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Deakin Micro-credentials policy

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Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Policy is effective from 30 September 2020.

(2) This Policy is pursuant to the Higher Education Courses policy.

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Section 2 - Purpose

(3) This Policy sets out principles for the award of Deakin micro-credentials that:

  1. warrant the achievement of learning through teaching and assessment, or assessment only
  2. recognise outstanding achievement in study or work.
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Section 3 - Scope

(4) This Policy applies to micro-credentials that are offered by the University.

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Section 4 - Policy

(5) The University offers micro-credentials that:

  1. evidence achievement of appropriate learning outcomes and standards
  2. are based on judgements of rich evidence created in response to authentic assessment tasks
  3. where possible are designed and conferred in partnership with industry
  4. are conferred where the identity of the learner is appropriately verified
  5. may provide credit or entry to a macro-credential
  6. may be integrated into the design of a macro-credential
  7. bear the insignia of the University
  8. are recorded and archived in the same way as macro-credentials or in Deakin’s approved digital badging system
  9. are conferred digitally using badging technology.

(6) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education oversees quality assurance of all micro-credentials and reports annually to the Academic Board on the award of Deakin micro-credentials.

Deakin Hallmarks

(7) The University awards micro-credentials called Deakin Hallmarks that recognise outstanding achievement of specific graduate capabilities particularly valued in the workplace. Course-specific Deakin Hallmarks recognise achievement of Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes (set out in the Higher Education Courses policy). University-wide Hallmarks recognise achievement of other valued graduate capabilities approved by Academic Board.

(8) Deakin Hallmarks:

  1. reflect the learning of students during their enrolment at Deakin
  2. acknowledge achievement distinct from grades awarded for assessment tasks
  3. are developed at the discretion of the course director, or Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education, in partnership with relevant industry or professional groups
  4. are awarded on the basis of holistic judgements about student achievement with reference to approved criteria, standards and evidence
  5. describe the basis for granting the Hallmark and can be shared publicly
  6. are not recognised for the purposes of granting credit towards a Deakin course.

(9) Students are eligible to apply for a Deakin Hallmark if they:

  1. are currently enrolled in an associated course or within three months of completing it; and
  2. meet any other eligibility criteria associated with the Hallmark.

(10) Students who apply for and are not awarded a Deakin Hallmark can re-apply for the same Hallmark once following the original decision.

(11) Clear and accurate information about Deakin Hallmarks is available to students including:

  1. policy and procedure governing the award of Deakin Hallmarks
  2. approved criteria and standards of each Deakin Hallmark
  3. evidence required to demonstrate the achievement of each Deakin Hallmark
  4. process for evaluating student performance for each Deakin Hallmark.

(12) The Deakin Hallmarks procedure documents the processes for the approval, delivery, award and review of Deakin Hallmarks.

Deakin Professional Practice Credentials

(13) The University awards micro-credentials called Deakin Professional Practice Credentials that are aligned with Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes set out in the Higher Education Courses policy. They:

  1. are designed to warrant learning that is gained through significant industry experience
  2. are awarded based on assessments approved and supervised by the University
  3. are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and/or internationally recognised industry skills frameworks (as appropriate)
  4. may be integrated into courses offered by the University
  5. may provide credit or entry into courses offered by the University.

Credit-bearing, taught micro-credentials

(14) The University awards Deakin micro-credentials that are credit-bearing. They:

  1. are offered as short courses by the University only or in partnership
  2. are designed to warrant learning that is taught and assessed via the micro-credential
  3. are awarded based on assessments approved and supervised by the University
  4. are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework and/or internationally recognised industry skills frameworks (as appropriate)
  5. may be integrated into courses offered by the University
  6. may provide credit into courses offered by the University
  7. are approved by the relevant Faculty in alignment with approval of units.

Metadata

(15) Metadata should include the following information and be defined for each micro-credential:

  1. Title and brief description
  2. Issuer: Deakin and partner(s), where relevant
  3. Learning outcomes or description of achievement
  4. Mode of participation: online, face-to-face, blended
  5. Effort required, including assessment, in hours, for typical learner
  6. Complexity of main assessment task
  7. Supervision and identity verification
  8. Australian Qualifications Framework level aligned to or professional standard
  9. Credit information if micro-credential is credit-bearing.
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Section 5 - Procedure

(16) The following procedures document how to comply with this Policy:

  1. Deakin Hallmarks procedure 
  2. Deakin Professional Practice Credentials procedure.
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Section 6 - Definitions

(17) For the purpose of this Policy:

  1. course: a set of units or a higher degree by research program approved by the Academic Board, and which when satisfactorily completed normally qualifies a student for an award of the University.
  2. digital credential: a digital record of achievement in which metadata attached provides information about the source and value of the award.
  3. macro-credential: an Australian Higher Education Qualification (or international qualification with equivalent learning outcomes) awarded by an accredited provider.
  4. micro-credential: an award that warrants achievement of clearly articulated learning outcomes that is not sufficient, in itself, to lead to the award of a macro-credential.