Procedure overview
1 Purpose
To ensure that academic Employees with responsibilities for academic oversight and those with teaching and supervisory roles in Coursework Programs are appropriately qualified in the relevant discipline.
2 Scope
This Procedure applies to all current and prospective academic Employees, including casual and fixed-term academic Employees, with academic oversight, teaching and supervisory responsibilities in Coursework Programs and Courses, including Coursework Programs and Courses delivered by a Third Party Provider.
This Procedure does not apply to professional Employees, academic title holders, academic visitors and guest presenters, and professional placements or other forms of work integrated learning. Exceptions to these requirements may only be approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) and decisions must be documented and academically defensible.
Academic Employees supervising Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Students are subject to the Higher Degree by Research Supervision Procedure.
3 Procedure Overview
This Procedure sets out the minimum academic qualifications or combination of academic qualifications, experience and expertise required to undertake academic oversight, teaching or supervisory roles and the process by which the University assesses and records that academic Employees meet the minimum requirements.
For the purposes of this Procedure, experience and expertise refer to experience and expertise obtained through the practice of a profession, including teaching experience, scholarship and professional practice, and from which the professional competency, knowledge, skills and Learning Outcomes achieved can be assessed.
This Procedure aligns with:
- Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HESF): Standard 3.2 Staffing.
4 Procedures
4.1 Minimum criteria
Academic Employees with academic oversight, teaching or supervisory responsibilities in Coursework Programs, including Course Coordinator, Program Director or other learning and teaching leadership role, must have:
- a qualification in a relevant discipline at least one Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) level higher than the program being taught; or
- a qualification in a relevant discipline at least equivalent to the AQF level of the program being taught plus equivalent academic or professional or practice-based experience and expertise, supported by appropriate evidence.
Equivalence on a combination of formal qualifications and experience and expertise will be granted for one AQF level increment only and must be current and relevant to the subject matter being taught.
The minimum requirements for equivalence of experience and expertise with academic qualification levels are detailed in Table 1.
Where professional accreditation bodies set more stringent requirements for academic Employee qualifications and professional engagement, these must be satisfied in addition to the requirements in Table 1.
Table 1: Equivalence with Academic Qualification Levels Matrix
| AQF Level of taught program | Minimum academic qualification level required | Minimum requirements to demonstrate equivalence of experience and expertise with the minimum academic qualification level |
| AQF Level 5 AQF Level 6
| AQF Level 7 | Except in exceptional circumstances approved by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs), the minimum qualification level to teach any Student enrolled in a program leading to a Higher Education award is a Bachelor Degree |
| AQF Level 7 | AQF Level 8
| AQF Level 7 qualification in a relevant area and current registration or eligibility for registration, or equivalent, to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) PLUS EITHER: Three (3) years of teaching and/or professional or practice-based experience in the last five (5) years aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the respective Course OR Enrolment in a relevant Level 8 or above qualification plus professional or practice-based experience together totalling three (3) years, aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the respective Course |
| AQF Level 8
| AQF Level 9 | AQF Level 8 qualification in a relevant area and current registration or eligibility for registration, or equivalent, to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) PLUS EITHER: Five (5) years of teaching and/or professional or practice-based experience in the last 10 years aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the respective Course OR Enrolment in a relevant AQF Level 9 or 10 qualification plus professional or practice-based experience together totalling five (5) years, aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the respective Course |
| AQF Level 9
| AQF Level 10 | AQF Level 9 qualification in a relevant area and current registration or eligibility for registration, or equivalent, to practice within the relevant profession (if applicable) PLUS EITHER: Five (5) years of teaching and/or professional or practice-based experience in the last 10 years aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the Course OR Enrolment in a relevant AQF Level 10 program plus professional or practice-based experience together totalling five (5) years aligned to the Learning Outcomes of the respective Course |
| AQF Level 10 | AQF Level 10 | Academic Employees supervising HDR Students are subject to the Higher Degree by Research Student Supervision Procedure and the Research Active Procedure. |
Schools and Colleges may develop guidelines consistent with this Procedure that provide a discipline specific approach to assessing whether claims of equivalency meet HESF standards. These guidelines must be approved by the Academic Affairs Learning and Teaching Quality Committee, or College equivalent, and reported to Education Committee.
4.2 Applying for equivalence
Applications for equivalence, including from academic Employees teaching through a Third Party Provider, are submitted via the ServiceHub to the Head of School/College for review.
The Head of School/College will provide a recommendation to a panel convened by the Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) and including two senior academic Employees, one of whom is from a relevant discipline. The panel will consider the supporting evidence and recommendation and approve or not approve the equivalence of qualification.
