Academic Institution - Enrolling;  Academic Institution - Managing; Academic Institution - Teaching; Agreement; Collaborative Award, Enrolling Student

This policy outlines for those preparing collaborative undergraduate and postgraduate courses the guidelines regulating how they are to be managed, organised and implemented.

This policy applies to all undergraduate and postgraduate coursework courses undertaken by Murdoch University in collaboration with at least one other academic institution. Research courses are excluded. The DEEWR definition for a research course is a course for which at least two-thirds of the student load is required as research work and not more than one-third as coursework.

If an industry organisation is to offer a unit within a collaborative course, proposers must complete the Unit Material License Schedule.

This policy is unique to Murdoch and does not represent an inter-organisational framework.

Academic Institutions:

Collaborating academic partners can be any Australian University which is a member of Universities Australia. Any overseas University must comply with Murdoch's internal policies and academic guidelines. TAFE involvement is possible in some circumstances.

Academic Institution Enrolling:

This is the institution that enrols students in the collaborative course and is where the student intends to complete the highest number of standardised points. Students graduating from the course will receive their testamur from that institution.

Academic Institution Managing:

This institution will arrange the collaboration and establishment of the agreement in consultation with the other partners. It is also responsible for managing any processes of revision of the conditions of the collaboration and interacting with DEEWR and other accrediting bodies on the overall aspects of the collaborative course.

Academic Institution Teaching:

This institution(s) will teach agreed specific units in the collaborative course and provide student results for units to all participating institutions.

Agreement:

The document that establishes the collaborative relationship and formalises the relationship between the collaborating Academic Institutions, including detailing the roles and responsibilities of each collaborative partner and outlining the guidelines for taking part in the collaborative award.

Collaborative Award:

An award jointly offered by Murdoch University and at least one other academic institution or industry organisation. The award is governed by an Agreement.

Enrolling Student:

A student enrolled at the academic institution where they intend to complete the highest number of standardised points.

To provide guidelines for the preparation and implementation of collaborative undergraduate and postgraduate collaborative courses.

1.

Collaborations with Academic Institutions:

1.1

For an undergraduate or postgraduate collaborative arrangement, Murdoch University will interact with other organisations in any of the following roles:

Academic Institution - Enrolling (AI-E) 
Academic Institution - Managing (AI-M) 
Academic Institution - Teaching (AI-T)

1.2

For both undergraduate and postgraduate collaborative arrangements each AI-M must also perform the role of an AI-E and AI-T.

1.3

Outlined below is the minimum number of points required to be completed at Murdoch for Murdoch University to be an AI-E and for the student to be awarded a Murdoch University testamur: 

• With three or more academic institutions 25 per cent of points must be undertaken at Murdoch;

• With two other academic institutions 33 1/3 per cent of the points must be undertaken at Murdoch; 

• With one other academic institution 50 per cent of the points must be undertaken at Murdoch.

1.4

Each student will enrol at the AI-E where they intend to complete the highest number of standardised points.

1.5

The collaborating partners must agree to an equivalence of points values for units.

1.6

Agreements for collaborative undergraduate and postgraduate courses are to be negotiated by the Murdoch University staff involved in setting up the collaborative course and the relevant School Dean, with assistance as appropriate from their Faculty Dean, the Chair of the Committee on University Entrance (CUE), the Chair of Academic Policy Committee (APC), the President of Academic Council (PAC) and the DVC(Academic).

1.7

Contact must be made with the Office of Legal and Governance at an early stage of negotiations to enable their input into the agreement. Legal sign-off from the General Counsel or his or her nominee (in accordance with the existing legal policy on committing the University to legal obligations) must be obtained for any Agreement prior to committing Murdoch University to the collaborative arrangement.

1.8

When Murdoch University is a party to a collaborative course, the course must be considered through the usual academic planning processes.

1.9

The Vice Chancellor will execute the agreement, on the recommendation of Academic Council and following checking of its adherence to policies by the University Secretary and legal sign-off by the General Counsel or his or her nominee.

1.10

On completion of the collaborative course, students will be entitled to receive a testamur from only one of the collaborative institutions, the AI-E where they enrolled.

1.11

Each AI-E will have the right to award the collaborative qualification. The testamur must state it is a collaborative award.

1.12

The testamur will include the crest/logo of the AI-E, together with those of each collaborating academic institution, at an agreed size.

When the collaboration is with an overseas University all requirements as outlined in the Development and Implementation of Offshore Courses Manual must be met.

Secretary Academic Council

General Counsel, School Deans, Faculty Deans, Chair Committee on University Entrance, Chair Academic Policy Committee, President Academic Council, Deputy-Vice Chancellor (Academic)

Secretary Academic Council