C/3.5 Transnational education

Policy Owner	Director, Curriculum Quality and Standards
Approval Date	25/11/2016
Approval Authority	University Academic Board
Date of Next Review	01/02/2019

3.5.1 Purpose
3.5.2 Application
3.5.3 Roles and responsibilities
3.5.4 Strategy for transnational education
3.5.5 Accreditation and approval of transnational education
3.5.6 Management of transnational programs
3.5.7 Implementation and academic quality assurance of transnational courses and programs
3.5.8 Definitions
3.5.9 Delegations
Related Documents
Modification History

3.5.1 Purpose

The transnational education policy codifies the university’s principles for transnational education (TNE) and defines governance arrangements to ensure quality, transparency and accountability of decision-making.

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3.5.2 Application

This policy applies to all QUT transnational education activities, as defined by this policy.

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3.5.3 Roles and responsibilities

Position	Responsibility
Vice-Chancellor and President	approves all proposals involving transnational delivery of award courses
Provost	endorses all proposals for the accreditation, reaccreditation, approval or contract renewal of transnational education (TNE) award courses approves transnational education (TNE) non-award study
Office of Research Services	facilitates contract negotiation, monitoring and evaluation of contract deliverables and routine reviews of contracted courses and programs prior to contract renewal
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education)	approves procedures/protocols for transnational education (TNE)

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3.5.4 Strategy for transnational education

Faculties include any proposals or plans for transnational education in their annual planning consistent with the QUT Internationalisation Framework.

Transnational education courses and programs satisfy the following key criteria:

provide an exceptional strategic advantage for QUT, consistent with QUT brand and priorities, including multiple benefits over a defined period of time
provide a high quality, transformative and distinct QUT learning experience
build upon and respond to market needs, including multiple markets, where possible
provide a return on investment for the university and measurable outcomes for organisations and individuals.

QUT will not invest in, or establish or lease campus assets outside Australia, or enter into franchising arrangements.

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3.5.5 Accreditation and approval of transnational education

All transnational education (TNE) award courses and non-award study are subject to QUT policies for curriculum design, design, approval and accreditation (C/4.1), quality assurance (C/4.6) and evaluation (C/4.7).

	Transnational education (TNE) award courses	Transnational education (TNE) non-award study
Provost	endorses all proposals for accreditation and reaccreditation, which includes a review of the business plan and costing and provides advice to University Academic Board and the Vice-Chancellor and President	approves for offer based upon review of the business plan and costing approves delivering in a language other than English
QUTeX		endorses initial proposal (C/3.3.3)
Faculty Academic Boards (A/3.7)		approves academic quality, including advanced standing (if any)
University Academic Board (A/3.6)	accredits course
Vice-Chancellor and President	approves for offer

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3.5.6 Management of transnational programs

Public transnational award courses and programs are managed by the sponsoring faculty/faculties. Executive Deans are responsible for the oversight of financial and risk arrangements including the development of business and risk management plans, price setting, annual monitoring of expenditure against income, and undertaking annual reviews of financial viability and risk and reporting to the Provost.

Custom transnational award courses and transnational non-award executive and professional education are managed by QUTeX, including oversight of financial arrangements.

The Provost monitors the viability and risk profile of each transnational education (TNE) program as part of annual planning and review for Executive Deans and, where there is significant adverse variation from the original proposal, may refer relevant documents to the Programs Executive Committee for review and advice.

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3.5.7 Implementation and academic quality assurance of transnational courses and programs

All transnational education courses and programs are subject to quality assurance processes.

(a) Quality assurance of transnational award courses

QUT's transnational award courses meet the Higher Education Standards Framework, the Australian Qualifications Framework, professional registration (where applicable), and QUT policies. All transnational award courses are subject to QUT course quality assurance processes (C/4.6) and, within this policy framework, are considered higher-risk. In addition, separate quality assurance for transnational award courses involves an independent audit process.

A customised comprehensive evaluation strategy may be required for certain contexts. These are developed in collaboration with the Learning and Teaching Unit and will be approved as part of the accreditation/reaccreditation process or by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Education).

