• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 -  HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Definitions
• Section 5 - Policy/Regulation
• Section 6 - Procedures
• Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
• Part B - Identification of Students making Unsatisfactory Progress
• Stage 1 – First Time not making Satisfactory Progress
• Stage 2 – Not making Satisfactory Progress in the next Consecutive Study Period
• Stage 3 – Appeal of Decision to Report Overseas Student for Unsatisfactory Progress

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Procedure sets out the process by which the Victoria University (VU) will monitor and manage the progress of overseas students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses.

(2) This Procedure is intended to comply with the VU’s obligations under Standard 8 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (Cth).

Section 2 -  HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(3) Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015: Standard 1, 5, 6.

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This Procedure applies to overseas students enrolled in a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course.

Section 4 - Definitions

(5) Compulsory Study Period – The mid-point of each semester and the end of each semester will be considered to be the end point of the compulsory study period for the purposes of monitoring overseas students’ course progress.

(6) Compassionate or Compelling Circumstances –  Compassionate or compelling circumstances are generally those beyond the control of the student and which have an impact upon the student’s course progress or wellbeing.  These could include, but are not limited to:

1. serious illness or injury, where a medical certificate states that the student was unable to attend classes;
2. bereavement of close family members such as parents or grandparents (where possible a death certificate should be provided);
3. major political upheaval or natural disaster in the home country requiring emergency travel and this has impacted on the student’s studies; or
4. a traumatic experience which could include:
   1. involvement in, or witnessing of a serious accident; or
   2. witnessing or being the victim of a serious crime, and this has impacted on the student (these cases should be supported by police or psychologists’ reports);
   3. where the registered provider was unable to offer a pre-requisite unit; or
   4. inability to begin studying on the course commencement date due to delay in receiving a student visa.

Section 5 - Policy/Regulation

(7) Academic Progress Regulations 2016

Section 6 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Part B - Identification of Students making Unsatisfactory Progress

(8) The Education Manager or delegate will be responsible for monitoring overseas students’ course progress.

(9) Overseas students’ course progress will be reviewed at the end of each ‘compulsory study period.’  For the purpose of this Procedure, the compulsory study period will be the mid-point of each semester and the end of each semester (NB the mid-point of the semester will generally fall within week 8 – 10 for most VET courses).

(10) The outcomes of this scheduled review will be documented on the VET Student Progress Review Form - Overseas Students.

Stage 1 – First Time not making Satisfactory Progress

(11) Where an overseas student is identified at the end of the compulsory study period, as not successfully completing or demonstrating competency in 50% or more of the units in which they are enrolled, they will be considered to be ‘at risk’ of making unsatisfactory progress.

(12) Where an overseas student is identified as being at risk of making unsatisfactory progress, they will be sent a communication using the VET Formal Communications with Overseas Onshore Students template, asking them to attend a meeting with the Education Manager or delegate. The purpose of this meeting will be to develop a documented ‘intervention strategy’ to assist the student to achieve satisfactory progress in the next consecutive compulsory study period. 

(13) The communication asking the student to attend a Course Progress Review meeting with the Education Manager or delegate will contain information about:

1. the purpose of the communication;
2. the time, date and venue for meeting with the Education Manager to develop an intervention strategy to help them achieve satisfactory progress;
3. the various learning and personal support services available to the students; and
4. what will happen if they make unsatisfactory progress in the next consecutive compulsory study period, namely that they could be reported to the Department of Education for having made unsatisfactory progress, which may have an impact on their student visa.

Development of an intervention strategy

(14) Where practicable, the intervention strategy should be tailored to meet the student's individual needs. The intervention strategy may involve a variety/combination of measures including but not limited to:

1. advising students on the suitability of the course in which they are enrolled;
2. advising of opportunities for the student to be reassessed for tasks in units or subjects they had previously failed, or demonstrate the necessary competency in areas in which they had not been previously able to demonstrate competency;
3. information about learning and personal support;
4. regular meetings with the teacher or other support services for additional tutorial/study assistance;
5. referral for personal counselling.

