Guidelines for Faculties: Transition to AQF Compliance. (new and continuing programs) 1. Context/Overview

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1 Guidelines for Faculties: Transition to AQF Compliance (new and continuing programs) Date Approved: 21 May 2012 Date of Commencement: 21 May 2012 Date Amended: 11 December 2012 For official Use only Doc AQFSC12:018c 1. Context/Overview The Australian Higher Education Standards Framework requires the University to comply with the Qualifications Standards. As part of this, the University will implement the Australian Qualifications Framework 2011 (AQF) and ensure compliance by 1 January These Guidelines support the Rules Governing Awards and Programs its associated Schedules and the Coursework Program Management Policy and the Program Management Policy and Procedure Manual and should be read in conjunction with those policy documents. The Guidelines for Faculties: Transition to AQF Compliance were developed to guide the transition of programs to the new framework, providing targets for completion of program reviews to ensure compliance from The Guidelines detail the types of changes that might be needed. Also, each Faculty will need to develop a Transition Plan for any programs that do not currently comply with the AQF requirements. This will need to be submitted to the Program and Course Approval Committee (PCAC) as soon as possible and no later than the July 2014 meeting.. These Guidelines were developed only to facilitate the University s transition to AQF compliance and will therefore expire on completion of the transition period (that is, no later than1 January 2015). Revisions to programs and the development of Program Transition Plans are to be conducted in accordance with the normal program approval processes as prescribed by Academic Senate in the Program Management Policy suite. Acknowledgement these Guidelines have been based on an AQF Transition policy developed by Dr Julie Jackson, Pro Vice Chancellor (Educational Partnerships and Quality), La Trobe University University of Newcastle Guidelines for Faculties: Transition to AQF Compliance Approved by AQF Steering Committee Page 1 of 9

2 2. Definitions There are no definitions provided within this guideline. Refer to the Rules Governing Awards and Programs [000958] and the AQF Glossary. 3. Guidelines General Provisions 3.1. Awards and programs of the University are to comply with the Australian Qualifications Framework (2011). Any exceptions will be classified in the relevant schedule as non-aqf compliant programs (new 2013)(refer to the Non-AQF Compliant Programs and Courses Policy [000985]) Faculties are required to review each program against the AQF2011 and its addenda for compliance with all aspects of the AQF (2011). a. Each Faculty is required to map the Graduate Attributes, Learning Outcomes and the AQF level descriptors for each program using the relevant template (refer to Section 4 of the Program Management Policy and Procedure Manual. Faculties are also required to review each program to ensure compliance with the AQF2011 and relevant University policies, such as the Bachelor Honours Policy [000990]; and the Principles of Undergraduate Coursework Program Design within the Program Management Policy and Procedure Manual. b. The mapping documentation, along with any other amendments to the program required under AQF or University policies (for example, changes to admission criteria, articulation arrangements, change of program code and title or structural changes to the program) must be submitted to the Program and Course Approval Committee through the relevant Faculty Board. c. The timing of the completion of the AQF review for each program should be undertaken in such a way that the compliance strategies and program changes (including discontinuations of programs) are approved by the Program and Course Approval Committee for implementation no later than 31 July (Note: the professional programs (eg. Newcastle Business School s Executive Programs and the enabling programs (eg.ofc, YAPUG and NEWSTEP) do not need to comply with this provision (Refer to the Non-AQF Compliant Program Policy [000985] (currently under draft)) Program revision or discontinuation should be undertaken in accordance with the procedures described in the Program Management Policy suite. THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 2 of 9

3 3.4. Students enrolled in a non-compliant program prior to 31 July 2014 will be advised of the status of their program and provided with the options to either: a. complete the program in which they originally enrolled; or b. transfer to an AQF compliant program Unless granted an exemption by Academic Senate under the Non-AQF Compliant Program Policy [000985] (currently under draft), non-aqf compliant programs may not accept new admissions from 1 January The transition to AQF compliance will be monitored by the Program and Course Approval Committee on behalf of Academic Senate Failure to review programs in a timely manner may result in a recommendation being made to Academic Senate to discontinue the program(s). 4. Procedure 4.1. Course Levels, Nomenclature and Notional Higher Education programs taught at the University include Levels 5-10, with the nomenclature shown below. Notional duration is measured as Equivalent Full Time and does not preclude a shorter completion time as long as the relevant number of units is completed. AQF Level Qualification AQF Volume of Learning Equivalent Units Level 5 Diploma 1-2 yrs Level 6 Advanced Diploma Associate Degree yrs 2 yrs Level 7 Bachelor Degree 3-4 yrs 240 Level 8 Level 9 Graduate Certificate* Graduate Diploma* Bachelor Honours (End on) Bachelor Honours (Embedded) Masters Degree (Research)* Masters Degree (Coursework)* Masters Degree (Extended)* yrs 1-2 yrs 1 yr 4 yrs 1-2yrs 1-2 yrs 3-4 yrs Level 10 Doctoral Degree (Research and Professional)* 3-4 yrs *Note: These qualifications are still under discussion by the AQF Project Group, the Executive Committee and Academic Senate further details will be circulated in early THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 3 of 9

4 unit Diploma programs The Faculty of Education and Arts will need to seek advice directly from the President of Academic Senate on their two undergraduate diploma programs. The Faculty may wish to review each program against the AQF level 5 descriptors The Faculty of Business and Law will need to review and convert its Diploma of Legal Practice into a 80 unit (level 8) Graduate Diploma qualification unit Bachelor programs conversion to Level 7 Bachelor programs Faculties offering 240 unit Bachelor programs will need to review each program against the AQF2011, including mapping the Learning Outcomes for the program against the AQF level 7 descriptors.each program will need to be reviewed in accordance with Section 3 above.320 unit Bachelor and 80 unit Bachelor Honours programs conversion to Level 8 Bachelor Honours programs All 4 year 320 unit programs (embedded honours) will need to comply with AQF level 8 requirements and the University s Bachelor Honours Policy [000990] and the Principles of Undergraduate Coursework Program Design within the Program Management Policy and Procedure Manual, unless a. The program is approved by the Program and Course Approval Committee as an AQF level 7 qualification with a volume of learning of 4 years All 80 unit end-on honours programs will need to comply with AQF level 8 requirements and the University s Bachelor Honours Policy [000990] Programs with an approved Honours component will need a new program title (and program code) to ensure compliance with the AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy. Note: Change of program title requires a new program code in accordance with DIISRTE reporting requirements Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diplomas These qualifications are still under discussion by the AQF Project Group, the Executive Committee and Academic Senate further details will be circulated in early Masters Degree (Coursework) This qualification is still under discussion by the AQF Project Group, the Executive Committee and Academic Senate further details will be circulated in early Masters Degree (Honours) THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 4 of 9

5 This qualification type does not exist in the AQF. Existing programs will need to be discontinued and disestablished by the Program and Course Approval Committee following advice from relevant Faculty Boards Masters Degree (Extended) This is program qualifies individuals in a range of contexts for professional practice and as a pathway for further learning. Admission to this program requires the prior completion of Level 7 qualification. A Masters (Extended) is typically of 3-4 years duration following a Bachelor degree Masters Degrees (Research) This qualification is still under discussion by the AQF Project Group, the Executive Committee and Academic Senate further details will be circulated in early However, existing Masters Degrees (Research) will have to demonstrate that Learning Outcomes will be equivalent to Level Doctoral Degrees These qualifications are still under discussion by the AQF Project Group, the Executive Committee and Academic Senate further details will be circulated in early However, all doctoral degrees including professional doctorates must have learning outcomes at Level 10 and include a research component of at least 2 years EFT resulting in a thesis, dissertation, exegesis or equivalent for independent examination by at least two external expert examiners of international standing. Existing Doctoral Degrees will have to demonstrate that Learning Outcomes will be equivalent to Level Advice on Compliance In addition to consulting the AQF documentation, Faculties may seek assistance from the President of Academic Senate and the Secretaries to the AQF Project Group and the Program and Course Approval Committee Review of Programs Each Faculty AQF Working Party (FAQFWP) will be responsible for reviewing compliance with the appropriate AQF level of learning outcomes for each program offered by their Faculty and making recommendations to the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee and Faculty Board for consideration prior to submission to the Program and Course Approval Committee For coursework programs (Levels 5 to Level 10), each Program Convenor is expected to complete the review of the program structure and Learning Outcome THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 5 of 9