(b) Quality assurance of transnational programs

Transnational programs will have a documented quality assurance system that assures the academic integrity of the program as a whole, all sub components (such as units and modules) and the quality of the teaching and learning. The quality assurance approach, processes and tools may draw upon those available for award courses where appropriate. The approach is documented, approved and monitored by the relevant faculty executive and academic governance structures.

(c) Professional, statutory and regulatory requirements in the host country

All transnational education (TNE) courses and programs are subject to the regulatory frameworks of the host country and these should be specified in relevant accreditation/approval documentation.

(d) PhD courses

QUT does not offer transnational PhD courses.

Refer to the joint PhD guidelines in the Digital Workplace (QUT staff access only) or on the QUT website relating to PhDs and research degrees.

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3.5.8 Definitions

Transnational education (TNE) means a course or program that is provided to one or more specifically targeted cohort(s) either partly or fully outside Australia through face-to-face instruction or any mix of online and face to face instruction. Transnational education (TNE) may involve collaboration with one or more international third parties external to QUT. Such arrangements are subject to specific standards and conditions. Transnational education (TNE) may be offered as an award course (C/3.1) or non-award study (C/3.3). Award and non-award Transnational education (TNE) activities may be offered to the general public or to an external organisation (corporate).

Transnational education (TNE) courses and programs are normally delivered in English.

Some specific characteristics of Transnational education (TNE) can include:

a QUT staff member travelling to an overseas destination to teach the program to specific cohorts resident in other countries, or
a QUT staff member travelling to an overseas destination to train local teaching staff in the delivery of a QUT award course.

Programis defined in Non-award study (C/3.3).

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3.5.9 Delegations

Refer to Register of Authorities and Delegations (VC135, VC195, VC198, VC200) (QUT staff access only).

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Modification History

Date	Sections	Source	Details
31.05.21	C/3.5.3, C/3.5.5, C/3.5.6, C/3.5.8	University Academic Board	Revised policy, consequential changes resulting from revised C/3.3 Non-award study and rescinded policy C/3.4 Graduate and professional education
13.09.20	C/3.5.3, C/3.5.5	Vice-Chancellor and President	Revised policy, consequential changes resulting from the disestablishment of Programs Executive Committee
12.12.18	C/3.5.3	Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Commercialisation)	Revised to include department name change to Office of Research Services
25.11.16	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy
23.11.12	All	University Academic Board	Policy revised to reflect revisions to Curriculum development, approval and accreditation process (with effect from 01.07.13)
23.11.12	All	Dean of Studies, Learning and Teaching Unit	Editorial amendment to ensure alignment with policy revisions within C/4.7
20.04.11	All	Council	Policy revised to reflect committee name change from University Teaching and Learning Committee to University Learning and Teaching Committee
19.02.11	All	Vice-Chancellor	Policy revised to include approved name change for Office of Teaching Quality to Learning and Teaching Unit and position title for Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Teaching Quality) to Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching)
23.07.10	C/3.5.3	University Academic Board	Policy revised to include SAMS terminology and processes
18.09.09	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy to address recommendations of the 2008 Transnational Education Audits
14.11.08	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy, effective from 01.01.09; renumbered to C/3.5 (formerly C/4.8 Transnational award course developments) (endorsed by University Teaching and Learning Committee 21.10.08)
18.04.07	All	Dean of Studies, Office of Teaching Quality	Editorial amendments consistent with terms of reference of new International Steering Committee (offshore course offerings to be considered by Vice-Chancellor’s Advisory Committee)
17.11.06	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy
06.10.06	All	University Academic Board	Revised and re-named policy (formerly C/4.8 Offshore courses) (endorsed by Teaching and Learning Committee 01.08.06 and International Policy and Strategy Committee 04.09.06)
17.02.05	All	Academic Policy and Programs Unit	Editorial amendment to ensure consistency with Schedule of Authorities and Delegations
08.08.03	All	University Academic Board	Revised policy
05.08.02	All	Chairperson, University Academic Board	Revised policy (endorsed by University Academic Board 31.07.02)

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