• Section 1 - Preamble
• Section 2 - Purpose
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Policy
• Metadata
• Section 5 - Procedure
• Section 6 - Definitions

Section 1 - Preamble

(1) This Policy is effective from 1 March 2022.

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

Section 2 - Purpose

(3) This Policy sets out principles for the award of Deakin microcredentials that warrant the achievement of learning through teaching and assessment, or assessment only.

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This Policy applies to microcredentials that are offered by the University.

Section 4 - Policy

(5) The University offers microcredentials that:

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

(6) Faculty Boards approve microcredentials to be awarded on the completion of microunits. Approval also requires endorsement by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic.

(7) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic oversees quality assurance of all microunits and microcredentials
and reports annually to the Academic Board on the award of Deakin microcredentials.

Metadata

(8) The metadata should include the following information and be defined for each microcredential:

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 microcredential is credit-bearing.

Section 5 - Procedure

(9) The Hallmarks policy documents how to comply with this Policy.

(10) The Deakin Professional Practice Credentials procedure documents how to comply with this Policy.

Section 6 - Definitions

(11) For the purpose of this Policy:

1. course: means a program of study that leads to a degree, vocational education and training product or other award as defined by the Academic Board Regulations.
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. microcredential: 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.