academic standards and quality committee present: … · the faculty requested that the designation...

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ACADEMIC STANDARDS AND QUALITY COMMITTEE

Minutes of the meeting of the Academic Standards and Quality Committee held on Tuesday, 25 June 2013 in Room 310, Lincoln Student Services Building, from 10:00am to 11:30am. PRESENT: Mr K Baird Mr A Burrell Ms F Burton Ms L Clark Associate Professor P Coutts (Acting Chair) Associate Professor M Gosper Associate Professor M Hitchens Professor A Ross-Smith Dr A Semple Ms S Spinks Mr G Tomossy APOLOGIES: Ms D Anderson Dr N Anderson Associate Professor N Klein Mr W Lee Professor J Sachs (Provost) Mrs J Sparks IN ATTENDANCE: Ms H Harris Ms S Kelly Ms B Liu Ms A Phelps Ms K Shorrock Professor D Verity Ms Z Williams Mr J Wylie 1. MINUTES OF MEETING HELD ON 21 May 2013 The minutes of the meeting held on 21 May 2013 were approved.

1.1 Amendments to minutes of ASQC meeting held on 17 July 2012 The following item was omitted from the minutes of the ASQC meeting held on 17 July 2012. Item 5.5 Amendments to OUA Program Structures (Tabled Paper) The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the revised program structures for the following OUA programs with effect from 1 January 2013.


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Master of International Security Studies Postgraduate Diploma of International Security Studies Postgraduate Certificate of International Security Studies Master of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism with the degree of Master of International Security Studies (specialisations in Counter Terrorism, Cyber Security, General Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, Intelligence and Policing) Master of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (specialisations in Counter Terrorism, Cyber Security, General Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, Intelligence and Policing) Postgraduate Diploma of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism (specialisations in Counter Terrorism, Cyber Security, General Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism, Intelligence and Policing) Postgraduate Certificate of Policing, Intelligence and Counter Terrorism

2. BUSINESS ARISING FROM THE MINUTES 2.1 Report to Academic Senate The Committee noted that Academic Senate at its meeting on 4 June 2013 approved the recommendations from the ASQC meeting held on 21 May 2013. 2.2 English Language Requirements for International Students (Item 2.3) Professor Verity advised that he is following up on convening a Working Group to consider the issues around English language requirements for international students with a view to recommend a minimum framework of standards. Professor Ross-Smith reiterated the need for a more transparent approval process for English Wavers that includes input from the relevant FSQC.

3. INDIVIDUAL STUDENT CASES 3.1 Faculty Reports

The Committee noted Individual Case Reports that have been received from the faculties. The Committee observed from reports provided by the Faculties of Arts and Human Sciences at this meeting that the “Details of Request” section only included the outcomes of cases. Faculties should be reminded that the “Details of Request” section needs to cover the reasons of the request and justification of the decision.

4. REPORT OF THE UNDERGRADUATE SUB-COMMITTEE

The Committee reviewed the minutes of the Undergraduate Sub-Committee meeting held on 11 June 2013. The agenda and associated papers for the Sub-Committee’s meeting can be found for review by members on the ASQC web site at: http://senate.mq.edu.au/apc/sub_committees.html 4.1 2013 Academic Program Urgent Changes to the Schedule of Units Faculty of Arts


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MUS306 Musical Creativity and Performance The Faculty has requested a change to the prerequisite to ‘39cp including (3cp in MUS units at 300 level)’. There are currently 25 students enrolled for session 2 and the Faculty has advised that waivers have been entered so as to not disadvantage these students.

Faculty of Human Sciences

EDUC108 Science: Today and Tomorrow The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 100 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. EDUC261 Information Technology and Education The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 75 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. PSY250 Music, Mind and Message The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 80 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. PSY235 Developmental Psychology The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 100 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. PSY248 Design and Statistics II The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 100 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. PSY350 The Psychology of Human Relationship The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 100 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. PSYC104 Introduction to Psychology I The Faculty has requested an enrolment quota of 100 to be applied against the Session 3 offering. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above urgent changes with immediate effect. Late Amendment to the Schedule of Majors Faculty of Arts

English Major EGL01

The Faculty has requested that ENGL200 be added to the 200 level option set.


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The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above late amendment with immediate effect. 4.2 2014 Academic Program Request to Change Programs/ Majors for 2014 Faculty of Human Sciences

Bachelor of Arts with the degree of Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (ARTS24) Bachelor of Science with the degree of Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (SCIE10) Bachelor of Education (Secondary) (EDUC03)

The Faculty requested amendments to the 300 level and 400 level program structures for the above programs to provide more explicit guidance to students in meeting program requirements and professional accreditation standards. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above amendments, with effect from 1 January 2014. Units to be Deleted 2014

DEM356 Using Demographic Data in Management LAW485 Comparative Legal History LAW487 China Trade and Investment Law LAW576 Language, Violence and Justice: the Legal Regulation of Hatred LAW579 Property Rights LAW589 Property in Natural Resources MKTG213 Marketing Channels The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the deletion of the above units with effect from 31 December 2013. Change of Unit Code (including Prerequisites, Co-requisites, NCCW & Offerings)

Current Details Future Details

Faculty of Arts

AHPG706 Ancient Languages A

AHIS706 Ancient Languages A

AHPG707 Ancient Languages B

AHIS707 Ancient Languages B

SOCI302 Global Politics of Food and Eating

SOC302 Global Politics of Food and Eating

Faculty of Business and Economics DEM127 Demographic Fundamentals

MKTG127 Demographic Fundamentals

MKTG210 Marketing Metrics

MKTG310 Marketing Metrics

DEM255 Australia’s Population: Past, Present and Future

MKTG216 Consumer Demographics

The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above unit recodes with effect from 1 January 2014.


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Proposal to Add an Existing Unit to the Schedule of Participation Units Faculty of Science

BIOL349 Biodiversity and Conservation

The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the addition of the above unit to the Schedule of Participation Units, with effect from 1 January 2014.

New Units 2014

Faculty of Arts AHIS355 A History of Magic: From the Magi to Merlin ANTH300 Pacific Cultures: Kings, Cannibals, and Other Mysteries CHN113 Basic Spoken Chinese ENGL734 Jane Austen and Her World PHIL230 The Moral Psychology of Good and Evil PICT201 Cybercrime POL397 Global Environmental Politics RSN280 Russia: Myths and Facts SOCI707 The Sociology of Food and Eating Faculty of Business and Economics MGMT255 Global Population Challenges MGMT300 The Art of Negotiation Faculty of Human Sciences APPL711 Advanced Topics in Pragmatics and Intercultural Communication APPL725 Advanced Topics in Second Language Acquisition Faculty of Science COMP202 Systems Programming The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the introduction of the above units, with effect from 1 January 2014.

Exemption from the 300 level prerequisite policy Faculty of Arts JPS301 Advanced Japanese I The Faculty requested an exemption from the 300 level prerequisite policy as part of the following change for the above unit from 2014: Current Prerequisite: (6cp at 200 level including JPS202 or JPN222) or (6cp at 200 level and HSC Japanese Extension).

Revised Prerequisite: (6cp including JPS202 or JPS222) or HSC Japanese Extension.


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The Committee discussed the request and expressed concern that students with HSC Language could move directly into 300 level units. The Committee agreed that it would be reasonable to expect that the learning outcomes of a 300 level language unit would go beyond the mastering of the mechanics of a language. Further when considering the generic nature of the language major structure the Committee agreed that there was no technical reason in rejecting the recommendation, but raised concerns over equity across other language areas. The Committee agreed that the Sub-Committee should seek further information and advice from the relevant language staff in relation to the above concerns before any recommendation about this matter is proposed. The Committee also agreed that a working group would meet to consider the matter further. Transfer Pathways into LLB Programs

The Committee noted that the Sub-Committee had considered the proposed transfer policy for LLB programs and raised concerns over what is interpreted as ‘satisfactory completion’ for students to transfer into an LLB program from the Pre-Law pathway. The Committee also noted that the Sub-Committee was awaiting confirmation that FSQC approval has been given to the proposal. Mr Tomossy confirmed that FSQC approval was granted and will forward it to the Sub-Committee. The Committee discussed the proposal and agreed that the Law School would need to reconsider the Pre-Law transfer criteria to ensure that it aligns with the University’s internal transfer policy. The Committee recommended that the criteria include a certain number of credit points (which may include specific units) plus a GPA requirement. In addition the Committee suggested that the Law School examine the criteria of other comparable programs in relation to determining an appropriate GPA. The consideration of what may be an appropriate GPA may also be informed by using the UAC algorithm to determine an equivalent admissions mark. Ms Harris will provide the following calculation: • Equivalent admissions rank based on an ATAR of 93.0 and 4 tertiary units with a

Pass grade (GPA of 2.0), and • The GPA required across 4 tertiary units to increase an ATAR of 93.0 to the required

97.0 (approximate).