(15) Once developed, the intervention strategy will be documented on the VET Student Progress Intervention Strategy Record, signed by both parties and a copy placed on the student's file.

(16) Where a student fails to attend the meeting to develop an intervention strategy, the student will be deemed to have been provided with an intervention strategy by virtue of the instructions and information detailed in the notification letter.

(17) The intervention strategy will be considered to be implemented from the point of development or, where the student fails to attend the meeting with the Education Manager, from the date of notification letter.

(18) Where any specific action is required to be taken by the Education Manager under the intervention strategy, this must occur/commence within four weeks of implementation.

Stage 2 – Not making Satisfactory Progress in the next Consecutive Study Period

(19) Where an overseas student is identified at the end of the second consecutive compulsory study period as not successfully completing or demonstrating competency in 50% or more of the units in which they are enrolled, they will be considered to have made unsatisfactory progress.

(20) The Education Manager will notify the relevant Executive Director of the overseas student(s) who have been identified as having made unsatisfactory progress.

(21) The Executive Director will then provide written communication to the student(s), using the VET Formal Communications with Overseas Onshore Students template, that the TAFE is required to report their unsatisfactory progress to the Department of Education and that this may have an impact on their student visa.

(22) The written communication will set out the student’s right appeal the decision to the Executive Director within 20 working days in writing from the date of the communication.  This will provide details of VU support services (e.g. Student Advocacy) that can assist the student with an appeal.   The impacted students may only appeal the decision on the following grounds:

1. That the TAFE failed to determine or record the student’s progress accurately;
2. Compassionate or compelling circumstances; or
3. The TAFE did not implement an intervention strategy in accordance with this Procedure.

(23) If a request for an appeal is not received within 20 (twenty) working days from the date of the communication, the Executive Director will notify the student of the outcome in writing.

(24) The Executive Director will also notify the Education Manager. The Education Manager will:

1. initiate the withdrawal form and forward to Student Administration for processing; and
2. notify Enrolments and Fees to advise the Department of Education via PRISMS that the student has made unsatisfactory progress.

Stage 3 – Appeal of Decision to Report Overseas Student for Unsatisfactory Progress

(25) Where a request for an appeal is received, it will be considered by the relevant Executive Director.

(26) The student will be given an opportunity to meet with the Executive Director and provide written evidence to support the grounds for their appeal. Where a student wishes to meet with the Executive Director, they will be allowed to bring along a support person or student advocate to the meeting.

(27) If the student wishes to meet with the Executive Director, but has a compelling reason for being unable to attend in person, alternative arrangements can be requested (for example, participation via telephone or video link).

(28) The Executive Director will:

1. consider what the student has said (either in person or in writing);
2. consider any evidence provided by the student;
3. make a determination as to whether the student has made unsatisfactory progress in light of the evidence provided; and
4. provide the outcome of the appeal to the student in writing.

(29) Where the student’s appeal is successful, the outcomes will vary according to the findings of the Executive Director.  In particular:

1. If the appeal shows that there was an error in determination or recording of progress, and the student actually made satisfactory course progress (successfully completed more than 50% of the course requirements for that study period), the TAFE will not report the student.
2. If the appeal shows that the student has not made satisfactory progress, but there are Compassionate or compelling circumstances for the lack of progress, ongoing support will be provided to the student through VU’s intervention strategy, and the student will not be reported.

(30) Where the student’s appeal is not successful, the Executive Director will notify the student of the outcome in writing within 10 (ten) working days of the conclusion of the review. The notice will include information about the student’s right to seek an external appeal with an external mediation agency, the relevant contact details and the applicable timelines for lodging an external appeal.

(31) The Executive Director will also notify the Education Manager. The Education Manager will:

1. initiate the withdrawal form and forward to Student Administration for processing; and
2. notify Enrolments and Fees to advise the Department of Education via PRISMS that the student has made unsatisfactory progress.