(1) This Procedure provides direction on the requirements and processes for professional accreditation and industry recognition of all VU courses. (2) HESF: 1.4.2 Learning Outcomes and Assessment; 3.1.5 Course Design; 5.1 Course Approval and Accreditation; 7.1 Representation; 7.3 Information Management (3) Standards for RTOs: Standard 4.1(j) (4) This Procedure applies to: (5) Accrediting body – The body responsible for accrediting courses and/or disciplines on behalf of the profession. (6) Accreditation submission – The documentation submitted by the University to the accrediting body as a set requirement of the accreditation process. (7) (8) Professional accreditation – Accreditation intended to ensure that a course of study meets essential criteria in the training and education of its students in the relevant professional discipline, and that graduates from that discipline achieve the professional competencies and learning outcomes necessary for entry into the relevant level of professional practice. Courses must be accredited by the relevant accrediting body for course graduates to be registered or otherwise licensed to practice in a regulated profession. (9) Registration – Registration standards which apply to individual practitioners. (11) Professional accreditation is required for courses leading to professions where public safety needs to be ensured by regulating the quality and content of learning undertaken. (12) The purpose of accreditation is to ensure that a program of study meets essential criteria in the training of its graduates in particular fields. Professions in the health, building and education industries are frequently regulated in this way. (13) Some accreditation bodies are required by law and have explicit statutory functions, while others fulfil responsibilities delegated from registering authorities. (14) Professional accreditation requirements may include reference to the inherent requirements of study or of the regulated profession for which the course of study will qualify a graduate. Where accreditation requirements include inherent requirements, these must be addressed during course design and approval processes, in accordance with VU's Courses Lifecycle - Inherent Requirements of Study Procedure. (15) Industry recognition is determined by the relevant industry organisation or body associated with the industry. Industry recognition is not required for graduates of a course to practice in a profession, but may be required for graduates to gain membership of a professional body, or desirable as a marker of quality. (16) There are two types of Industry Recognition: (17) Industry Recognition may be sought when: (18) Where a new course is proposed, the course proponent must determine if the course will require accreditation in order for graduates to be able to practice in a regulated profession. This occurs as part of the Course Approval processes specified in: (19) Course design will be mindful of professional accreditation requirements at all stages of the process, in order to ensure an integrated approach to professional compliance and educational outcomes. (20) Existing courses may identify new accreditation needs, either as part of course review processes or outside them. (21) Existing courses that are accredited are also subject to cyclical reaccreditation requirements to retain their accredited status. (22) Where a new double degree is proposed, both degrees must have the same accreditation status if both are accreditable. (23) Where a dual award is proposed, both awards must contribute to the achievement of the accreditation outcome, irrespective of different regulatory requirements for each award. (24) Where an award at a lower AQF level than the destination course forms a potential pathway to an accredited qualification, the pathway must be declared to the accrediting body, and, where applicable, accreditation must also be sought for the pathway award. (25) On an annual basis, courses are reviewed as part of the Annual Course Monitoring process. As part of that process, professional accreditation status and requirements are checked and, if necessary, remediated. (26) Professional accreditation and industry recognition for HE courses is reassessed at least every five years as part of the Comprehensive Course Review process. (27) Where a Higher Education course that is subject to professional accreditation undergoes a major change process (as outlined in the Courses Lifecycle - Award Course Amendments (HE) Procedure): (28) In all Professional Accreditation situations, VU will engage constructively and iteratively with the relevant accrediting body to ensure that professional requirements are well understood and integrated into course design and amendments. (29) Where a need for professional accreditation has been identified as part of a Course Proposal, as part of External Referencing (see Courses Lifecycle - External Referencing Procedure), during Comprehensive Course Review, or in any other context, a brief Pre-Accreditation Plan must be developed by the College which is the course proponent. (30) The Pre-Accreditation Plan should identify: (31) AQS can assist Colleges with preparing Pre-Accreditation Plans. (32) Pre-Accreditation Plans will form part of Course Proposal or Comprehensive Course Review documentation. (33) When preparing a submission for accreditation or recognition, the following steps are undertaken: (34) A submission for accreditation has three potential outcomes. These are: (35) Once an accrediting body's response is received, the College or Victoria University