C/5.3 Customised education

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5.3.1 Policy
5.3.2 Strategy for customised education
5.3.3 Governance of customised education activities
5.3.3 Role of divisional service providers
Related Documents
Modification History

5.3.1 Policy

As part of its strategy to strengthen engagement with business, industry, government, professional and international communities, QUT offers a range of customised education activities designed to meet the needs of specific cohorts of students who may be employees of, or provided by, an external organisation.

For the purposes of this policy, an external organisation can be either a single employer, or an industry group representing a number of employers.

Customised education activities fall into two categories:

• Corporate award courses - University award courses (see C/3.1.2 ) which are not open to general admission, but are offered to employees of, or students provided by, an external organisation with whom a contract is in place.
• Corporate professional development programs - continuing professional education programs (see C/5.2 ) which are developed specifically for an external organisation with whom a contract is in place, and are offered to employees of, or students provided by, the external organisation.

Entry to the course or program is limited to the specific student cohort. Customised courses and programs may be offered onshore or offshore.

Customised education activities are subject to the approval and quality assurance requirements for University award courses (see C/4.1 ) and continuing professional education programs (see C/5.2 ). However, as individual courses or programs are likely to have some unique features due to the different needs of the external organisation, all customised education activities must be developed and maintained under a specific governance structure for corporate award courses and corporate professional development programs.

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5.3.2 Strategy for customised education

All customised education activities will satisfy the following key criteria:

• The customised education activity will conform with QUT's and the proposing faculty/ies strategic plans.
• The customised education activity normally should not require additional off-campus space. Where facilities are needed by way of lease or purchase, the Vice-Chancellor's approval is required.
• Customised education activities must be based on a robust business case, that demonstrates financial sustainability in accordance with the University's Business Case Framework . The activity will only be undertaken where it can be demonstrated that there is:
  • a substantial strategic return for the University which might include the positioning of the University (through a faculty or faculties) in major academic disciplines or professions, or the development of strategic relations with major clients, and/or
  • a substantial financial return to the University which can be used to fund additional core business activities in the faculty or University.
• The customised education activity must be within QUT's current discipline and professional areas of expertise unless there is a clear documented planned strategy to offer an activity outside current discipline areas.
• The customised education activity must be supported by the professional and teaching expertise currently within the University, unless there is a strategic reason to do otherwise. Where activities are run using expertise hired from outside the University, there must be a strategy for leveraging the contributions of those staff, in addition to any direct involvement in the activity that they may have. For example, staff of the external organisation may be involved in refreshing the standard award course curriculum of the participating faculty or faculties, or be engaged in research projects arising from the relationship between the University and partner or client organisation/s.
• The external organisation must be highly reputable and corporate social responsibility issues should be considered. Due diligence will be conducted in each case as part of the business case, and will include a credit risk check of the external organisation by the Division of Finance and Resource Planning.

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5.3.3 Governance of customised education activities

The strategic oversight of the development, approval and ongoing quality assurance of all customised education activities within a faculty are the responsibility of a governance group. Faculties may choose to establish a single governance group to oversee all customised education activities within the faculty or, for major activities, may choose to establish more than one group.

The governance group is responsible for ensuring that, where appropriate, the following documentation and processes are developed and approved in accordance with University policy:

• a project management framework
• business plan
• relevant agreement or contract
• course approval documentation
• ongoing quality assurance
• post-implementation review.

The governance group is not involved in management of the customised education activities. The typical membership of a governance group is specified in the guidelines for governance groups, available on the Office of Teaching Quality website.

The frequency and style of meetings of the governance group is determined by the executive dean of faculty.

The guidelines for governance groups are approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic).

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5.3.4 Role of divisional service providers

Divisional support for customised education activities will be negotiated on a fully costed fee-for-service basis as follows:

• The Office of Commercial Services will provide business services and advice on contracts / agreements, and may manage customised education activities.
• Student Business Services will provide administration and record-keeping services for corporate award courses.
• Teaching and Learning Support Services will provide curriculum learning design and teacher development services.
• Audit and Risk Management Services will provide services for audit and quality assurance.
• The Office of Research will provide services and advice relating to research matters.

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Realted Documents

MOPP A/2.5 Risk management

MOPP C/4 Course development and approval, and quality assurance

MOPP C/4.8 Transnational award course developments

MOPP C/4.10 Course quality assurance

MOPP C/5.1 Non-award courses and studies

MOPP C/5.2 Continuing professional education programs

MOPP G/5.1 Expenditure of University funds

MOPP G/6.1 Policy on management of contracts and MOUs

Corporate Award Programs

International Strategy Information System

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Modification History

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