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Non-Award Course Management Procedure

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Section 1 - Introduction/Background

(1) The University of Wollongong (UOW) is committed to supporting the lifelong learning of learners, students, staff, community members, graduates and industry professionals. The University offers a range of opportunities to acquire knowledge and skills in flexible ways that enable the University’s learner community to succeed at all stages of their learning journey.

(2) This Procedure aligns with the Course Policy Framework within the Course Policy, which sets out the overall framework for managing course-related matters at the University.

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Section 2 - Scope/Purpose

(3) This Procedure applies to all non-award courses offered by the University’s onshore campuses, or under third party arrangements. Offerings can be made available both onshore and globally.

(4) UOW Global Enterprises and its controlled entities will have their own version of this Procedure, covering any non-award courses offered by UOW Global Enterprises.

(5) This Procedure outlines a consistent approach to the design, approval, amendment, implementation and quality assurance processes for non-award courses.

(6) This Procedure does not apply to award courses offered by the University. The Course and Subject Approval Procedures, Course Design Procedures and Course Monitoring and Review Procedures cover the equivalent scope of requirements for award courses.

(7) This Procedure does not apply to short courses offered by the University. The Short Course Management Procedures cover the requirements for the creation and management of short courses.

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Section 3 - Design

(8) Non-award course opportunities will be designed with consideration to the following features:

  1. Transformative – supporting individuals’ personal and professional development;
  2. Flexible – enabling learners to engage in flexible ways based on their needs;
  3. Engaged – meeting the changing needs of our communities, education sector, industry and public sector, both domestically and internationally;
  4. Diverse – including informal and formal learning opportunities, which can be offered at any stage of an individual’s education lifecycle and structured in any delivery mode; and
  5. Aligned – drawing on the University’s disciplinary strengths and aligned to the University’s strategic goals, including interdisciplinary engagement and engagement with participants who have been impacted by social-cultural or economic factors.

(9) Each non-award course will:

  1. align with the strategic directions of the University, the Faculty or the academic unit;
  2. be relevant to participant, graduate, industry and/or community needs; and
  3. be a distinct offering within the University’s course portfolio.

(10) A non-award activity must use a title that makes it clear it is not an Australian Qualifications Framework award course. Terminology is otherwise flexible and may be aligned to industry practice and/or market expectations.

(11) Where a non-award course includes Learning Outcomes (e.g. subjects), these must be clearly articulated for participants of each non-award course.

(12) Any minimum entry requirements or assumed knowledge must be communicated to prospective participants.

(13) Participation requirements and anticipated participant workload should be clearly outlined to prospective participants, including volume of learning and duration.

(14) Non-award courses are government reportable under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and allow students to undertake study in reportable subjects.

(15) Non-award courses (excluding study abroad and exchange) are not funded by the Australian government, and students are not eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places.

(16) Non-award courses that satisfy clauses 14 and 15 may:

  1. provide research skills and which are embedded as part of a research degree program for Level 10 AQF Qualification (for example: Research Methods, Research Principles, and Fundamentals of Research courses);
  2. enable students to undertake one or more UOW subjects, which do not constitute an award course (e.g. Study Abroad/Exchange or single subject enrolment; cross institutional study);
  3. enable students to demonstrate competence that would allow them to successfully gain entry to a University award course (e.g. enabling programs);
  4. be any other course designated by the government as reportable, which is not an award course.

(17) Courses that are neither reportable nor funded are not non-award courses and therefore should follow the requirements for short courses.

(18) Assessment is required within non-award courses that guarantee entry to a University award course.

(19) Fees are set and managed in accordance with the Fees Policy.

(20) Admission requirements for non-award and cross-institutional enrolment are included in the Admissions Procedure (Coursework).

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Section 4 - Non-Award Course Approval Process

(21) Non-award course proposals may be proposed by Faculties and other non-faculty units.

(22) If the course is offered by a specific Faculty, the proposal is required to be submitted to that Faculty Education Committee for endorsement.

(23) Non-award course proposals are submitted for approval to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life) as Delegated Authority via the Future Education Division Course Portfolio Operations team.

(24) Future Education Division may seek clarification of any issues identified with a non-award course proposal prior to forwarding the proposal to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life).

(25) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life) may have regard to any recommendations made by Future Education Division when assessing the proposal.

(26) The Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life) may approve non-award course proposals subject to the resolution of any issues identified with the proposal. It is the responsibility of the proposing unit or Faculty to resolve these issues to the satisfaction of the Senior Manager, Course Portfolio Operations.

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Section 5 - Amendments

(27) All amendments impacting non-award course information held on the central register must be submitted to the Future Education Division, including:

  1. Changes to delivery dates/intakes,
  2. Changes to delivery mode,
  3. Change of contact person,
  4. Change to fee structure,
  5. Any factors influencing the refund process,
  6. Changes to admission requirements and/or target audience for enrolments,
  7. Changes to accreditation status or accrediting body
  8. Changes to the course learning outcomes, and
  9. Changes to credit arrangements

(28) All amendments to the approved design of non-award courses shall be approved by either the relevant Executive Dean or the Director, Future Education (FED). All approved changes must be submitted to the Future Education Division for inclusion in the central register.

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Section 6 - Discontinuations

(29) All discontinuations of non-award courses shall be endorsed by the Associate Dean Education (ADE) and/or Director of the relevant portfolio or FEC, and approved by the Director, Future Education.

(30) All discontinuations must be submitted to the Future Education Division, so the central register can be updated, and be noted in the course portfolio plan of the faculty (where the course is faculty owned).

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Section 7 - Partnerships

(31) Non-award courses can be offered in partnership with third parties, including industry, government, education and community-based organisations within Australia or overseas.

(32) A non-award course offered in partnership may be:

  1. an existing University offering delivered with minor modifications for the partner’s context;
  2. developed primarily by the University to meet the needs of the partner;
  3. co-created by the University and the partner; or
  4. developed primarily by the partner with the University providing educational leadership, advice and any assurance of learning.

(33) In all partnership arrangements where the University is issuing a credential for the non-award course, the University must maintain oversight of the quality of the teaching staff, the teaching, content, learning activities, learning resources and any assessment of learning.

(34) Any proposal for a non-award course offered in partnership must specify the role of the partner, if any, in co-design, co-delivery, (co)supervision, and/or co-assessment. Following approval of a proposal, partnership arrangements must be documented to clarify responsibilities, ownership of intellectual property and other relevant issues as described in the ‘TEQSA Guidance Note: Third Party Arrangements’.

(35) Consideration should also be given to the applicability of the International Alliances Procedures (for partnerships with overseas organisations) and the Collaborative Delivery of a UOW Course Policy.

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Section 8 - Quality Assurance

(36) Evaluation and reflection provides an opportunity to update and maintain the quality of the offering and ensure a positive educational experience for the student.

(37) Non-award courses should be monitored and evaluated via:

  1. Reflections on delivery, as specified in clause 38 and 39; and
  2. Annual Course Portfolio Planning, as specified in clause 40.

(38) The staff member responsible for the delivery of the non-award course must complete a delivery reflection following each delivery, addressing the criteria outlined in Appendix 1 and document any recommendations to improve the quality of the course.

(39) Where delivery is on a rolling schedule that allows multiple intakes throughout the year then it is recommended that the staff member delivering the program considers possible improvements throughout the year. However, they will only be required to submit one combined reflection for the year.

(40) There will be an annual report on the performance of all non-award courses in the previous year provided to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and Student Life) via Course Portfolio Development Group and reported to appropriate academic governance committees.

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Section 9 - Implementation Activities

Central Register and Course Database

(41) The Future Education Division is responsible for updating the Course Database with any non-award approvals, discontinuations or amendments (as required).

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Section 10 - Roles and Responsibilities

(42) Future Education Division is responsible for:

  1. providing advice to faculties on viability and market demand via the Course Portfolio Strategy team;
  2. providing faculty and non-faculty units with a clear process and forms/systems to enable approval, amendments and discontinuations of non-award courses; and
  3. maintaining the central register and Course Database.

(43) The Faculty and/or Unit owning non-award courses are responsible for:

  1. designing, developing and delivering non-award courses in line with the requirements of this Procedure and the Copyright Policy;
  2. where required, seeking exemption from this Procedure from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic and Student Life);
  3. consulting with stakeholders where non-award proposals impact other faculties and divisions;
  4. monitoring and ensuring the quality of non-award courses;
  5. completing an annual report on non-award course performance; and
  6. managing any accreditations associated with non-award courses.
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Section 11 - Appendix 1 – Design and Delivery Reflection Criteria

A reflection will address the following criteria:
  1. Design:
    1. Appropriateness of the learning outcomes;
    2. Appropriateness of sequencing of content and activities;
    3. Suitability of content and learning activities having regard to:
      1. the relevant discipline;
      2. contemporary developments in the discipline or field, including contemporary research and practice;
      3. registration/accreditation requirements (if any);
      4. the most suitable means of representing content and activities (e.g. multimodal);
    4. Suitability of assessment tasks having regard to:
      1. the learning outcomes;
      2. assessment and feedback principles; and
      3. inclusive and accessible design best practices.
  2. Delivery:
    1. Appropriateness of content, assessments and learning activities to the mode of delivery, and where relevant the technological platform used to deliver them;
    2. Where relevant, arrangements for delivery at other delivery locations including by third parties.
  3. Performance:
    1. Viability of the courses;
    2. Learner performance data; and
    3. Feedback from learners and staff.
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Section 12 - Definitions

(44) The key terms used in this Procedure are defined in the Course Policy.