• Section 1 - Purpose and Objectives
• Section 2 - Definitions, Terms, Acronyms
• Section 3 - Procedure Scope/Coverage
• Section 4 - Procedure Statement
• Section 5 - Types of Collaborative Program Arrangements
• Transnational Education (TNE)
• Credit Transfer
• Articulation Pathways
• Advanced Standing Arrangements
• Student Mobility Programs
• Collaborative Higher Degree by Research Programs
• Section 6 - Criteria for Selecting an International Partner
• Section 7 - Development of Proposals
• Collaborative Academic Programs, Including TNE Initiatives
• Other Collaborative Program Arrangements
• Business Planning and Risk Management Analysis for Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements
• Section 8 - Managing Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements: Quality Assurance Principles
• Section 9 - Review of Collaborative Program Arrangements
• Section 10 - Principles underpinning Dual Badging of Testamurs and Joint Awards

Section 1 - Purpose and Objectives

(1) This Procedure enacts the Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements Policy and outline the processes for implementing collaborative academic programs.

Section 2 - Definitions, Terms, Acronyms

Section 3 - Procedure Scope/Coverage

(2) This Procedure applies to all students and staff of The University of Queensland.

Section 4 - Procedure Statement

(3) The following principles shall guide the University’s academic program collaborations with either an on-shore or off-shore partner.

1. Where a program of study leads to a University award, the University shall usually have sole responsibility and authority in all academic matters and the program and its courses of study must be of an equivalent standard and quality to the University’s other academic programs.
2. Postgraduate programs will normally be offered/delivered from a University of Queensland campus/school. Such programs may be offered off-shore with an approved partner institution where such an initiative is deemed of strategic importance to the University and consistent with the University’s Internationalisation Plan. Such initiatives will be developed in accordance with established University policies, procedures and rules.
3. The University will not normally offer undergraduate programs entirely off-shore. It will support, however, undergraduate twinning and articulation arrangements with institutions of appropriate quality.
4. Collaborative program arrangements must be underpinned by effective financial and administrative management procedures and subject to appropriate quality assurance and risk management processes.
5. Proposals to offer programs on a collaborative basis with either a domestic or international partner must be documented by an agreement in accordance with University policies (International Agreements Policy, Financial and Contract Sub-delegations Procedure).

Section 5 - Types of Collaborative Program Arrangements

(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.

Transnational Education (TNE)

(5) TNE arrangements may be offered in conjunction with a partner institution.

(6) Types of TNE arrangements may include:

1. twinning;
2. linked or joint degree programs which may include joint award of a degree or dual badging.

Credit Transfer

(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).

Articulation Pathways

(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.

Advanced Standing Arrangements

(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).

Student Mobility Programs

(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.

1. University student exchange 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.
2. Faculty student exchange programs:
   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.
3. University study abroad initiatives: 
   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.

(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.

Collaborative Higher Degree by Research Programs

(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.

Section 6 - Criteria for Selecting an International Partner

(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:

1. quality of the partner institution;
2. demonstration that the partnership is compatible with University, Faculty/Institute and School/Centre strategic positioning in the region;
3. strength of commitment by the intended partner institution; research collaborations;
4. compatibility of programs; duration of study by students at UQ;
5. number of students anticipated; and
6. recognition of qualifications of joint program initiatives.

Section 7 - Development of Proposals

Collaborative Academic Programs, Including TNE Initiatives

(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:

1. As early as possible in the preliminary development phase, Faculties should submit a brief summary of the program initiative to the University Senior Executive Team, which will examine the strategic significance of the proposal from the perspective of resource management and corporate direction. As part of this stage, Faculties will be required to develop a business case. For initiatives with a transnational component, business cases will be referred to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) who may refer them to the International Policy and Strategy Committee (IPSC).

(31) Committee for Academic Programs Policy (CAPP):

1. Submission of New and Major Program Proposals:
   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
2. Review of Detailed Proposals for Major and Minor Program Changes:
   A sub-committee of CAPP will consider the details of program proposals within the framework of established policies.
3. For transnational delivery of an existing program where no curriculum change is required, Executive Deans are required to submit a business case to the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) and an academic quality assurance statement to the President of the Academic Board. 
4. Proposals to offer programs on a collaborative basis with either a domestic or international partner also must be documented by an agreement in accordance with the appropriate University policies: for domestic program arrangements, the Financial and Contract Sub-delegations Procedure and for international program arrangements, the International Agreements Procedure.

