Schedule overview
1 Purpose
To outline the process for assessing the comparability of professional experience with an academic qualification in support of an application for academic promotion.
2 Scope
This Schedule must be read in conjunction with the Promotion to Level B for Academic Employees Procedure and the Promotion to Levels C, D and E for Academic Employees Procedure and is subordinate to these Procedures.
This Schedule applies to all Academic Employees.
3 Schedule
Academic Employees will be acknowledged for professional experience that is determined to be equivalent to an academic qualification in support of an application for academic promotion.
4 Process
4.1 Application
Academic Employees who do not possess the required academic qualification for the level of promotion being sought may apply for Equivalent Standing.
Equivalent Standing must be established separately from, and prior to, an Academic Employee submitting an application for academic promotion.
An application for Equivalent Standing can be submitted any time in the 12 months prior to the closing date of the academic promotion round in which the Academic Employee intends to submit an application, but no later than two weeks after the call for academic promotion applications has been made.
Academic Employees who intend to submit a promotion application for any given round and who do not possess the required academic qualification, are strongly encouraged to submit an application for Equivalent Standing as early as possible in order to allow sufficient time for assessment.
To submit an application for Equivalent Standing, an Academic Employee must outline the case for equivalency in the prescribed format (maximum of five pages), and submit the application in writing to the Chief People Officer.
It is the responsibility of the Academic Employee to provide verifiable sources of relevant evidence to substantiate their case for equivalency.
4.2 Assessment
The Chief People Officer will convene an Equivalent Standing Committee (Committee) to assess an application for Equivalent Standing and provide a recommendation to the Vice-Chancellor. The People Portfolio will provide secretariat support for the Committee.
The Equivalent Standing Committee will comprise:
- Provost or nominee; and
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) or nominee; and
- Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation) or nominee; and
- Chair of Academic Board or nominee; and
- Chief People Officer or nominee; and
- President, local university branch of NTEU (or nominee) as observer.
In determining Equivalent Standing, regard will be given to verifiable evidence of: research achievement; achievement outside the tertiary sector in industry, business or government employment; professional achievement; and creative/technical achievement.
The intent of Equivalent Standing is to recognise work completed by an Academic Employee that is significant in nature and comparable with the type of work undertaken in obtaining the relevant academic qualification, and not just the culmination of many smaller pieces of work.
If an applicant has been awarded a level of membership by an examining body, profession or similar institute that is widely considered by universities or the profession to be equivalent to a particular academic qualification, then the applicant can be awarded Equivalent Standing for that academic qualification.
4.2.1 Doctoral qualification
Equivalent Standing to a doctoral qualification can be provided when the information provided demonstrates that the Academic Employee has:
- a Bachelor Honours Degree (AQF Qualification Level 8) or equivalent; and
- systemic and critical understanding of a substantial and complex body of knowledge at the frontier of a discipline or area of professional practice; and
- expert, specialised cognitive, technical and research skills (including substantial knowledge of research principles and methods) in a discipline area or area of professional practice; and
- applied their knowledge and research skills to make a significant and original contribution to knowledge in a discipline or area of professional practice; and
- made significant contribution and impact to the discipline or area of professional practice, through leadership at a national or international level.
4.2.2 Masters
Equivalent Standing to a master's qualification can be provided when the information provided demonstrates that the Academic Employee has:
- a Bachelor Degree (AQF Qualification Level 7) or equivalent; and
- advanced and integrated understanding of a complex body of knowledge in one or more disciplines or areas of professional practice; and
- expert, specialised cognitive and technical skills (including knowledge of research principles and methods) in a body of knowledge or area of professional practice; and
- applied knowledge or research skills to foster learning and/or contribute to discipline or areas of professional practice; and
- made contribution and impact to the discipline or area of professional practice, through leadership at an organizational or national level.
4.3 Outcome
The Equivalent Standing Committee will provide a recommendation and accompanying reasons to the Vice-Chancellor. The Vice-Chancellor will make the Decision which is final. An applicant is not able to Appeal the Decision.
The Academic Employee will be advised in writing by the Chief People Officer of the Decision and accompanying reasons.
If an application is successful, the Academic Employee must submit the determination of Equivalent Standing as part of any future application for academic promotion.
If an application is unsuccessful, the Academic Employee may request feedback from a member of the Equivalent Standing Committee to support career planning and professional development.
5 References
Australian Qualifications Framework
Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021
6 Delegated Responsibilities
| Approver | Level of Delegation |
| Vice-Chancellor | Determine equivalency of professional experience with an academic qualification. |
7 Schedule Information
| Accountable Officer | Chief People Officer |
| Responsible Officer | Chief People Officer |
| Policy Type | University Procedure |
| Policy Suite | |
| Approved Date | 31/5/2022 |
| Effective Date | 31/5/2022 |
| Review Date | 1/4/2023 |
| Relevant Legislation | Australian Qualifications Framework Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | |
| Related Procedures | Position Descriptions and Position Classification Standards Procedure Promotion to Level B for Academic Employees Procedure Promotion to Levels C, D and E for Academic Employees Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | Academic Employee Position Classification Standards Schedule |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| A formal, written request made by a Student or Employee to a higher authority to have a Decision overturned....moreA formal, written request made by a Student or Employee to a higher authority to have a Decision overturned. | |
| Definitions that relate to this schedule only | |
| Academic Employee Academic Employee means a person employed by the University of Southern Queensland to undertake academic work, and who is classified by the position classification standards in accordance with Clause 4.2.3 of the Enterprise Agreement. Equivalent Standing Equivalent Standing means that the professional experience of an Academic Employee has been determined to be equivalent to an academic qualification (either a masters or doctoral qualification) for the purpose of applying for academic promotion. | |
| Keywords | |
| Record No | 20/148PL |