• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 - TEQSA/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 - General
• Part C - Suspension of a VET Course or Specialisation
• Part D - Deciding to Commence the VET Cessation Process
• As part of a change made to the National Register of VET
• VU TAFE Strategic Management
• Part E -  VET Cessation Plan
• Part F - Course Comparative Planning
• Part G - Individual Transition/Teach-out Plan
• Part H - Unit Transition Plan
• Part I - Status Change
• Part J - Communications with Students
• Communication 1 - Notification of cessation
• Communication 2 - Notification of teach-out/transition
• Part K - Monitoring Course Transition
• Part L - Devactivation of Courses and Specialisations
• Part M - Deactivation of Units
• Part N - Approval of Teach-out/Deactivation

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Procedure:

1. Specifies key steps and responsibilities involved in ceasing to offer a Vocational Education and Training (VET) course, specialisation or unit to commencing and prospective students onshore and/or offshore;
2. Specifies the approval steps and responsibilities for student transition and/or teach out arrangements.

Section 2 - TEQSA/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(2) This Procedure ensures Victoria University TAFE compliance with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth). In particular, this Procedure ensures compliance with Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.

(3) This Procedure addresses VUP’s responsibilities under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Cth) (ESOS), Part 5, Division 2, Subdivision A – Provider Default. The processes and actions mandated in this Procedure mitigate the risk of VUP entering provider default when ceasing to offer VET courses of study.

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This Procedure applies to:

1. VET Award courses and units;
2. VET Non-Award courses and units;
3. VET Specialisations.

(5) This Procedure does not apply to:

1. Higher Degrees by Research courses and units;
2. Higher Education (HE) award and non-award courses and units.

Section 4 - Definitions

(6) ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority)

(7) Award Course

(8) Course Cessation

(9) Course Suspension

(10) Non-Award Course

(11) Scope of Registration

(12) Specialisation (VET)

(13) Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA)

Section 5 - Policy/Regulation

(14) Courses Lifecycle Policy.

Section 6 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Part B - General

(15) The cessation of a course, specialisation or unit at VUP must comply with the following principles:

1. External and internal academic standards, policy and regulations (including, but not limited to, the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth) and the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Framework).
2. National Training Package or National/State accredited course requirements (for externally accredited courses and/or units only).
3. The requirements of relevant professional accrediting and disciplinary bodies.
4. Institutional strategic directions at the time.
5. Approved quality assurance arrangements with external partners.
6. Internal capacity (including availability of specialist staff and resources as needed).

(16) The cessation and transition planning of a course must comply as outlined for each course category:

1. VET Award Course
   1. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth), Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.
2. VET Non-Award Course - Category 2
   1. As per advice received by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) at time of course replacement.
3. VET Non-Award Course – Category 1, 3, 4
   1. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth), Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.
4. VET Non-Award Course - Category 5, 6 and 7
   1. Students who have commenced a course will remain within the replaced course.
5. VET Units (within both VET Award Courses and VET Non-Award Courses – Category 1, 3, 4, 5)
   1. The Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth), Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.
6. VET Units (within VET Non-Award Courses – Category 2)
   1. As per advice received by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) at time of unit replacement.
7. VET Non-Award Units (within VET Non-Award Courses – Category 6 and 7)
   1. Students who have commenced a unit will remain within the replaced unit.

Part C - Suspension of a VET Course or Specialisation

(17) Governance or the TAFE Manager may request to suspend a course or specialisation.

(18) Courses or specialisations that are suspended will no longer accept new enrolments and will not be listed on Course Finder, but will continue to be taught to existing students (if any) without interruption.

(19) If a suspension to a course or specialisation is requested, a Course Suspension Request must be completed and approved by the Chief TAFE Officer.

(20) Courses and specialisations that are approved for suspension will be suspended for a maximum period of 12 months.

(21) Course and specialisation suspensions are only permitted on one occasion in a course lifecycle.

(22) During the 12-month suspension period, (but no later than 3 months prior to the suspension period ending) TAFE will determine, whether:

1. The course will be made active for the next teaching period; or
2. The cessation process will continue towards permanently deactivating the course.

Part D - Deciding to Commence the VET Cessation Process

(23) Courses, specialisations or units may commence cessation via two processes:

1. As part of a change made to the National Register of VET as advised by the current Government authoritative source;
2. As a result of TAFE strategic management directions.

As part of a change made to the National Register of VET

(24) Changes to the National Register of VET that could trigger the cessation process include when a course, specialisation and/or unit status changes to:

1. Superseded (in the case where a Training Package component (course, unit or skill set) is replaced by another);
2. Deleted (in the case where a Training Package component (course, unit, skill set) is removed from the National Register of VET without being replaced);
3. Expired (in the case where a VET accredited course/short course expires).

(25) Governance is advised of changes made to the National Register of VET via the current Government authoritative source and in turn, advise relevant TAFE Managers of these changes.

