1. Purpose

1.1 These procedures outline the processes to approve, design, deliver, certify, evaluate and improve, change, suspend, and discontinue the University’s microcredentials.

1.2 These procedures must be read in conjunction with the Coursework Curriculum – Academic Policy.

2. Scope and application

2.1 These procedures apply to all microcredential courses, including those that are designed and delivered with a third party.

3. Definitions

3.1 Refer to the University’s Glossary of Terms for definitions as they specifically relate to policy documents.

4. Types of microcredential

4.1 UniSC supports two types of microcredential:

(a) credit bearing; and

(b) non-credit bearing.

4.1.1 All microcredentials must be owned and managed by a School.

4.2 Credit bearing microcredential

4.2.1 A credit bearing microcredential is used to provide:

(a) a pathway into an award program;

(b) knowledge in a specialised subject; and

(c) short duration and lifelong learning opportunities.

4.2.2 The volume of learning for a credit bearing microcredential is 12.5 hours per one unit value.

4.2.3 A credit bearing microcredential can be stacked to provide credit for a course in an AQF level program. The stack of microcredential courses must equate to the unit value of the course being credited and have assessed the same learning outcomes.

4.2.4 A stack of credit bearing microcredentials is affiliated with the award course for which they provide credit and owned by the same program as the award course.

4.2.5 A credit bearing microcredential can require students to have pre-requisite experience, skills, or knowledge.

4.3 Non-credit bearing microcredential

4.3.1 A non-credit bearing microcredential is used to:

(a) re-skill or up-skill workers;

(b) provide professional development in job or personal skills;

(c) provide recognition or certification of informal learning, skills or capabilities;

(d) address an identified community need in an area of interest; and

(e) provide short duration and lifelong learning opportunities.

4.3.2 The volume of learning of non-credit bearing microcredential is one hour or greater with no unit value assigned.

4.3.3 A non-credit bearing microcredential can:

(a) be recognised by a professional body;

(b) satisfy or align to an industry standard or professional development requirement; and

(c) constitute recognition towards an industry or vendor certification.

4.3.4 A mastery level must be indicated for a non-credit bearing microcredential. Refer to section 6 – Design and delivery.

4.3.5 A non-credit bearing microcredential can require students to have pre-requisite experience, skills, or knowledge.

5. Approval authorities, documentation, and processes

5.1 Approval authorities

5.1.1 The approval authority of a microcredential varies according to the type of microcredential and the process being actioned. Approval authorities are shown in Table 1.

Table 1: Approval authorities for microcredential processes

5.2 Documentation

5.2.1 Refer to MyUniSC (staff login required) for required document templates and process instructions.

5.3 Approval processes

5.3.1 The establishment of a new microcredential is responsive to industry or community needs and aligns with UniSC’s strategic goals and values.

5.3.2 A concept brief for a new credit bearing microcredential must be submitted to the Enrolment Planning Advisory Committee (EPAC) prior to commencing the business case and can be recommended by EPAC for an expedited approval.

5.3.3 A business case is required for all new microcredentials and must be endorsed by the owning School Dean prior to submission to the DVCA for approval.

5.3.4 Each business case must be assessed on:

(a) its alignment with the University’s strategic goals, values, and benefit to UniSC and the community;

(b) its response to an industry need, market demand and consideration of competitor landscape;

(c) academic or professional standards;

(d) financial and commercial viability, including impacts on current courses and programs; and

(e) development, marketing, promotional costs, staff resources and other delivery costs.

5.3.5 When the proposed change alters the credit to a stacked microcredential, change to the microcredential must be made as a program change to the owning program in accordance with the Program Accreditation and Course Approval – Procedures.

5.3.6 A microcredential is established and maintained as an entity in the Curriculum Information Repository (CIR) and owned by a School.

5.3.7 Marketing and Communications must be consulted during development of a new microcredential to assess product viability and market demand, and to provide advice on product naming and timeframes for marketing between approval and offering.

6. Design and delivery

6.1 A microcredential is designed to be:

(a) outcome-based;

(b) responsive to industry and community need;

(c) tailored to support lifelong learning; and

(d) transparent and accessible.

6.2 A microcredential must be designed in alignment with the:

(a) National Microcredentials Framework;

(b) The Australian Qualifications Framework;

(c) TEQSA’s Higher Education Standards;

(d) Coursework Curriculum – Policy;

(e) Coursework Curriculum – Procedures; and

(f) Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.

