C/4.4 Development and approval of double QUT/TAFE awards

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4.4.1 Credit transfer arrangements for a completed TAFE course
4.4.2 Consecutive enrolment in TAFE and QUT courses
4.4.3 Integrated courses
4.4.4 Integration involving modification of the QUT course
Modification History

This policy refers to the development of processes whereby students can study for and gain both a TAFE award and a QUT award, either sequentially or contemporaneously.

4.4.1 Credit transfer arrangements for a completed TAFE course

Students who have completed a TAFE award course, and apply to enter a QUT course, may be eligible for credit. In this circumstance, faculties make the credit decision, and no approval of the process is required. Relevant policy on credit transfer is at section E/4.2 .

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4.4.2 Consecutive enrolment in TAFE and QUT courses

Some QUT faculties have formal arrangements with TAFE institutions to allow students to progress through first a TAFE qualification, followed by a QUT bachelor degree, with only one entry point through the Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) for students at the commencement of the TAFE course. (That is, both TAFE and QUT awards appear coupled under a single QTAC code in QTAC admissions documents.)

Each double award program has a quota applied for entry. Any student who gains entry to the program, and successfully completes the TAFE component, is guaranteed entry into the QUT degree component. A student who successfully completes the TAFE component is automatically awarded a predetermined and publicised amount of credit on entering the QUT component.

A Memorandum of Understanding is drawn up between the relevant TAFE institutions and QUT. The Memorandum of Understanding describes at a minimum the particular entry and articulation arrangements that apply for students, and mechanisms for quality assurance of the program. The Memorandum of Understanding is drawn up, or an existing one is modified and approved, by the Office of Commercial Services. Before doing so, Commercial Services will seek advice from the Deputy Vice-Chancellor/ Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality that appropriate consultations between relevant QUT parties have occurred. The Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality will confirm with all relevant parties that consultations have occurred and any issues identified have been resolved to the satisfaction of both parties.

The executive dean of the proposing faculty will sign the Memorandum of Understanding on behalf of the University.

International students will be accepted into the double award program on the same basis as domestic students, but will be required to reach the normal English language standard applicable to the QUT course prior to being admitted to it.

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4.4.3 Integrated courses

This policy applies where a double TAFE/QUT award is proposed such that

• a student is enrolled concurrently in both a TAFE course and a QUT course
• credit is given in the QUT course on the basis of completion of the TAFE award (and possibly vice versa), and
• the QUT degree is otherwise unchanged in any way.

(a) Documentation and consultations required

The following actions should be taken.

(i) Advice of the proposed double award program should be circulated throughout the University at a very early stage of its development via the Courses Bulletin. The information for this purpose should be supplied by the faculty to the Office of Teaching Quality.

(ii) A central concern should be to maintain a focus of good service to the student. Therefore, any logistical and administrative implications of the proposal for the student should be considered by the proposing faculty, and discussed with relevant divisional officers of the University (particularly those of the Student Business Services Department), and resolved before proceeding with the proposal.

As an example, concurrent enrolment at both a TAFE institution and QUT will have timetabling implications. The two institutions should ensure that their timetables will allow students to access reasonably all necessary subjects and units before proceeding with a proposal for concurrent enrolment.

In general, mechanisms should be developed by the faculty to provide prospective students with all reasonable advice about the consequences of the proposed program to them in terms of timetabling, fees, enrolments, access to facilities and other relevant matters.

(iii) The faculties prepare a brief proposal of four or five pages covering identifying information, the need and rationale for the course, the consistency of the proposal with established priorities and strategic planning, an outline of the course structure, the entry policies and articulation arrangements (see Appendix 10(a) for the form this should take). Faculties will be required to report on these programs against the budget at each budget round.

The course proposal is considered by the faculty / school advisory committee relevant to the constituent degrees in each faculty, and the faculty academic boards. The course proposal, together with all faculty / school advisory committee and faculty academic board reports, is forwarded through the Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality, and is considered and approved by University Academic Board.

(iv) A Memorandum of Understanding between the two institutions should be drawn up (see C/4.4.2 ).

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4.4.4 Integration involving modification of the QUT course

Where there is to be any modification of any conditions of an existing QUT course as a result of a double award proposal, the proposal must be dealt with by formal consideration at University Academic Board by the process described for double degree programs (see section C/4.3 ), or, if the double award proposal involves a new or substantially modified QUT course, the process for new degrees should be used (see section C/4.1 ).

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Modification History

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