(26) Governance, in conjunction with the TAFE Manager will complete the relevant Course Cessation Plan.

VU TAFE Strategic Management

(27) Through the TAFE Executive Team the TAFE will engage in a strategic review of the course profile:

1. Annually;
2. As needed, based on changes made in the sector and by both the State and Commonwealth Governments.

(28) As part of the strategic review of the course profile, the  TAFE Executive Team are provided with detailed course data to assist in decision-making.

(29) Based on the data and any other relevant considerations, the process may result in:

1. The decision to continue to offer a course, specialisation and/or unit;
2. The need to commence the cessation/transition process for a course, specialisation and/or unit;
3. The need for a new course, specialisation and/or unit to be offered;
4. Immediate deactivation of a course or specialisation;
5. Amendments to existing courses.

(30) The VET Teaching Area may also decide to change strategic direction as part of their strategic planning processes.

(31) If a decision is made, to discontinue offering a course, specialisation and/or unit, Governance in conjunction with the TAFE Manager, will complete the relevant Course Cessation Plan and seek approval of the applicable Executive Director.

Part E -  VET Cessation Plan

(32) The VET Cessation Plan is developed by Governance in conjunction with the TAFE Manager.

(33) This Plan is provided to the relevant Executive Director for approval.

(34) A VET Cessation Plan is submitted to Academic Quality and Standards at any time of the year and is tabled at the TAFE Courses Advisory Committee for endorsement.

(35) Transition and Teach-out periods for VET Award courses, specialisations or units will align with those stipulated in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth), Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.

Part F - Course Comparative Planning

(36) The Course Comparative Planning is only completed for courses or specialisations that are being replaced and/or will have students transitioning from one course or specialisation into another.

(37) Once the VET Cessation Plan has been approved, the TAFE Manager will prepare the Course Comparative Analysis (if required).

(38) The Course Comparative Plan will:

1. Compare the number of units (core and elective) required for both the replaced qualification and the replacement qualification;
2. Compare the maximum payable hours the State Government will subsidise;
3. Identify whether units within the two qualifications are equivalent, not equivalent, new or have no replacement, and;
4. Where the units within the two qualifications are not equivalent, a summary of changes will be provided.

(39) The Course Comparative Analysis is presented to the relevant VET Quality Partner for checking.

(40) Once the Course Comparative Analysis has been checked by the relevant VET Quality Partner, the TAFE Manager will prepare the Individual Transition/Teach-out Plans.

Part G - Individual Transition/Teach-out Plan

(41) Once the Course Comparative Plan has been approved by the Executive Director (if required), the TAFE Manager will develop a detailed Individual Transition/Teach-out Plan for each student enrolled in the course or specialisation to ensure students are informed and not disadvantaged.

(42) The Individual Transition/Teach-out Plan will detail:

1. Students completing course or specialisation
   1. Current unit enrolments/results completed as part of the course or specialisation;
   2. Future unit enrolments to be completed and an indication of when those units should be completed.
2. Students transitioning to replacement course or specialisation
   1. Current unit enrolments/results completed as part of the course or specialisation;
   2. All units the student will need to complete in full as part of the replacement VET Course or specialisation;
   3. All units that will be eligible for credit transfer within the replacement course or specialisation;
   4. All units that may be eligible for recognition of prior learning within the replacement course or specialisation, provided stated gap training is completed; and
   5. The indicative cost to the student to transition to the replacement course or specialisation.

(43) Transition and/or Teach-out periods will align with those stated in the Course Cessation Plan.

Part H - Unit Transition Plan

(44) The Unit Transition Plan is developed by Governance in conjunction with the TAFE Manager.

(45) This Plan is provided to the relevant Executive Director for approval.

(46) Unit Transition Plans can be submitted at any time of the year.

(47) Transition and Teach-out periods for accredited units will align with those stipulated in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth), Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products or advice received by the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA) at time of unit replacement.

Part I - Status Change

(48) Once a course or specialisation has been approved for cessation by the relevant Executive Director the course or specialisation’s status can be changed in CAMS after endorsement by the Chief TAFE Officer or delegate to:

1. Teach-out;
2. No longer offered on Course Finder.

(49) Courses or specialisations approved for cessation as a result of a TAFE Strategic Management decision will have their status changed immediately following approval of the VET Cessation Plan.

(50) Courses or specialisations approved for cessation as a result of a change made to the National Register of VET will have their status changed as per the date provided on the VET Cessation Plan, which will align with the requirements stipulated in the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015, Standard 1, Clause 1.26-1.27 – Managing transition from superseded training products.

(51) Courses approved for cessation as a result of a change made on the State Register will have their status changed as per the date provided on the VET Cessation Plan which will align with the transition and teach-out directive received from the VRQA.

(52) Once a unit has been approved for cessation by the relevant Executive Director the VET Unit is tagged as superseded and provided a transition end date.

(53) Once the unit has passed its transition end date, it is removed from the course or specialisation structure.