5. REPORT OF THE POSTGRADUATE SUB-COMMITTEE The Committee reviewed the minutes of the Postgraduate Sub-Committee meeting held on 13 June 2013. The agenda and associated papers for the Sub-Committee’s meeting can be found for review by members on the ASQC web site at: http://senate.mq.edu.au/apc/sub_committees.html 5.1 2013 Academic Program Emergency Changes to the Schedule of Units Faculty of Arts

Unit Code Unit Title Action Existing Entry Revised/New Entry

AHPG903 Studies in Egyptian Religion

Change to NCCW NCCW AHPG861 No NCCW


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The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above Emergency Change with immediate effect. Applied Linguistics Designation to Units Faculty of Human Sciences The Faculty requested that the designation "Applied Linguistics" be applied to the following units: APPL920 Linguistics and Language Teaching APPL921 Language and Teaching Methodologies The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the application of the “Applied Linguistics” designation to the above units with immediate effect.

5.2 2014 Academic Program Award to be Rested 2014 Faculty of Human Sciences Master of International Clinical Practice – INCL11M The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the resting of the above award with effect from 1 January 2014.

Revised Programs of Study 2014 Faculty of Human Sciences Doctor of Advanced Medicine Postgraduate Diploma of Organisational Behaviour [ORBE21D] Master of Organisational Psychology [ORPS11M] Doctor of Organisational Psychology [ORPS01T] The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the revised programs of study for the above awards with effect from 1 January 2014. Amendments to Schedule of Units 2014

Faculty of Science The Faculty requested the following amendments: CHIR903 Clinical Chiropractic 3 Removal of the NCCW of CHIR883 CHIR904 Clinical Chiropractic 4 Removal of the NCCW of CHIR884 GSE844 Management Practice Revised prerequisite: 32cp at 800 level and admission to MEnv or MEnvEd or MEnvMgt or MEnvStud or MEnvPlan or MEnvSc or MSocEntre


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OR 16cp at 800 level and admission to PGDipEnv or PGDipEnvEd or PGDipEnvStud or MSusDev or PGDipSusDev or MSc in Remote Sensing and GIS or PGDipSc in Remote Sensing and GIS. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the above amendments with effect from 1 January 2014. Units to be Deleted 2014 Faculty of Human Sciences TRAN866 Simultaneous Interpreting 1 TRAN867 Simultaneous Interpreting 2 The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the deletion of the above units with effect from 31 December 2013.

Retention and Teach out of Units due to be deleted Faculty of Human Sciences LING930 Research Methods for Communication Disorders Part A LING931 Special Project Communication Disorders Part A LING932 Special Project Communication Disorders Part B LING934 Linguistics Dissertation Part A LING935 Linguistics Dissertation Part B LING940 Research Methods for Communication Disorders Part B The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the retention of the above units with effect from 1 January 2014. Units to move to the Department of Biological Sciences The Department of Environment and Geography requested to move the following core units to the Department of Biological Sciences: GSE852 Wildlife Habitat Management GSE853 Wildlife Management Principles and Practices GSE854 Biodiversity Survey and Habitat Assessment Techniques GSE855 Communication and Wildlife Management GSE856 Wildlife Survey (Design, Conduct and Interpretation) The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves that the above units be moved from the Department of Environment and Geography to the Department of Biological Sciences, with effect from 1 January 2014. New Units 2014 Faculty of Arts LAWS802 Criminal Justice and Public Policy LAWS803 The Law of Obligations I - Contracts LAWS805 Theories of Law and Justice LAWS806 Applied Legal Ethics LAWS813 Civil and Criminal Procedure LAWS814 Evidence


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MECO802 The Digital Newsroom Faculty of Business and Economics AFCP806 Risk in Financial Institutions AFCP856 Credit and Lending Decisions AFCP859 Advanced Valuation for Corporate Finance AFCP860 Applied Business Valuation AFCP861 Corporate Financial Strategy AFCP862 Managing Shareholder Value Faculty of Human Sciences PSYO904 Counselling and Cultural Perspective for Organisational Psychology Faculty of Science CLIM804 Climate Change and The Climate System CLIM805 Climate Change: Policies, Management and Adaptation ITEC873 Machine Learning ITEC874 Big Data Technologies The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the introduction of the above units with effect from 1 January 2014.