6.3 A non-credit bearing microcredential must align with one of the five levels of mastery defined by the Dreyfus model of skill acquisition:

(a) novice;

(b) advanced beginner;

(c) competent;

(d) proficient;

(e) expert.

6.4 Microcredential learning outcomes must be:

(a) clearly defined, documented and appropriate for the purpose and expected level of mastery;

(b) designed in accordance with the Coursework Curriculum – Procedures; and

(c) assessed in accordance with the Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs – Procedures.

6.5 A microcredential designed as an integrated subset of an award program is accredited and updated with the program, in accordance with the Program Accreditation and Course Approval – Procedures.

6.6 A microcredential designed and delivered with a partner organisation must also be in accordance with Third Party Provider Coursework Program Arrangements - Governing Policy and Procedures.

6.7 A microcredential is delivered in alignment with UniSC delivery modes.

6.8 A microcredential can be delivered in parallel with component parts of award courses, using the same delivery mode.

6.9 A microcredential can only be offered in accordance with the University academic calendar to align with the grading scheme and enrolment requirements under the Enrolments and Graduation – Procedures.

7. Admission

7.1 A student admitted to complete a microcredential is classified as a visiting student.

7.2 Some microcredentials can have entry requirements that include limiting enrolment to members of specific organisations.

7.3 A transparent selection mechanism must be specified where the cohort size is capped and documented within the admission information for each microcredential.

7.4 A microcredential offered to international students residing overseas falls under the jurisdiction of their country’s privacy laws and requirements.

8. Credit

8.1 Credit specified for a microcredential or stacked microcredential courses are awarded in accordance with the Credit Transfer - Academic Policy and Credit Transfer - Procedures.

9. Fees

9.1 A microcredential is not eligible for Higher Education Loan Help (HELP) unless it has been established under the Government’s Microcredential Pilot in Higher Education.

9.2 Fees for a microcredential are set in accordance with the Student Fees and Charges – Governing Policy, and the Higher Education Support (Other Grants) Guidelines 2022.

9.3 Fees for a stack of credit bearing microcredentials must equate to the fee for the award course being credited.

10. Marketing

10.1 All enrolment and marketing materials for a microcredential are developed in consultation with Marketing and Communications, and in accordance with the Marketing and Communication – Operational Policy.

10.2 Microcredential information provided to potential and enrolled visiting students complies with the Critical Information Requirements provided in the National Microcredential Framework.

11. Certification

11.1 A microcredential is issued through assignment of a digital certification or ‘badge’ upon successful completion of the microcredential.

12. Monitoring and review

12.1 An annual review of all microcredentials is conducted by the owning School to align with the Curriculum Evaluation and Improvement Cycle at a course level, as detailed in the Coursework Curriculum – Procedures. The review outcomes and recommendations is documented in an annual microcredential report.

12.2 A more rigorous review of a microcredential can be requested at any time by:

(a) School Associate Dean Learning and Teaching

(b) School Dean

(c) School Board

(d) Enrolment Planning Advisory Committee

(e) Program and Course Committee

(f) DVC(A)

12.3 The annual microcredential report must be submitted to the:

(a) School Board;

(b) Enrolment Planning Advisory Committee; and

(b) Learning and Teaching Committee for noting.

13. Reporting

13.1 Students undertaking a microcredential do not meet the definition of an award student for the purposes of institutional and governmental reporting obligations, however where the microcredential has been established under the Microcredential Pilot in Higher Education, the reporting requirements must adhere to the Conditions of Grant.

15. Authorities and responsibilities

5.1 The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) is authorised to make these procedures and related guidelines for the operation of University policy. These procedures and related guidelines must be compatible with the provisions of the Coursework Curriculum – Academic Policy.

5.2 The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching Futures) is authorised to make associated documents to support the application of policy documents. These must be compatible with the provisions of the respective policy document.

5.3 These procedures operate from the last amended date, will all previous procedures related to microcredentials are replaced and have no further operation from this date.

5.4 All records relating to microcredentials must be stored and managed in accordance with the Information Management – Governing Policy.

5.5 This policy must be maintained in accordance with the Policy Framework – Procedures and reviewed on shortened 2 year policy review cycle.

5.6 Any exception to this policy to enable a more appropriate result must be approved in accordance with the Policy Framework – Procedures prior to the deviation of the policy document.

5.7 Refer to Schedule C of the Delegations Manual in relation to the approved delegations detailed within this policy document.

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