Micro-credentials and Short Courses Policy

Purpose

The purpose of the policy is to outline broad guiding principles in relation to the development, accreditation, delivery, assessment, issuance, quality assurance, and governance of Alphacrucis University College (AC) AQF aligned micro-credentials and non-credit bearing short courses.

Scope

This policy covers all AC micro-credentials and short courses. It applies to staff and third-party partners with related responsibilities, as well as learners enrolled in a micro-credential or short course

Policy

Definitions

For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions apply: 

1. Continuing / Lifelong learning: “Lifelong learning is the term used to describe any learning activities that are undertaken throughout life to acquire knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills within personal, civic, social and/or employment-related contexts” (Australian Qualifications Framework, 2nd ed. (January 2013), p. 97 (https://www.aqf.edu.au/)). 
2. Digital Badge: Digital verification showing learning outcomes achieved and other relevant metadata in relation to a micro-credential. 
3. Micro-credential: A certification of assessed learning or competency, with a minimum volume of learning of one hour and less than an AQF award qualification, that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a formal component of a formal qualification (adopted from National Micro-credentials Framework, 2021). Micro-credentials are a credit bearing shorter form of learning. 
4. Micro-credential Bundle: A cohesive group of micro-credentials designed to demonstrate achievement of an overarching set of learning outcomes that can contribute to an AQF qualification. 
5. Short course: Differentiated from a micro-credential in that a short course is non-credit bearing and therefore non-stackable.   
6. Specified Credit: Credit granted for one or more specific subjects/units in a course of study, on the basis of previously meeting the learning outcomes in nominated subjects/units. 
7. Stackable learning: Micro-credentials are stackable (able to be aggregated) towards further study. 
8. Unit of Exchange: In the absence of an agreed national framework for the recognition of micro-credentials, an appropriate unit of exchange has been determined by Academic Board.  This unit of exchange is credit points as already utilized by AC.  
9. Unspecified Credit: Credit granted on the basis of previously meeting particular course learning outcomes as opposed to the learning outcomes in nominated subjects/units. 

 

Policy Statement

Micro-credentials and Short Courses Principles 

1. The purpose of AC micro-credentials and short courses is to meet the continuous needs of individual learners in relation to their upskilling, re-skilling, and career development. They have been designed to achieve AC’s strategic objectives in relation to sustained advancement through the delivery of concise, relevant, innovative, excellent academic programs that provide a high-quality learning experience. 
2. AC Micro-credentials and short courses are:   

1. developed for post-school and adult learners 
2. designed by discipline experts or experienced practitioners in consultation with industry where relevant, to ensure they are fit-for-purpose in relation to practical workplace benefits 
3. transparent, accessible, and flexible such that learners can customise their continuing learning journey in order to compete effectively in the labour market
4. delivered by discipline experts or experienced practitioners, either online, on campus, or in blended mode 
5. delivered in English or language other than English as appropriate to learners
6. delivered by AC or via a third-party arrangement
7. verified via metadata on digital certification such as a badge or other means 
8. promoted on the AC website and elsewhere as appropriate
9. not AQF qualifications
10. additional, alternate, complementary to or a formal component of a formal qualification     

3. Additionally, micro-credentials are: 

1. assigned a credit point value and corresponding volume of learning in hours
2. stackable in so far as two or more AC micro-credentials may be aggregated to contribute to an AQF award using the unit of exchange 
3. assessed against learning outcomes 
4. subject to internal quality assurance systems 
5. approved by Learning and Teaching Committee 

4. Credit offered towards an AQF award on the basis of micro-credentials will usually be Unspecified Credit, unless a Micro-credential Bundle has been approved by Learning and Teaching Committee. 
5. Additionally, AC is guided by the following principles in the design, delivery, and issuing of micro-credentials: 

1. learners can apply for credit and recognition of prior learning towards a micro-credential, under existing policies and procedures
2. AC endeavours to create micro-credentials that are readily recognisable by other Australian providers for the purpose of granting credit toward another credential 
3. AC endeavours to recognise micro-credentials issued by other Australian providers where a common or comparable unit of exchange exists 

Roles and Responsibilities 

The following roles and responsibilities apply in relation to this policy: 

1. Executive: Executive is responsible for reviewing and approving proposals for non-credit bearing short courses; and ensuring short course offerings are viable, strategically aligned, and compliant with institutional policy. 
2. Heads of School / Program Directors / Others: Heads of Schools/Program Directors/Others are responsible for initiating and submitting micro-credential proposals to the Learning and Teaching Committee and ensuring proposed micro-credentials meet academic, industry, and learner needs. 
3. Learning and Teaching Committee (LTC): LTC is responsible for reviewing and academically endorsing proposed micro-credentials; ensuring proposals meet policy requirements, including learning outcomes, AQF alignment, assessment, volume of learning, and credit value; approving Micro-credential Bundles; and ensuring micro-credentials align with AC’s strategic and academic objectives. 
4. Provost: The Provost is responsible for reviewing academically endorsed micro-credential proposals for strategic and business viability following LTC endorsement for approval. 

Supporting guidelines

National Micro-credentials Framework
https://www.dese.gov.au/national-microcredentials-framework

Guidance for portability of Australian Micro-credentials (Universities Australia, 2021)
Microsoft Word - Guidance for portability of Australian microcredentials - v1.docx (universitiesaustralia.edu.au)

Australian Core Skills Framework
Australian Core Skills Framework - Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au)

Australian Skills Classification
Australian Skills Classification | National Skills Commission

Digital Credentialling: Implications for Recognition of Learning Across Borders (UNESCO)
Digital Credentialing – Implications for the recognition of learning across borders | ILO/Cinterfor (oitcinterfor.org)

Making micro-credentials work for learners, employers and providers (Oliver, 2019)
Making-micro-credentials-work-Oliver-Deakin-2019-full-report.pdf

Responsible for implementation

Chair, Learning and Teaching Committee

Related legislation

TEQSA Act (2021)
Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (legislation.gov.au)
NVCER Act (2011)

Related documents

• National Micro-credentials Framework: https://www.dese.gov.au/national-microcredentials-framework 
• Australian Core Skills Framework: Australian Core Skills Framework - Department of Education, Skills and Employment, Australian Government (dese.gov.au) 
• Guidance for portability of Australian Micro-credentials (Universities Australia, 2021): Microsoft Word - Guidance for portability of Australian microcredentials - v1.docx (universitiesaustralia.edu.au) 
• Australian Skills Classification: Australian Skills Classification | National Skills Commission 
• Digital Credentialling: Implications for Recognition of Learning Across Borders (UNESCO): Digital Credentialing – Implications for the recognition of learning across borders | ILO/Cinterfor (oitcinterfor.org) 
• Making micro-credentials work for learners, employers and providers (Oliver, 2019): Making-micro-credentials-work-Oliver-Deakin-2019-full-report.pdf 

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Procedures

Micro-credential Approval Procedure

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Short Course Approval Procedure

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