• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Policy
• Section 5 - Procedure
• Applications for credit
• CPL database and precedents
• Credit decisions
• Notification to students
• Review of decisions
• Faculty arrangements with other institutions
• University articulation pathways with other institutions
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Procedure is effective for all study periods which commence after 28 January 2018.

Section 2 - Purpose

(2) This Procedure governs credit recognition arrangements.

Section 3 - Scope

(3) This Procedure applies to Higher Education Courses offered by the University.

Section 4 - Policy

(4) This Procedure is pursuant to the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.

Section 5 - Procedure

Applications for credit

(5) Students may apply to the University Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Office for credit for prior formal or other learning or for concurrent formal learning.

(6) The University CPL Office is located within the Division of Student Administration who administer CPL and maintain CPL records. The University CPL Office works closely with staff in Deakin International and the faculties who also process credit applications.

(7) Applications for credit are made as part of the admission process or, where a student has already enrolled in a unit, within the first two weeks of the start of the unit. An extension may be granted by the University CPL Office in exceptional circumstances.

(8) Applications for credit must be in writing using an approved form accompanied by current and verifiable evidence of equivalent learning which relates to the learning outcomes of the course component/s for which credit is sought. The onus is on the student applying for credit to present adequate evidence to support their application. Requirements regarding such evidence are clearly communicated to students.

(9) Evidence of learning must demonstrate achievement against the learning outcomes of the component/s of the course for which credit is sought and may include:

1. verifiable copies of academic transcripts and extracts from institutional handbooks or other official documentation giving sufficient details to allow an assessment of the application
2. evidence of learning associated with work or life experiences which may include:
   1. work history
   2. testimony from third parties, including references from employers outlining responsibilities and achievements, letters from clients and/or evaluations from supervisors
   3. tangible outputs such as publications and products of work aligned to a position description.

CPL database and precedents

(10) The University CPL Office will maintain current and accurate records of all credit decisions in the University Credit for Prior Learning (CPL) Database. This will include the reasons for individual decisions and credit arrangements with other institutions.

(11) Over time, the University will use credit decisions recorded in the CPL Database to develop precedents for future decisions in consultation with relevant faculties or institutes. The University CPL Office will review precedents annually and revise them as appropriate in consultation with relevant faculties or institutes, based on evidence of student success in each course cohort.

Credit decisions

(12) Where a precedent exists, trained University CPL Office staff will make a decision in relation to a credit application in accordance with that precedent within two working days of the student’s application.

(13) Where a precedent does not exist or the application is for concurrent formal learning, the University CPL Office will provide a recommendation to the relevant faculty office or the Pro Vice-Chancellor Researcher Development and Integrity (for courses offered through a research institute) for review on academic grounds. Academic confirmation or re-assessment will be returned to the University CPL Office within three working days.

(14) Faculties will manage referred credit recommendation as follows:

1. The recommendation will be reviewed by an authorised faculty assessor with expertise in the discipline and expertise in making credit assessments; this will usually be the Unit Chair or, where the Unit Chair is not available, the relevant Course Director, Associate Head of School (Teaching and Learning) or Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning.
2. The faculty assessor will decide whether to accept or reject the recommendation of the CPL Office, providing reasons where the recommendation is not accepted.
3. Where the application is for credit for concurrent formal learning, the decision of the faculty assessor will be endorsed by the Faculty Executive Dean or nominee.
4. The faculty office will report the decision to the CPL Office, including reasons where the recommendation has not been accepted.

(15) Where the faculty or Pro Vice-Chancellor Researcher Development and Integrity does not respond within the deadline, the decision recommended by the CPL Office will be applied.

(16) Where a decision of the faculty or Pro Vice-Chancellor Researcher Development and Integrity does not appear to meet the requirements set out in clause 17, the CPL Office may refer the application to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education or nominee.

(17) Decisions regarding the giving of credit will:

1. accord with the principles specified in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy
2. be based on criteria no more stringent than the criteria for achieving a ‘Pass’ grade in the relevant component of the course
3. take into account any professional accreditation requirements
4. be made consistently and fairly and in a timely way
5. be made with reference to the specifications for qualifications in the Australian Qualifications Framework
6. be documented in writing, including reasons for giving or not giving credit
7. maintain the integrity of the course, qualification outcomes and discipline requirements
8. not disadvantage students in achieving expected course learning outcomes.

(18) Where credit is granted for overseas qualifications, these must be benchmarked against a comparable Australian qualification at the relevant level, with reference to information and guidelines provided by the Australian Government’s Department of Education, or the National Academic Recognition Information Centre’s database.

Notification to students

(19) The CPL Office will notify current and prospective domestic students of the outcome of their credit application. Prospective international students will be notified by Deakin International. Notification will be in writing, (including reasons for giving or not giving credit) and will be given as soon as possible and no later than two working days after the decision is made.

Review of decisions

(20) If a student believes that the assessment of their application for credit has not been consistent with this Procedure, they may lodge a request with the CPL Office for a review of the assessment within five working days of notification of the outcome of their credit application. The review will be conducted within three working days by:

1. the relevant Associate Head of School/Director (Teaching and Learning) or Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning, or
2. where they are unavailable or involved in the original decision, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education or nominee.

Faculty arrangements with other institutions

(21) A Faculty, with the approval of the relevant Faculty Board, may make arrangements with other institutions to establish standard credit arrangements for courses offered by that Faculty. These arrangements are recorded in the CPL Database.

(22) Faculties will ensure that institutional credit arrangements are current and will review and update them as part of the major course review process.

University articulation pathways with other institutions

(23) The University, on the advice of the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement may enter into articulation pathway agreements with other institutions. These may guarantee the entry of students into a Deakin course upon completion of a partner institution's course.

(24) Articulation pathway agreements must be documented as agreements in a form approved by the University Solicitor's Office and include a requirement that each party notify the other of changes to courses or units that would affect agreed credit arrangements.

(25) Faculty Executive Deans will coordinate articulation pathways in accordance with the terms of the agreements and manage cohorts of students who enter Deakin through these pathways.

(26) Faculties will notify the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement, Deakin International or partner institutions of any changes to courses or units that will affect agreed credit arrangements.

(27) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Global Engagement will report annually to the Academic Board on University articulation agreements in accordance with the requirements of the Academic Partnerships procedure.

Section 6 - Definitions

(28) For the purpose of this Procedure:

1. credit: as defined in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
2. credit point: as defined in Regulation 5.2 (2) Higher Education Award Courses - General.
3. Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): as defined in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
4. concurrent formal learning: formal learning undertaken at another institution while enrolled in a Deakin course.
5. faculty: includes any institute that is approved under University Regulations to offer courses.
6. Faculty Board: includes any institute board of studies where the institute is approved under University Regulations to offer courses.
7. formal learning: as defined in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
8. learning: as defined in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.
9. precedent: as defined in the Recognition of Prior Learning policy.