6. POLICY FOR 200 LEVEL UNIT PREREQUISITES The Undergraduate Sub-Committee discussed the need for a formal policy to be adopted for prerequisites at 200-level and identified the need to formalise what appears to have been common practice. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves that the principles outlined below be established in relation to prerequisites and corequisites for 200 level units:

i) The maturity prerequisite should be a minimum of 12 credit points for 200 level units

that have no corequisites and rely on a maturity prerequisite only. ii) If individual units are specified without a maturity prerequisite the prerequisite should

include a minimum of 3 credit points at 100 level. iii) Units with a corequisite requirement do not require a prerequisite requirement as

long as the corequisite unit(s) are at 200 level or above.

7. POSTGRADUATE ARTICULATED/NESTED AWARDS The Committee considered a paper prepared by Ms Harris identifying issues relating to current credit arrangements for articulated awards (Attachment 1). The purpose of the paper was to provide an interim solution to these issues while the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy is being developed and finalised. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves the following recommendations as proposed in the paper: i) All articulated award sets to be reviewed and approved through the following

governance channels:


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FSQC: Initial review. Suitable articulated award sets recommended to ASQC; ASQC: Review of FSQC recommendations. Suitable articulated award sets recommended to Academic Senate; Academic Senate: Review of ASQC recommendations. Suitable articulated award sets approved. It was noted that review of articulated award sets should be made against the principles of the AQF statement on nested qualifications.

ii) A Schedule of Postgraduate Articulated Award Sets is developed. Where an articulated award set is approved by Academic Senate, it is added to the schedule. The schedule is the formal document to inform the application of Rule 2(10).

iii) The following definition of articulated awards is included in the University Glossary: Articulated Awards: An approved set of postgraduate awards which are ‘nested’ and permit full credit transfer from one complete award in the set to one other award in the set. The set of awards are approved by Academic Senate and recorded in the Schedule of Postgraduate Articulated Award Sets.

8. QUALITY ASSURANCE REVIEW OF ENGLISH LANGUAGE PATHWAYS The Committee considered a summary report submitted by Macquarie International on Quality Assurance Review of English Language Pathways. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves that the English Language Requirements for the English Language Pathways be increased as follows: Name of College Revised English Level Greenwich College Overall High Distinction for Entry Australian International College of English Overall High Distinction for Entry Australian Pacific College Minimum overall A Sydney Institute of TAFE Completed AQF Certificate IV (including

English for Academic Purposes) or completed Advanced Certificate

Ability Education Overall score of 5 for Entry and 6 for programs with Higher Requirements

9. ANY OTHER BUSINESS 9.1 Internal Degree Transfer The Committee considered a note (tabled) explaining that a request was submitted by the Director Institute of Early Childhood and circulated via e-meeting to members of the Coursework Admissions Committee in June 2012 however did not receive due consideration as there was a lack of quorum. The request was to seek approval for an automatic course transfer for students to the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years) on completion of 12 credit points and attainment of a GPA of 2.0, effective Session 2, 2012. The Committee now RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves that on


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successful completion of 12 credit points and attainment of a GPA of 2.0, that students be permitted to transfer to the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years), with effect from Session 2, 2013. 9.2 Change to the IELTS Requirements for the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to

Five Years) and the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) (Birth to 12)

The Committee considered a memo submitted by Dr Catherine Neilsen-Hewett dated 12 June 2013 (tabled) requesting that the IELTS (and other equivalent scores) for entry to the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years) and the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) (Birth to 12) be increased to align with the standards set by the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. The current requirements for international students from language backgrounds other than English is that they must have an IELTS (or equivalent) of 7.0 overall, with a minimum of 6.0 in listening, 7.0 in reading, 7.0 in writing and 6.0 in speaking. The Committee RECOMMENDS THAT ACADEMIC SENATE approves that the IELTS requirements (and other equivalent scores) for entry to the Bachelor of Teaching (Birth to Five Years) and the Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) (Birth to 12) be changed to 7.5 overall with no score below 7.0 in any of the four areas (listening, reading, writing and speaking) and a score of no less than 8.0 in speaking and listening, with effect from Session 2, 2013. 9.3 Curriculum Renewal and Implementation Team (CRIT II) Professor Verity reported that ongoing work is being undertaken in CRIT II in the simplification of the curriculum project. The Committee noted that the main issues being considered as part of the undergraduate recommendations include the standardisation of the definition of a Major, the transfer policy and simplified Rules for People and Planet units. Recommendations will be forwarded by the Senate Learning and Teaching Committee for consideration by Academic Senate. It was anticipated that full implementation will be from 2015.