Part J - Communications with Students

(54) Students will receive two formal letters of communication from the TAFE upon a course, specialisation or unit being approved by the Chief TAFE Officer (or delegate) for cessation:

Communication 1 - Notification of cessation

(55) Students will be advised of the TAFE's intention to cease the VET Course, specialisation or unit within two (2) weeks after the approval by the Executive Director/Director of the VET Cessation Plan.

(56) Governance will provide the letter to be issued to the TAFE Manager, who will ensure the letter is provided to enrolled students.

(57) Each student will be advised the following:

1. whether the change has occurred on the National VET Register or been initiated by the TAFE;
2. the length of time that they have to complete the course or specialisation;
3. confirmation of whether their Individual Training Plan aligns with the specified length of time;
4. where the length of time is not sufficient to complete the course, specialisation or unit, details of next steps and timelines of future communication;
5. where they can seek further advice and information about their course status.

Communication 2 - Notification of teach-out/transition

(58) Once the Course Comparative Analysis (if required) and Individual Transition/Teach-out Plans have been completed, each student will be advised of their individual plan including:

1. teach-out timeframes;
2. any transition arrangements that will be applied;
3. where they can seek further advice and information about their course status.

(59) Employers will be informed in writing of teach-out and transition arrangements.

(60) Schools of VETDSS students will be informed in writing of teach-out and transition arrangements by the Manager of VETDSS programs.

(61) TAFE Manager will provide the letter to enrolled student advising them of their individual teach-out/transition plan.

(62) Where a course, specialisation or unit has been replaced with another, details of transition arrangements to the replacement course, specialisation or unit can only be released once the replacement course, specialisation or unit has been added to the TAFE's Scope of Registration maintained by ASQA or the VRQA.

(63) Students will be informed at the application stage if their course, specialisation or unit is approved for cessation.

(64) Where a course or specialisation ceases to accept enrolments, the TAFE will advise any students who have been offered a place that the course or specialisation will no longer be on offer and offer the replacement course (where applicable) as an alternative option.

(65) Details of a course or specialisation that has been approved for cessation will be removed from future editions of all publications.

Part K - Monitoring Course Transition

(66) The TAFE Course Advisory Committee will monitor the progress of all transitioning courses, specialisations and units via the maintenance of a risk register, which is reviewed at each sitting of the Committee.

(67) Details of student numbers and outstanding results will be gathered by Governance to be tabled for discussion at the TAFE Course Advisory Committee.

(68) TAFE Manager to ensure that students’ Training Plans are amended to reflect changes in enrolment arising from cessation, transition and teach-out.

Part L - Devactivation of Courses and Specialisations

(69) Governance review all teach-out courses and specialisations.

(70) If the course or specialisation has no enrolments and there are no pending international students including those on a packaged or pathway arrangement, the course or specialisation is deactivated in CAMS.

Part M - Deactivation of Units

(71) Governance review all active and non-active units.

(72) Once a state/nationally accredited unit has been approved for cessation within a course or specialisation by the relevant Executive Director, Governance will:

1. Maintain the unit as active if it is linked to another course or specialisation;
2. Change the units’ status to inactive in CAMS if it is no longer linked to another course or specialisation, however is still current on the National Register of VET;
3. Deactivate the unit if it is not linked to another course or specialisation and is not current on the National Register of VET.

(73) Once a local unit has been approved for cessation within a course or specialisation by the relevant Executive Director, Governance will deactivate the unit in CAMS.

Part N - Approval of Teach-out/Deactivation

(74) The VET Course Advisory Committee meets and reviews items presented and makes recommendations in the minutes.

(75) If relevant, Senior Coordinator, Governance prepares the ASQA Scope of Registration submission, which is approved by the Chief TAFE Officer.

(76) Chief TAFE Officer approves course, specialisation and/or unit to be placed into teach-out or deactivated and noted at the University Courses Committee.

(77) Governance prepares the report and supporting evidence to the University Courses Committee.

(78) Governance deactivates courses, specialisations and/or units as necessary.

(79) Governance prepares the VET Declaration for approval.

(80) VET Declaration is checked by the Senior Coordinator, Governance to ensure the course, specialisation and/or unit aligns with the Scope of Registration.

(81) VET Declaration is endorsed for approval by the Director, Academic Quality and Standards and Chief TAFE Officer.

(82) Senior Coordinator, Governance forwards approved VET Declaration to Academic Quality and Standards (AQS) requesting course and/or specialisation be final versioned in CAMS (for those items moving to teach-out).

(83) AQS obtains Chief TAFE Officer or delegate approval and moves course and/or specialisation to final version in CAMS (for those items moving to teach-out).

(84) Course, specialisation and/or unit is noted at the University Courses Committee.

(85) Governance sends communication to relevant internal stakeholders (Business Support and Reporting, Marketing, Future Students, Data Management Services, VU Global, Pathways) on change of course status.