
Requirements
Course team
Course or discipline information
a. course requirements and options
b. information about discipline majors and related studies
c. course pathways (student course study plans, core units, elective options, how to make decisions)
Course or discipline communication
a. events, seminars, workshops
b. topical issues
c. conferences, projects, competitions, awards, hallmarks
Student support
Professional information and graduate employment
Site Design
Framework
Specific elements
Unit information
Unit site design
Assessment
Feedback
Learning experiences and classes
Learning sources
Section 6 - Academic Staff Qualifications and Equivalences Framework
Criteria for assessing appropriateness of qualifications and/or experience of staff overseeing or teaching in a course
Course type
Minimum qualification/experience to oversee or teach in course of this type
Level 6
Associate Degree
Advanced DiplomaBachelor Degree in a relevant area (AQF Level 7)
No equivalence is recognised.
Level 7
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree in a relevant area (AQF Level 7)
PLUS EITHER:
a. Typically 5 years current relevant professional, creative or other practice-based experience in a role/s requiring advanced knowledge, highly developed skills and independent planning and management of people, processes and/or projects OR
b. Typically 5 years current experience successfully teaching a course in a related area at Level 7 or above informed by scholarship in the discipline and teaching and learning practice.
Level 8
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Bachelor Degree Honours (coursework units)
Bachelor Degree Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a relevant area (AQF Level 8)
PLUS EITHER:
a. Typically 5 years current relevant professional, creative or other practice-based experience in a role requiring specialised knowledge, expertise and independent high-level planning and management of people and/or complex processes/projects OR
b. Typically 5 years current experience successfully teaching a course in a related area at Level 8 or above informed by substantial scholarship in the discipline and teaching and learning practice.
Level 8
Bachelor Degree Honours (research methods units and supervision of research project)
Masters Degree by coursework or (Extended) (AQF Level 9) or Bachelor Degree Honours (AQF Level 8) in a relevant area
Current research experience in a relevant area equivalent to Master Degree (Research), to be determined with reference to evidence that might include independently peer-reviewed publications, research-related awards or prizes, professional reports, body of creative or other practice-based work and/or expert commentary.
Level 9
Masters Degree by coursework or (Extended) or coursework components of Masters Degrees (Research)
Masters Degree by coursework, (Extended) or (Research) (AQF Level 9)
a. For coursework components, extensive current experience practising as an expert in the relevant profession OR
b. For research and research training components, current research experience in a relevant area equivalent to a Doctoral Degree, to be determined with reference to evidence which might include independently peer-reviewed publications, research-related awards or prizes, professional reports, body of creative work and/or expert commentary.
Level 10
Doctoral Degree (Research)or (Professional) coursework components*
Masters Degree by coursework, (Extended) or (Research) (AQF Level 9)
a. For coursework components, extensive current experience practising as an expert in the relevant profession OR
b. For research projects (in addition to higher degrees by research theses) or research training components, current research experience in a relevant area equivalent to a Doctoral Degree to be determined with reference to evidence which might include independently peer-reviewed publications, research-related awards or prizes, professional reports, body of creative work and/or expert commentary.Section 7 - Definitions
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[This requirement was approved on 21 November 2017 and will be progressively implemented through new course approvals and revisions. All Bachelor Degrees must comply with this requirement by 31 December 2020.]
*Course site can be for a single course or suite of courses related to a discipline.
Bachelor Degree Honours, Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma in a relevant area (AQF Level 8) OR
Masters Degree by coursework, (Extended) or (Research) in a relevant area (AQF Level 9) OR
Masters Degree (Research) in a relevant area (AQF Level 9) OR
PLUS:
Doctoral Degree (Research) or (Professional) in a relevant area (AQF Level 10) OR
PLUS EITHER:
Doctoral Degree (Research) or (Professional) in a relevant area (AQF Level 10) OR
PLUS EITHER:
*The qualifications required for supervisors of higher degrees by research theses are specified in the Higher Degrees by Research (HDR) Supervision procedure
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