Polytechnic will forward a copy of the letter of response, along with a full copy of the original submission, to AQS. (36) Upon receipt of the response, if it has resulted in accreditation with or without conditions, AQS will: (37) Where a course does not receive accreditation: (38) Where a College or Victoria University Polytechnic determines that Industry Recognition would be advantageous, they will: (39) Once an industry body's response is received, the College will forward a copy of the letter of response, along with a full copy of the original submission, to AQS. (40) Upon receipt of the response, if it has resulted in recognition, AQS will: (41) Where required as a condition of accreditation, VU will provide an annual report to the accrediting professional body on the status of the course, utilising data gathered in the Annual Course Monitoring process (for higher education courses) or through internal systems (for vocational education and relevant non-award courses). Data may include, but is not limited to: (42) Mandatory reporting to accrediting bodies applies to some health, conduct and other matters involving students who may graduate into regulated professions. Accrediting bodies provide direction on what matters must be reported, with the guiding principle being the prevention of harm to individuals and the public. Matters that require mandatory reporting may arise through: (43) Where VU identifies that a mandatory report may need to be made, the appropriate staff member will make the report via the designated accrediting body process. Before making the report, the action must be approved by the Executive Dean (or delegate) of the student's College. (44) The student must be informed that the University is making the report and what the substance of the report will be. (45) After making the report, a notation must be added to the student's record that the report has been made. Courses Lifecycle - Professional Accreditation and Industry Recognition Procedure
Section 1 - Summary
Section 2 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment
Section 3 - Scope
Top of PageSection 4 - Definitions
Section 5 - Policy/Regulation
Top of PageSection 6 - Procedures
Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
Higher Education
Roles
Responsibilities
Colleges
Prepare draft submission
Provide draft submission to Academic Quality and Standards (AQS) for checking
Obtain Vice-Chancellor authorisation
Submit accreditation documentation
Arrange site visit
Report on site visit
Respond to accreditation report
Develop and implement a plan addressing any issues identified as a result of the accreditation process
Send a copy of the accreditation report, the response and the implementation plan to the Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (HE), Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer and AQS
Directors of Learning and Teaching (or equivalent)
Manage the ongoing relationship with accreditation bodies, including monitoring changes to accreditation requirements
Academic Quality and Standards (AQS)
Assist Colleges with preparing Accreditation Submissions as required
Maintain the Register of Accredited Courses and the Register of Industry Recognised Courses (Non-Mandatory Accreditation)
Perform annual check of all accreditations to ensure that they are still valid and conditions are still being met
Perform all system-related recording and updating
Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer
Quality assurance activity (initial) - Present details of accreditation report response and implementation plan to Courses Committee and Academic Board
Quality assurance activity (ongoing) - Ensure that accreditation reports are made available to program review committees and to audit reports
HE Course Review
Comprehensive Course Review/Annual Course MonitoringVictoria University Polytechnic
Roles
Responsibilities
Sector
Prepare draft submission
Provide draft submission to Governance and Quality and Compliance (Q&C) for checking
Obtain Senior Leadership Team (SLT) authorisation
Submit accreditation documentation
Arrange site visit
Report on site visit
Respond to accreditation report
Develop and implement a plan addressing any issues identified as a result of the accreditation process
Send a copy of the accreditation report, the response and the implementation plan to the Vice-Chancellor, Chief TAFE Officer, Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Chief Academic Officer and Senior Manager, Administration and Governance
Victoria Polytechnic Governance
Assist with preparing Accreditation Submissions as required
Maintain the Register of Accredited Courses and the Register of Industry Recognised Courses (Non-Mandatory Accreditation)
Perform annual check of all accreditations to ensure that they are still valid and conditions are still being met
Perform all system-related recording and updating
Chief TAFE Officer
Quality assurance activity (initial) - Present details of accreditation report response and implementation plan to Courses Committee and Academic Board
Quality assurance activity (ongoing) - Ensure that accreditation reports and audit reports are made available to course review committees and to audit reports Part B - Overview
What is Professional Accreditation?
What is Industry Recognition?
Part C - Identifying Accreditation Needs
Part D - Pre-Accreditation Plans
Part E - Preparing Submissions for Accreditation or Recognition
Part F - Outcomes of Accreditation Processes
Part G - Industry Recogniton
Part H - Reporting
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