(1) This Procedure enacts the Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements Policy and outline the processes for implementing collaborative academic programs. (2) This Procedure applies to all students and staff of The University of Queensland. (3) The following principles shall guide the University’s academic program collaborations with either an on-shore or off-shore partner. (4) UQ programs may be delivered either on-shore or off-shore with one or more partner institutions. The partner institution may provide facilities and/or teaching staff and/or an on-line component (which may include curriculum) for the program. UQ is responsible for quality assurance of the overall program. The award for the program may be dual-badged as per section 10 of this Procedure. (5) TNE arrangements may be offered in conjunction with a partner institution. (6) Types of TNE arrangements may include: (7) The University has a separate policy on credit for previous studies and recognised prior learning (Recognition of Prior Learning Policy). (8) Faculties may seek to document credit arrangements with partner institutions via a Letter of Agreement. Under these circumstances the arrangement would also be recorded in the University’s database of agreements, maintained by UQ International in addition to being recorded in the University’s Credit Transfer Database. (9) In addition to the requirements of the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, which includes provisions for Faculties to ensure that credit transfer guidelines and credit transfer precedents are regularly reviewed, Executive Deans also are required to review activity under the Letter of Agreement every three years and report the outcome to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) and UQ International for those arrangements involving an international partner. (10) Credit transfer arrangements for academic programs should also be reviewed within the context of an academic program’s curriculum review cycle (Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy). (11) Faculties must ensure that articulation pathway arrangements comply with the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy and its associated quality assurance processes, including recording such arrangements in the University’s Credit Transfer Database and undertaking an audit every three years of the credit transfer precedents relating to the articulation arrangement. (12) Articulation pathway arrangements should also be reviewed within the context of an academic program’s curriculum review cycle (Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy). (13) Consistent with the University’s International Agreements Policy, articulation arrangements involving international partners will be documented in an MoU or addendum to an MoU between the University and the partner institution. Executive Deans are required to report biennially to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) on activity under such agreements (Template to be developed by UQ International). (14) Articulation arrangements with domestic partners will be subject to the review and reporting requirements stipulated by the instrument of engagement which documents the relationship. (15) Advanced standing arrangements refer to a particular type of credit transfer arrangement, whereby a student may be exempted from having to undertake parts of a University program on the basis of previous study at the partner institution. The student enrols in the partner institution’s program and undertakes its courses. Students may apply for admission to a UQ program, transferring at the same award level. UQ is not responsible for curriculum or teaching courses at the partner institution. UQ assures the quality of students by exercising control over the credit arrangement. UQ also maintains control over marketing the arrangement. (16) Faculties are responsible for managing advanced standing arrangements for their suite of academic programs. Such arrangements are recorded in the Credit Transfer database and are subject to the quality assurance processes detailed in the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. (17) For arrangements involving international partner institutions, faculties may seek to document advanced standing arrangements via a Letter of Agreement. Under these circumstances the arrangement would also be recorded in the University’s database of international agreements, maintained by UQ International. (18) Executive Deans are required to review activity under the letter of agreement every three years and report the outcome to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) and UQ International. (19) Advanced standing arrangements for academic programs should also be reviewed within the context of an academic program’s curriculum review cycle (Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy). (20) The University strongly supports the concept of student mobility: it is a key priority in the University’s Internationalisation Plan, particularly with regard to providing UQ students with an international experience. Student mobility programs encompass both student exchange between UQ and partner institutions and study abroad programs. In developing such arrangements, Faculties should ensure there are clear academic and/or intellectual benefits to be derived by UQ students from study at another institution. (21) As with University student exchange programs, University study abroad initiatives will only be developed with partner institutions of strategic importance to UQ. These programs will also be centrally supported by UQ International, which will be responsible for managing and promoting study abroad programs in consultation with the Faculties. (22) Procedures for developing student exchange and study abroad programs are detailed in the University’s International Agreements Policy. Where justified, credit will be granted to UQ students for their study at the partner university. Credit transfer arrangements will be negotiated by the Faculty during the development of the exchange agreement. (23) The University of Queensland highly values international research collaboration and, as a consequence, the University provides opportunities for strategic collaboration for the research training and supervision of higher degree by research (PhD and MPhil) students with a designated partner university in another country. Details of collaborative higher degree by research arrangements (including their development, approval and review) are provided in International Agreements Procedure. (24) Faculties and Research Institutes seeking to develop collaborative academic program arrangements with an international partner institution