Other Collaborative Program Arrangements

(32) Other collaborative program arrangements include:

1. Articulation pathway arrangements: will be documented via an MoU or an addendum to an MoU and, for arrangements involving an international partner, agreements shall be developed in accordance with the International Agreements Procedure.
2. Advanced standing and credit transfer: are covered by the provisions of the University’s Recognition of Prior Learning Policy. Those arrangements involving an international partner may be documented via a letter of agreement between the Faculty and the proposed partner institution (International Agreements Procedure);
3. University and Faculty student exchange programs and study abroad programs: will generally be the subject of a formal MoU or addenda to an MoU between UQ and the relevant partner institution (International Agreements Procedure).

Business Planning and Risk Management Analysis for Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements

(33) The following issues should be addressed and documented during the business planning and risk assessment analysis phase of developing collaborative academic program arrangements.

1. Evidence of demand for the program must be provided.
2. The management structures and roles and responsibilities for the collaborative program offering must be clearly defined.
3. Faculty processes for managing quality assurance arrangements for such program initiatives must be clearly articulated, including clear identification of the Faculty officer responsible for managing the academic quality assurance arrangements detailed in section 8 of this Procedure and those Faculty committees which will have responsibility for overall review and management of the quality of the program.
4. The financial viability of the program must be assessed, and all direct and indirect overheads costs of the program must be covered by revenue from the program. Costing and fee details including the fee split, management fees or royalty payment, responsibility for covering expenses/loss etc. must be clearly documented in an agreement.
5. Responsibility for marketing, advertising etc in Australia and overseas, including the use of logos (i.e. joint badging for marketing purposes) must be clearly delineated. Marketing materials and collateral used in the marketing of the course/program is to be subject to prior approval by the University.
6. Proposals must demonstrate that University and third party intellectual property will be protected and observed
7. Teaching resources created pursuant to statutory copyright licences and electronic journals and databases accessed pursuant to commercial licence agreements signed by the Library are only available to UQ staff and enrolled UQ students and this fact must be considered carefully in determining the status of staff and students of collaborating institutions pursuant to any proposed collaborative academic program arrangement.
8. All formal agreements must include a predefined review period(s) and a termination clause as per the University’s International Agreements Policy and Financial and Contract Sub-delegations Procedure.

Section 8 - Managing Collaborative Academic Program Arrangements: Quality Assurance Principles

(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.

1. Satisfaction of the requirements as set out in the Program Approval Procedure and Program Design Policy noting that part of this process is to ensure appropriate consultation with relevant stakeholders, including the University Librarian and Director, Learning Services, and other service providers.
2. The University retains control over courses and programs (including responsibility for course curriculum) offered in its name. Such courses/programs are subject to the following University policies:
   1. entry requirements and standards
   2. admissions and enrolments (Admission Policy)
   3. credit transfer assessment policies
   4. teaching and learning policies and practices
   5. program approval and curriculum review policies.
3. University courses/programs are to be taught by persons approved by The University of Queensland. It is important that the University satisfy itself that teaching staff not in its employ demonstrate the appropriate standards of expertise and qualifications through involvement in staff selection and monitoring processes and continued monitoring of staff performance.
4. Where a program is taught off-campus, evidence must be provided of the availability and quality of the necessary infrastructure to support the program and courses (e.g. library and other facilities) and the students studying in that program (this would also apply to ("e" or electronic offerings). The University must be able to satisfy itself that such facilities available to enrolled students are satisfactory for the pursuit of the program.
5. Where a program is taught off-campus or off-shore, the University must ensure that the quality of the student experience is comparable to the on-shore student experience. That is, proposals must clearly demonstrate the measures that have been put in place to ensure that the off-shore program student experience remains comparable to the on-shore program, including the arrangements that have been put in place for student orientation and induction, and arrangements for monitoring and measuring student experience and satisfaction.
6. If, for any reason, an agreement should be terminated while students are enrolled in the program, the University will be responsible for ensuring that these students have an appropriate opportunity to complete their studies.

Section 9 - Review of Collaborative Program Arrangements

(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

1. annual program/sequence of study monitoring by the relevant School Teaching and Learning Committee;
2. triennial program/sequence of study assessment by the relevant Faculty Teaching and Learning Committee; and
3. curriculum reviews conducted as part of a School/Discipline review. Full details of curriculum review processes are provided in the Programs, Plans and Courses Quality Assurance Policy.

(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.

Section 10 - Principles underpinning Dual Badging of Testamurs and Joint Awards

(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:

1. the partner institution is recognised internationally as an institution of high quality; or
2. the program is of such standing that it would enhance the University's reputation.

(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.