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C/4.8 Transnational award course developments |
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4.8.1 Policy overview
4.8.1 Policy overviewThis policy outlines QUT's strategic position for offering transnational award courses. Specifically, non-award CPE programs offered outside Australia and administered by the Office of Commercial Services are not included in this policy. QUT will develop relationships with high quality partners from countries of particular focus for QUT. These relationships will be sustainable and will bring multiple exchanges and benefits which should include improved reputation or prestige for both partners. Transnational award programs for which QUT will consider proposals may include offerings for undergraduate bachelor courses, postgraduate professional career development, potential research collaborations and research students, and niche degree program development in areas not readily available in-country. QUT will undertake transnational award course delivery but will only consider business cases that are thoroughly researched and well-documented and that are approved by the Vice-Chancellor. It is recognised that:
Accordingly, QUT will not:
QUT will focus its transnational award teaching and learning activities according to advice provided via the Division of International and Development and Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. 4.8.2 DefinitionsIn this policy, “transnational” refers to delivery of the course in the region outside Australia 's geographical boundaries. This policy will apply to any course where there is any travel by a QUT staff member outside Australia to teach the course, or if the course is targeted at students resident in other countries, or if more than 50 percent of the students enrolled in a course taught by distance methods are resident in other countries. 4.8.3 Guidelines for development of transnational award coursesQUT will expand its transnational award course offerings in a controlled manner and subject to the following guidelines.
4.8.4 Quality assurance for transnational coursesAll transnational award courses are subject to three course quality assurance processes: the normal course quality assurance processes ( C/4.10 ), annual transnational course reporting ( C/4.8.5 ), and a separate audit process ( C/4.8.6 ). 4.8.5 Annual transnational course reportIn years where there is no transnational audit ( C/4.8.6 ), faculties are required to complete an annual report against the Transnational Course Report Proforma as per the Office of Teaching Quality website for each transnational award course and to forward it to the Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality. The Dean of Studies will provide a summary report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) and forward faculty reports for consideration by Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee. Details of the process and deadlines for completing the report will be made available by the Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality each year. 4.8.6 Transnational auditThe audit of transnational award courses will occur at least every four years, and will be conducted by a non-faculty member of senior staff at the location where the award course is taught and as per Office of Teaching Quality website procedures. The person conducting the audit and inspecting facilities will, at a minimum, interview:
The person conducting the audit will provide a written report to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), who will refer matters raised:
Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee and University Teaching and Learning Committee will consider the issues and respond as required within their terms of reference. The faculties will respond to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) with regard to matters raised in the report concerning their particular courses. 4.8.7 Process to offer transnational coursesThere are three components in the process of gaining approval to offer a transnational award course. These are:
In respect of approval to teach the course transnationally, section C/4.8.9 below deals with the process to be used where a QUT award course already exists. Section C/4.8.10 deals with the situation where a faculty bids or tenders to offer a transnational course, and the bid documents have to be prepared in a short time frame of something like a few weeks. The following sections expand on these points. 4.8.8 Approval of the courseIf the course already exists, is approved, and is to be used without change, the faculty can move to the next step in the process ( C/4.8.9 ). If the course exists, but requires changes to suit the transnational environment, then the course change process described in policy C/4.9 must be used. If the course does not already exist, then the course development and approval process described in policies C/4.1 or C/4.2 must be used. 4.8.9 Approval to teach transnationallyApproval to teach a transnational course is given by the Vice-Chancellor after a round of consultations between the proposing faculty and key stakeholders, and consideration of the proposal at Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee. Approval is required for any course where QUT staff will physically be present offshore, and for any course where, although there will be no teachers physically present offshore, the target student cohort is located offshore, or it is known or expected that a significant proportion of the target student cohort will be located offshore, or if QUT is officially promoted as being associated with the course (for example, through use of the QUT logo). A course cannot be advertised or offered transnationally by any party until approval by the Vice-Chancellor has been given. (a) The Courses Bulletin The initial step in the process of obtaining approval to offer transnationally is the publishing of a Courses Bulletin ( C/4.1.3 ) to advise the University community of the faculty's intentions. (b) Development of a Business Plan and consultation processes The proposing faculty must prepare a specific Business Plan covering its proposed transnational teaching, taking account of the consultations and negotiations it has with the stakeholders described below (Appendix 10(b)). (c) Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee and the approval process The faculty provides the final version of the Business Plan to the Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality. The Dean of Studies refers the proposal documents to Vice-Chancellor's Advisory Committee for advice. The Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality, confirms with the stakeholders that all necessary consultation and negotiation have been completed, collates all advice and documents described above, and lodges them with the Vice-Chancellor for consideration and approval to offer the course transnationally. (d) International Cooperation Agreements and inter-organisational agreements A draft International Cooperation Agreement, or other Contract of Agreement as appropriate, may be prepared with the Business Plan, and may form an attachment to the Business Plan at the time of approval by the Vice-Chancellor. The Office of Commercial Services is normally involved in the preparation of these documents ( I/3.1 ). 4.8.10 The procedure for bids or tendersThis process applies where a faculty wishes, or is invited, to bid or tender at short notice to offer a transnational course. In this case the Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality will convene, as soon as practicable, a meeting of interested stakeholders, including at least the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Technology, Information and Learning Support) or nominee(s), the Registrar or nominee(s), the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development) or nominee(s), the Executive Director, Finance and Resource Planning or nominee(s), and if necessary, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), with the faculty proponents of the bid. Prior to this meeting, the proposing faculty will provide to the participants as many details as are available about their proposed bid. The function of the meeting is to explore the issues that are involved in the bid, using as a basis for discussion the kinds of issues mentioned in section C/4.8.8 above, and to reach some preliminary understanding of whether the University and its divisions would support the bid if it went ahead. If that understanding is reached, the faculty proceeds with its bid. If the bid is successful, the faculty has its new course approved through the processes described in C/4.1 , and gains approval to teach transnationally through the process described in section C/4.8.9 . Related DocumentsMOPP C/4 Course development and approval, and quality assurance MOPP I/3.1 International Cooperation Agreements MOPP Appendix 3 – Schedule of Authorities and Delegations MOPP Appendix 10(b) Business Plan to teach offshore MOPP Appendix 10(f) Transnational Course Report Proforma Modification History
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