will need to ensure that the proposed institution meets the principles to guide the University’s international agreements outlined in the International Agreements Procedure. (25) In summary, the criteria relate to the following aspects of the proposed partnership arrangement: (26) Proposals to offer a program on a collaborative basis must be developed in accordance with the University’s Program Approval Procedure, Program Design Policy and Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy; and must comply with the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 and its Regulations, the National Code of Practice, the Universities Australia National Code of Practice, and the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991). (27) Such proposals must address key academic quality assurance principles (section 8 of this Procedure) and undertake business planning and risk management analyses requirements (‘Business Planning and Risk Management Analysis for Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements’ provisions of this Procedure), have the appropriate sign-off on resource issues (including appropriate consultation and agreement with service areas e.g. Library, Student and Administrative Services Division and UQ International for proposals involving an international partner) and demonstrate clearly how the partner institution will enhance the University’s reputation. (28) For those program initiatives developed in association with an on-shore partner, proposals must clearly demonstrate relevance to the University’s Strategic Plan. Consultation with either the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) for coursework programs or the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation)) for research programs should occur as early as possible, in order to ensure development of such initiatives is consistent with University strategic priorities. In addition, proposals for collaborative higher degree by research programs should be developed as per the International Agreements Guideline. For those program initiatives developed in association with an off-shore partner, proposals must also clearly demonstrate relevance to the University’s Internationalisation Plan, as well as to the University’s Strategic Plan; early consultation with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) and the International Director on such initiatives will facilitate this process. (29) New and major collaborative program initiatives, including transnational programs (those programs offered either in whole or part offshore) and the offshore offering of existing programs which involve a change in curriculum, are subject to the following approval process as per the University’s Program Approval Procedure and Program Design Policy. (30) University Senior Executive Team – Notification of New and Major Program Initiative: (31) Committee for Academic Programs Policy (CAPP): (32) Other collaborative program arrangements include: (33) The following issues should be addressed and documented during the business planning and risk assessment analysis phase of developing collaborative academic program arrangements. (34) Faculties must establish, manage and review quality assurance arrangements for all collaborative program developments. (35) The following academic quality assurance principles are to be addressed during the development of collaborative program arrangements on-shore, and proposals to offer programs off-shore and or twinning links with approved partner institutions. (36) Collaborative program arrangements are monitored and reviewed in the following ways. Aspects of the collaborative program’s curriculum are monitored and reviewed via the normal curriculum review processes which include (37) In association with this, the instrument of engagement that has been developed to document the collaborative arrangement will include provisions for ongoing monitoring and review. For those arrangements with international partners, the instrument of engagement will also be subject to the provisions of the International Agreements Policy. (38) In collaborative program arrangements, where the University is the awarding institution it will, where appropriate, acknowledge the partner institution(s) on the testamur. (39) The University will not dual badge testamurs with other institutions unless approved by Academic Board and Senate, in advance, as part of the approval process for the particular program in accordance with the principles and requirements set out in this Procedure. (40) In such circumstances, Academic Board will only consider proposals to dual badge testamurs subject to the following conditions: (41) Faculties must submit their proposal for such a program in accordance with the Program Approval Procedure and Program Design Policy. Proposals must include the exact details of the proposed notations to be included on the testamur. (42) Collaborative program arrangements that include proposals to dual badge academic programs will be regulated by a formal agreement between the relevant institutions (refer to International Agreements Procedure). Where a collaborative program arrangement leads to both institutions awarding a degree for the same program of work, an appropriate notation is made to this effect on the UQ testamur and is clearly specified in the agreement between UQ and the partner institution. (43) The final form of the testamur is approved by the Academic Registrar.Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements Procedure
Section 1 - Purpose and Objectives
Section 2 - Definitions, Terms, Acronyms
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Term
Definition
Academic Programs
Sequence of study leading to the award of a qualification such as an undergraduate degree or diploma, and/or postgraduate coursework qualification.
Articulation
Articulation pathways facilitate the progression of students from a partner institution (either domestic or international) to UQ. Articulation involves the recognition of a completed award of a partner institution through the transfer of specified credit to a UQ award at a more advanced level (for example, study undertaken in a completed undergraduate diploma at another institution is used as credit towards a bachelor level program at UQ). Although UQ is not responsible for the curriculum or teaching courses in the partner institution’s award, the University assures the quality of students by exercising control over the credit transfer arrangements and admission to its award. This may involve undertaking regular visits to the partner institution and/or regular reviews of the partner institution’s curriculum. UQ also maintains control over marketing the pathway arrangement.