6 mapping in the first instance, and to submit the revised, and supporting, documentation to their FAQFWP. where a Faculty Board on the advice of the Pro Vice-Chancellor (or Program Convenor) has determined that a program is no longer viable the completion of a AQF review is NOT required. The FAQFWP should be advised and the discontinuation and disestablishment of the program should be conducted in accordance with Program Management Policy suite.) The FAQFWP will review submissions and determine that the program is either: i) AQF compliant; or ii) to be revised in accordance with the Program Management Policy suite; or is iii) to be recommended for discontinuation FAQFWP will report their activities through their Faculty Boards to the Program and Course Approval Committee (PCAC) for final approval. (Secretary s note: PCAC currently holds the delegation for program approvals etc [ Academic Governance and Support - Reference A1] Suggest that reports from FAQFWP are standing reports for Faculty Boards for the period of January 2013 to 2015) Faculty Transition Plans Faculties will prepare a transition plan for each program Transition Plans should be prepared for: major revisions to programs that will impact on students; or discontinued programs (as prescribed in the Program Management Policy suite) The transition plans should be presented with the AQF Mapping, revisions to the PTS, admission criteria and other relevant supporting documentation via FAQFWP, the Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee to Faculty Board then onto the Program and Course Approval Committee Timeline for Transition Under the Higher Education Standards Framework (HESF)(2011), the University s program offerings should be AQF compliant by 1 January The University is planning to comply with the HESF (2011), (including the Qualifications Standards, Chapter 4, Section 1) before 1 January THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 6 of 9

7 This means that: i. admissions to non-aqf compliant programs may not be permitted after 1 January 2014, unless the program has been granted special status under the Non-AQF Compliant Programs Policy [000985]; and ii. students enrolled in non-aqf compliant programs after 1 January 2014 will have been advised, in writing by the Academic Registrar, that they may either: a. complete the program in which they enrolled; or b. transfer to a compliant program. The transfer can only occur when there has been an informed consent provided by the individual student. (Secretary s note: discussions with the Academic Registrar will need to occur to explore options for transferring students internally. particular care will need to be given in the development of transition arrangements for programs with significant international cohorts. International Office should be consulted for specific program marketing, recruitment and admissions information.) Revision of Programs To ensure AQF compliance, revisions to programs may include changes to: program names, for example from Master (Honours) to Masters, or Postgraduate Diploma to Graduate Diploma. program duration (volume of learning), for example from 1 year Masters to 1.5 years. program level to changing a degree from a Level 8 to a Level 9 qualification, or a Level 8 to a Level 7. course levels to map learning outcomes (note this is a mandatory requirement). graduate or program learning outcomes that are generic or discipline specific (note this is a mandatory requirement) Discontinuation of Programs THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 7 of 9

8 Decisions to discontinue a program must be guided by the procedures prescribed in the Program Management Policy suite. Non-AQF compliant programs should cease admissions as soon as possible prior to 1 January Faculty Marketing managers will be responsible for ensuring that all references to these discontinued programs are removed from our external publications (including UAC and International admission guides) in a timely manner to ensure minimum disruption to students Approval of Revisions and Disestablishment Proposed revisions or discontinuations will be presented to the relevant Faculty Board for consideration and then transmission to the Program and Course Approval Committee, in accordance with the procedures prescribed in the Program Management Policy suite. 5. Essential Supporting Documents (to be linked to online resources) Rules Governing Programs and Awards Rules Governing Research Higher Degrees Undergraduate Awards and Programs Schedule Postgraduate Coursework Awards and Programs Schedule Enabling Programs Schedule Program Management Policy Bachelor Honours Policy Program Management Policy and Procedures Manual (Coursework) AQF Compliance Register (under development) AQF Non-Compliant Program Policy (new in 2013) AQF Transition Timeline (Doc AQFPG12:005c) Faculty AQF Compliance Working Party s Terms of Reference Faculty AQF Compliance Working Party s Draft Agenda for Meeting One AQF Compliance Checklist (under development) AQF Steering Committee Resources and Information website AQF Blackboard Discussion Forum Program and Course Approval Committee Terms of Reference 6. Related Documents (to be linked to online resources) Higher Education Standards Framework (2011) Australian Qualifications Framework (2011) and its addenda incorporating THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 8 of 9

9 AQF Qualifications Type Specifications AQF Qualifications Pathways Policy AQF Qualifications Issuance Policy AQF Qualifications Register Policy AQF Glossary of Terminology Positions Guideline Sponsor: Guideline Owner: Guideline Contact Position: Approval Authority President of Academic Senate Academic Senate Manager, Academic Senate Secretariat President of Academic Senate THE UNIVERSITY OF NEWCASTLE Page 9 of 9