10. NEXT MEETING

The Committee noted that the next meeting is scheduled for 16 July 2013 commencing at 10:00am in Room 310 Lincoln Student Services Building.

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POSTGRADUATE ARTICULATED/NESTED AWARDS

PURPOSE

This paper is intended to identify issues relating to current credit arrangements for articulated awards, as related to the Postgraduate Rules and initial policy proposal.

The purpose of the paper is to provide an interim solution to these issues whilst the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy is being developed and finalised.

The relevant rules, contextual details and Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) extracts are provided to promote clarity. UNIVERSITY RULES

The following Postgraduate Rules, found in the Rules for the degree of masters by coursework, Postgraduate diploma rules and Postgraduate certificate rules, are pertinent to this matter:

Rule 2(8): Except as stipulated by Rule 2(12) where a candidate has completed successfully one or more units at postgraduate level in another higher education institution, and where the unit or units do not form part of a completed program of study at that institution, the candidate may be granted credit for completed postgraduate units therefore, as determined by the Academic Senate or delegated officers, towards the requirements of a program of study offered under these rules, and the credit granted shall be for not more than one-half of the total credit points comprising postgraduate units in the new program of study. Rule 2(9): Except as stipulated by Rule 2(12) where a candidate has completed an award at postgraduate level in this University or in another higher education institution, the candidate may be granted credit for completed postgraduate units comprising that award therefore, as determined by the Academic Senate or delegated officers, towards the requirements of a program of study offered under these rules, and the credit granted shall be for not more than one-quarter of the total credit points comprising postgraduate units in the new program of study. Rule 2(10): Academic Senate may, Rule 2(9) notwithstanding, approve articulated awards which permit candidates who complete one award in the set to receive full credit from their study in that award towards one other award in the set.

CONTEXT

Prof. John Loxton presented an Advanced Standing at Postgraduate Level policy proposal to Academic Senate on 17 Aug 2004. The proposal recommended that the University ‘provide a basic level of credit for previous studies and recognise particular arrangements explicitly where the overall academic program warrants more generous treatment’. These ‘basic levels’ and ‘particular arrangements’ were expressed in the paper as follows:

‘A1. Where Macquarie University offers a set of articulated awards (degree/-diploma/certificate), candidates who have completed requirements for one of the lesser courses in the set may have that award conferred and also receive full credit towards the higher award for relevant studies completed.

A2. But, if the lesser awards lead to several higher awards, the credit from the lesser awards in the pathway can only be used once.

ASQC Minutes - 25 June 2013 Attachment 1 Page 1 of 4

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B1. Otherwise, candidates who have completed relevant postgraduate studies at Macquarie University or another university may receive up to a total credit of 25% towards a Macquarie award. Those who have only partially completed a postgraduate award may be granted of up to 50%.’1

This policy was approved as per Resolution 04/230:

‘(a) that the policy for credit for previous study (advanced standing) at postgraduate level as outlined in Attachment 2 be approved; (b) that consequent amendments be made to the Master Degree by Coursework Rules, the Postgraduate Diploma Rules and the Postgraduate Certificate Rules to reflect the new policy.’

The Calendar of Governance, Legislation & Rules was amended in 2006 with the inclusion of Rule 2(9) and 2(10) in the Rules for the degree of master by coursework, Postgraduate Diploma Rules and Postgraduate Certificate Rules [as Rule 2(8) and 2(9) in the latter].