Credit Transfer
The University may grant a student specified or unspecified credit for a number of units towards a UQ award on the basis of either previous formal study or recognised prior learning. The type of credit transfer granted depends on the program rules and the structure of an individual program (refer to Recognition of Prior Learning Policy).
Linked or Joint Degree Programs
Each institution awards a degree for the same program of work. An appropriate notation is made to this effect on the UQ testamur and is clearly specified in the agreement between UQ and the partner institution.
The University (or another institution) awarding the degree recognises the involvement of the partner institution by inclusion of their crest, etc., on the testamur.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
A Memorandum of Understanding is a document which sets out the parties’ commitment and intentions to collaborate with the intent that further addenda or contracts will set out specific terms and conditions. The MoU provides governance arrangements and a broad direction for relationship development. The MoU does not outline the details of implementation nor is it intended to be legally binding.
Transnational Education (TNE)
Transnational Education includes the marketing, enrolment processes and delivery and/or assessment of programs and /or study in a country other than Australia by UQ, where delivery includes a face-to-face component, regardless of whether or not the education and/or training leads to a UQ award.
Twinning
University programs offered in conjunction with a partner institution/private provider in which UQ enrolled students undertake specified studies in a UQ program at the other institution. The remaining requirements of the program are completed at UQ and the students receive a UQ award. The specific courses undertaken at the other institution are normally offered/developed by UQ and both the partner institution and UQ provide the teaching staff. UQ is responsible for quality assurance of the overall program, although the program is jointly administered by UQ and the partner institution. Students are normally enrolled as UQ students, although they may be concurrently enrolled as students of the partner institution.
Section 3 - Procedure Scope/Coverage
Section 4 - Procedure Statement
Top of PageSection 5 - Types of Collaborative Program Arrangements
Transnational Education (TNE)
Credit Transfer
Articulation Pathways
Advanced Standing Arrangements
Student Mobility Programs
Student exchange programs support the two-way flow of students between UQ as a whole and a partner institution. Students enrol in award courses at the respective partner institution. There is an underlying assumption that there will be on average an equal number of inbound and outbound students between the two institutions, hence students enrolled in an exchange program are not required to pay tuition fees at the partner institution.
University student exchange programs will only be developed with partner institutions of strategic importance to UQ. Such programs will be managed and monitored by the Student Exchange Office (link to UQ Abroad) within UQ International, which will be responsible for administering and promoting such arrangements in consultation with the Faculties. Students wishing to participate in a University student exchange program may be eligible to apply for a University student exchange scholarship, Government scholarship or Government loan.
Faculties may develop faculty to faculty exchange programs, which support the two-way flow of students between a specific faculty of UQ and a specific faculty at the partner institution. As with University student exchange programs, UQ International manages and monitors the faculty exchange program, and is responsible for administering and promoting them in consultation with the relevant faculty.
Study abroad initiatives may take a number of forms (Study abroad initiatives are distinct from the University’s study abroad program, whereby international students currently enrolled in an accredited university overseas may enrol in UQ courses for one or two semesters). Faculties may develop defined non-award programs of study or other related activity for or in conjunction with partner institutions. Such study abroad initiatives are subject to tuition fees and may require the development of some form of agreement.Collaborative Higher Degree by Research Programs
Section 6 - Criteria for Selecting an International Partner
Top of PageSection 7 - Development of Proposals
Collaborative Academic Programs, Including TNE Initiatives
Following initial endorsement of the program initiative by the University Senior Executive Team, CAPP will consider the academic aspects of collaborative program initiatives. Proposals developed by Faculties for transnational program initiatives will need to include the development of an academic quality assurance statement (Program Approval Procedure and Program Design Policy provide a template). Given the scope of activities which underpin the academic quality assurance statement, such statements will need to be developed in conjunction with the business case for operating and managing the program
A sub-committee of CAPP will consider the details of program proposals within the framework of established policies.Other Collaborative Program Arrangements
Business Planning and Risk Management Analysis for Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements
Top of PageSection 8 - Managing Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements: Quality Assurance Principles
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Section 9 - Review of Collaborative Program Arrangements
Section 10 - Principles underpinning Dual Badging of Testamurs and Joint Awards
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Programs for which students are awarded a UQ degree (on the basis of study at UQ and credit for study undertaken at the partner institution) and receive an award from the partner institution (based on study at UQ and at the partner institution). The arrangements for awarding the degree may include: