View Document

Curriculum Approval and Course Review Policy

This is the current version of this document. You can provide feedback on this document by selecting the FEEDBACK tab above.

Section 1 - Purpose

(1) This Policy ensures that QUT meets its obligations under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 to assure the quality of courses and the student experience and supports the achievement of the University’s overall vision for learning and teaching as articulated in the Real World Learning Vision and the objectives in Connections - the QUT Strategy 2023 to 2027

Top of Page

Section 2 - Application

(2) This Policy applies to the:

  1. accreditation of new award courses;
  2. reaccreditation of award courses after comprehensive review; and
  3. revisions to award courses during the accreditation period.

(3) This Policy does not apply to Non-award studies.

Top of Page

Section 3 - Roles and Responsibilities

Position Responsibility
Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic)
Approves the Curriculum Approval and Course Review Protocol. 
Endorses the following:
  1. development of new award courses;
  2. development of new study areas A for accredited award courses if introducing a new discipline; and
  3. reaccreditation of higher risk award courses, including transnational award courses.
University Academic Board
Reports to Council on accredited award courses.
Approves the following:
  1. accreditation of new courses;
  2. accreditation and reaccreditation of higher risk courses, including transnational award courses;
  3. accreditation of existing award courses if fundamentally changed during the accreditation period; and
  4. the combination of accredited award courses into vertical double degrees (Award Courses Policy).
Curriculum Standards Committee
Provides feedback on the accreditation and reaccreditation of award courses to Faculty Academic Boards.
Endorses accreditation of new award courses for accreditation by University Academic Board.
Endorses reaccreditation of higher risk award courses, including transnational award courses, for accreditation by University Academic Board.
Approves the following:
  1. reaccreditation of award courses that are not higher risk;
  2. extension of the accreditation period of an award course;
  3. accreditation of an existing award course for delivery through educational partnerships, as corporate or campus version where the customisation does not result in fundamental change;
  4. the combination of accredited award courses into double degrees, not including vertical double degrees;
  5. revisions to an accredited course where the revision or the cumulative change to the course within the accreditation period is material;
  6. specific matters relating to curriculum to facilitate course accreditation and review processes; and
  7. exceptions to Award Courses Policy and Assessment and Feedback Policy.
     
Faculty Academic Board and other entities delegated by University Academic Board Endorses the following for submission to Curriculum Standards Committee: 
  1. accreditation of new award courses;
  2. reaccreditation of award courses;
  3. accreditation of an existing award course for delivery through an educational partnership;
  4. creation of a study area A in an accredited award course delivered through an educational partnership;
  5. creation of a corporate version of an existing accredited course, or a campus version of an existing accredited corporate course; and
  6. exceptions to Award Courses Policy and Assessment and Feedback Policy.
Approves the following: 
  1. revisions to accredited award courses where the revision or the cumulative changes to the course within the accreditation period is not material;
  2. new or revised study areas A or B in accredited award courses, unless transnational or through an educational partnership;
  3. changes to approved delivery mode and location unless it is a transnational award course or through an educational partnership;
  4. discontinuation of award courses, study areas and units;
  5. the offering of a new unit;
  6. new or revised unit information (may be delegated to a faculty committee or authorised officer); and 
  7. revisions to entry requirements for award courses (Award Courses Policy).
Executive Dean of faculty / Executive Director, QUT College Provides assurance to their academic boards and University Academic Board that the proposed curriculum development is aligned to University strategy and complies with relevant University policies and external standards, and that appropriate consultation, responses and documentation have been undertaken.
Head of School Assigns responsibility for award course accreditations, course reviews and other curriculum developments to academic curriculum leaders with the required understanding of their role and responsibilities and ensures the academic leaders have sufficient workload to undertake the work.
Curriculum Quality and Academic Integrity, Education Portfolio
Provides feedback and advice on University policies and curriculum approval pathways to faculty academic boards and other stakeholders.
Academic curriculum leader
Leads and carries out the activities required for award course accreditation and course review for reaccreditation.
Consults and liaises with other faculties and relevant divisions. 
Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) Reviews proposals for award course accreditation, reaccreditation and other curriculum developments to monitor compliance with this policy and other University policies and that the proposals are fit for consideration by relevant committees.
Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) Provides appropriate support and advice during curriculum development and course review.
Top of Page

Section 4 - Relationship to TEQSA Threshold Standards

(4) This Policy complies with standards 5.1 Course Approval and Accreditation and 5.3 Monitoring, Review and Improvement mandated in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 made under section 58(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.

Top of Page

Section 5 - Principles

(5) Curriculum approval and award course accreditation is based on the following principles:

  1. courses meet and continue to meet the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 and the Australian Qualifications Framework;
  2. the decision to accredit and reaccredit award courses is informed by overarching academic scrutiny independent of the course team;
  3. every award course is comprehensively reviewed at least once within its accreditation period; and
  4. curriculum is designed to support achievement of the Real World Learning Vision, objectives outlined in Connections - the QUT Strategy and facilitates high-quality learning environments (Curriculum Design Policy).
     
Top of Page

Section 6 - Approval of New Courses

(6) A proposal to develop a new course is endorsed by the Executive Dean and then the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) if satisfied that the proposal provides:

  1. a rationale for the development of a new course; 
  2. alignment with QUT’s strategic priorities;
  3. evidence of the market and the sustainability of the course;
  4. confirms the availability of resourcing to develop and teach the course; and
  5. consultation with relevant stakeholders.

(7) University Academic Board approves the accreditation of a new course on the recommendation of the Curriculum Standards Committee.

(8) In approving the accreditation of a new course, consideration is given to, among other matters:

  1. alignment with the Australian Qualifications Framework;
  2. compliance with the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021;
  3. alignment with discipline and professional standards;
  4. strategic alignment with the University’s priorities and strengths;
  5. evidence of appropriate whole-of-course design reflecting the needs of the learners and industries/professions;
  6. availability of required resources, including appropriately qualified academic staff;
  7. compliance with relevant legislation and University policies; and
  8. appropriate consultation with relevant stakeholders, within and external to QUT.

(9) The maximum accreditation period for any course is seven (7) years and conditions may be attached to the accreditation.

(10) Courses accredited for less than seven (7) years may apply for an extension of the accreditation period to extend the period to up to the maximum of seven (7) years.

Top of Page

Section 7 - Course Review for Reaccreditation

(11) All courses must be comprehensively reviewed for reaccreditation at least once within the accreditation period. The comprehensive review is informed by the regular monitoring of the course as required by the Course Quality Assurance Policy.

(12) A comprehensive review may be required at other times as deemed appropriate by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic).

(13) The review must commence to allow sufficient time for review activities to take place, for consideration be given to the feedback and findings to support decisions, and for proposals to meet the required standard for consideration by committees.

(14) Comprehensive course review requires:

  1. review of the design and content of the course, including study areas, with reference to changes in the discipline, the emerging and future needs of graduates, and the changing needs of learners;
  2. validation of the course learning outcomes against similar courses, relevant professional standards and the Australian Qualifications Framework;
  3. review of the methods of assessment, the alignment with the course learning outcomes and compliance with University policy;
  4. assurance of achievement of standards through external referencing of an appropriate unit and completed assessment;
  5. consultation with alumni and industry/profession representatives; and
  6. external benchmarking, which may include peer academic review and/or evidence of professional accreditation.

Approval of reaccreditation

(15) Curriculum Standards Committee, as the delegated authority of University Academic Board, approves the reaccreditation of courses, except for courses identified as higher risk. 

(16) Accredited award courses that are identified as higher risk must be endorsed by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic) before commencing course review for reaccreditation.

(17) In approving the reaccreditation of a course, consideration is given to the same matters as stated in section 6, clause (8).

Top of Page

Section 8 -  Approval of Curriculum During Accreditation Period

(18) In approving revisions to curriculum, consideration is given to, among other matters:

  1. alignment with the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 and the Australian Qualifications Framework
  2. alignment with discipline norms and any professional standards;
  3. appropriateness of the design, content and assessment;
  4. impact upon the student experience;
  5. viability, sustainability and resourcing; and
  6. compliance with University policies.

(19) Revisions to courses during the accreditation period are approved by the faculty academic board unless the cumulative change to the course within the accreditation period is classified as material (see clause(24)) or fundamental (see clause (26)).

Unit information

(20) Faculty Academic Boards are responsible for approving new and revised unit information. 

(21) Revisions to unit information are classified as major or minor. Faculty Academic Boards may delegate approval of unit information to a faculty committee or an authorised officer according to this classification.

(22) In approving unit information, consideration is given to, among other matters:

  1. the unit learning outcomes reflect the relevant Australian Qualifications Framework level;
  2. the credit points align with the student workload and volume of learning;
  3. the embedding of relevant Real World Learning features; and
  4. compliance with the Assessment and Feedback Policy and the Academic Integrity Policy.

Material change to a course

(23) Cumulative change to a course that is classified as material requires the approval of the Curriculum Standards Committee for reaccreditation.

(24) Material change includes:

  1. 50% or more cumulative change to the course learning outcomes with reference to knowledge, skills and application;
  2. 50% or more cumulative change to the mapped relationship between assessment and the course learning outcomes; or
  3. 30% or more cumulative change to the core units of a course where there is no equivalency between the new units and the units being removed as core.

Fundamental change to a course

(25) Cumulative change to a course that is classified as fundamental requires that the course be treated as if it is new and University Academic Board must approve the accreditation.

(26) Fundamental change includes: 

  1. significant change to the structure, course learning outcomes and the course title leading to different employment opportunities for graduates;
  2. broadening or narrowing the field of education;
  3. change to the Australian Qualifications Framework level; or
  4. change to the volume of learning without other corresponding changes (qualification type, course learning outcomes, course design, entry requirements).
Top of Page

Section 9 - Definitions

Term  Definition 
Course review
A comprehensive review and analysis of the design, content, learning outcomes, methods of assessment, students’ achievement of the learning outcomes, emerging developments in the field of education, modes of delivery, changing needs of the student cohort, and any identified risks to quality, to improve the course and the student experience. Course reviews include external referencing of the success of the student cohort against comparable courses, including analysis of progression and attrition rates, completion times and rates, assessment methods and grading of students’ achievement of learning outcomes for selected units in the courses. Comprehensive reviews at QUT are informed and supported by the Annual Course Performance Report and overall delivery of units in courses.
See the Curriculum Approval and Course Review Protocol for guidance on review and improvement activities that form part of a comprehensive review of a course.
External referencing Comparing the design of the course and assuring student achievement of learning outcomes with that of a similar course offered by another university with a focus on informing improvements in the course.
Higher risk course A transnational award course or a course that has been included in an Annual Course Performance Report Implementation Plan for at least two years of the last three years due to being flagged as under performing in the key performance measures. See Course Quality Assurance Policy.
Top of Page

Section 10 -  Delegations

(27) Refer to the Register of Authorities and Delegations (C097, C098, C159) (QUT staff access only).