Given that the new rules were introduced as a result of Resolution 04/230, they should be read in conjunction with Prof. Loxton’s policy proposal. AUSTRALIAN QUALIFICATIONS FRAMEWORK (AQF)

The AQF refer to these arrangements as nested qualifications, defined as ‘qualifications that include articulated arrangements from a lower level qualification into a higher level qualification to enable multiple entry and exit points.’2

Additionally, the AQF provides the following statement outlining the responsibility of institutions with respect to nested qualifications:

‘It is the responsibility of organisations developing and/or accrediting qualifications to exercise professional judgment to ensure that design of programs of learning leading to qualifications enables students to achieve the learning outcomes for both the qualification type and the discipline. Decisions about design of qualifications must take into account students’ likelihood of successfully achieving qualification outcomes and also must ensure that integrity of qualification outcomes is maintained. Those developing and/or accrediting qualifications should be able to provide a pedagogical rationale to justify a decision to cluster qualifications. If a cluster of qualifications consists of two or more qualifications at the same AQF level, some rationalisation of the volume of learning may be justifiable. For a cluster comprising qualifications at different AQF levels, any reduction in the volume of learning for any of the qualifications in the arrangement must ensure that the specifications for each qualification type are met and the learning outcomes can be achieved.’3

INTERPRETATION

Essentially, credit transfer arrangements for all postgraduate awards should be as per Rule 2(8) and Rule 2(9), unless Academic Senate has otherwise approved them as an articulating set. That is, the full credit transfer provisions for postgraduate awards are built on the premise that:

Academic Senate approves articulated award sets,

approved articulated award sets are formally recorded, and

full credit transfer is only applied once within the set.

1 http://www.mq.edu.au/senate/MQUonly/agenda/2004/0804/12.3_Att2_PGCredit.pdf

2 ‘Clustered Qualifications: An Explanation’, Australian Qualifications Framework, <http://www.aqf.edu.au/Portals/0/Documents/2013%20docs/Clustered%20Qualifications%20Explanation.pdf>, accessed 17 June 2013.

3 Ibid.


http://www.mq.edu.au/senate/MQUonly/agenda/2004/0804/12.3_Att2_PGCredit.pdf

http://www.aqf.edu.au/Portals/0/Documents/2013%20docs/Clustered%20Qualifications%20Explanation.pdf

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ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

1. ISSUE: There is no formal approval process for considering articulated award sets.

1.1. CURRENT PROCESS: The historic assumption that postgraduate awards sharing nomenclature, for example the PGCertEnv/PGDipEnv/MEnv, are articulated awards is applied. Some articulated award sets are provided directly to the Coursework Studies Section by Program Convenors or Departments. Some articulation arrangements have been specified as part of the Program Proposal and Approval procedure.

1.2. RECOMMENDATION: All articulated award sets to be reviewed and approved through the following governance channels:

FSQC: Initial review. Suitable articulated award sets recommended to ASQC;

ASQC: Review of FSQC recommendations. Suitable articulated award sets recommended to Academic Senate;

Academic Senate: Review of ASQC recommendations. Suitable articulated award sets approved.

Review of articulated award sets should be made against the principles of the AQF statement on nested qualifications (provided above).

2. ISSUE: There is no formal Schedule of approved articulated award sets.

2.1. CURRENT PROCESS: The Academic Programs Section and Coursework Studies Section compile articulated award sets based on shared nomenclature, program approval documents or Department advice.

2.2. RECOMMENDATION: A Schedule of Postgraduate Articulated Award Sets is developed. Where an articulated award set is approved by Academic Senate, it is added to the schedule. The schedule is the formal document to inform the application of Rule 2(10).

3. ISSUE: Articulated award, as cited in Rule 2(10), is not defined in the University Glossary or the University Rules. Furthermore, Macquarie University commonly uses the AQF-driven nomenclature of nested award.

3.1. RECOMMENDATION: The following definition of articulated awards is included in the University Glossary:

Articulated Awards: An approved set of postgraduate awards which are ‘nested’ and permit full credit transfer from one complete award in the set to one other award in the set. The set of awards are approved by Academic Senate and recorded in the Schedule of Postgraduate Articulated Award Sets.

TIMEFRAME

The above mentioned recommendations are proposed as an interim measure until the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy has been finalised and implemented. NEXT STEPS

Impacted rules will be flagged for consideration in the 2013 Rule Review, specifically in relation to the inclusion of a definition and reference to the Schedule.

All postgraduate award sets currently being treated as articulated awards be reviewed according to Recommendation 1.2. These arrangements will be compiled and provided to the relevant FSQC at the


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earliest opportunity.

Future proposals for postgraduate awards should identify articulated/nested sets, where possible and appropriate.

The concept of nesting will be further considered in the development and refinement of the Recognition of Prior Learning Policy.

Hayley Harris, Quality Assurance and Compliance Manager E: [email protected] T: 9850 1126