4.2.1 Verifiable evidence
Verifiable evidence to be considered when assessing the professional experience of an individual may include but is not limited to:
- relevant workplace or practice-based experiences
- teaching experience including teaching at lower AQF levels, conducting professional development seminars and giving public lectures
- testimonials, awards, or other recognition that acknowledges leadership or expertise in the discipline area
- contributions to the discipline through participation in advisory boards or professional networks
- managing significant projects relevant to the discipline area
- performing in a role that requires higher order judgement and the provision of expert advice
- leadership in the development of professional standards
- peer reviewed publications, books or reports, conference or seminar presentations in the discipline area.
4.2.2 Application outcomes
The decision of the panel will be provided to the applicant, Head of School/College, relevant People Portfolio area and, where appropriate, Third Party Provider.
Where the evidence is assessed as demonstrating equivalence, the panel will determine:
- the Field(s) of Education relevant to the applicant's experience and expertise
- time-limited requirements for participation in professional development and scholarly activities or progress towards completion of a relevant AQF+1 level program, where applicable
- the date at which the equivalence should be reviewed, normally every three years.
In the case of new academic Employees, this information and any other requirements or conditions of appointment will be detailed in the Letter of Offer.
Decisions and supporting documents will be recorded in accordance with the University's approved Records and Information Management Policy and Procedure and the Enterprise Information Management Framework.
The Head of School/College is responsible for regular assessment of all relevant Course allocations to confirm that academic Employees with academic oversight, teaching or supervisory responsibilities meet HESF requirements, including that they are teaching in a Field of Education covered by the equivalence assessment.
4.3 Supervised Teaching
On the approval of the Head of School/College, academic Employees assessed as not fully meeting the standard for knowledge, skills, qualification or experience required for teaching may teach under the supervision of an academic Employee who meets the standard. This includes academic Employees engaged to teach specialised components of a program because of their specialised expertise but who do not meet the general requirements of the HESF.
Tutors not responsible for Course Coordination who work under the guidance of a Course Coordinator and deliver tutorial or workshop classes require qualifications to at least the same level as the program being taught, plus suitable support or supervision relevant to professional experience and appropriate teaching methods.
Ongoing monitoring of these cases will be documented in the approved University system, including a supervision plan developed in consultation with an appropriately qualified Employee and reviewed at least annually by the Head of School/College.
4.4 Complaints and Grievances
Academic Employees who are dissatisfied with an outcome or Decision made under this Procedure should follow the process outlined in the Employee Complaints Procedure.
4.5 Reporting
The Associate Dean (Learning and Teaching) is responsible for submission of an annual report to Academic Board on the outcomes of this procedure, including the effectiveness of monitoring and evaluation processes.
5 References
Nil.
6 Schedules
This procedure must be read in conjunction with its subordinate schedules as provided in the table below.
7 Procedure Information
| Accountable Officer | Provost |
| Responsible Officer | Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic Affairs) |
| Policy Type | University Procedure |
| Policy Suite | |
| Subordinate Schedules | |
| Approved Date | 6/8/2024 |
| Effective Date | 6/8/2024 |
| Review Date | 28/2/2029 |
| Relevant Legislation | Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 |
| Policy Exceptions | |
| Related Policies | Academic Programs and Courses Quality Policy |
| Related Procedures | Course Quality Assurance and Review Procedure Coursework Program Quality Assurance and Review Procedure Higher Degree by Research Supervision Procedure |
| Related forms, publications and websites | TEQSA Guidance Note Determining Equivalence of Professional Experience to Academic Qualifications |
| Definitions | Terms defined in the Definitions Dictionary |
| A discrete element of a program, normally undertaken over a single Study Period, in which the Student enrols, and on completion of which the Student is awarded a grade....moreA discrete element of a program, normally undertaken over a single Study Period, in which the Student enrols, and on completion of which the Student is awarded a grade. Responsibilities of Course Coordinators include but are not limited to: Course planning, design and development Course Specifications and alignment with Program Learning Outcomes Assessment design, implementation and marking Course delivery and Student learning experiences by providing Student support leadership and guidance of teaching teams engagement with professional and ac...moreResponsibilities of Course Coordinators include but are not limited to: Course planning, design and development Course Specifications and alignment with Program Learning Outcomes Assessment design, implementation and marking Course delivery and Student learning experiences by providing Student support leadership and guidance of teaching teams engagement with professional and accreditation bodies ensuring currency of disciplinary and content knowledge and expertise reflecting on evaluations for the purpose of quality enhancement of Courses. A sequence of study consisting predominantly of Coursework....moreA sequence of study consisting predominantly of Coursework. A person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University....moreA person employed by the University and whose conditions of employment are covered by the Enterprise Agreement and includes persons employed on a continuing, fixed term or casual basis. Employees also include senior Employees whose conditions of employment are covered by a written agreement or contract with the University. The process of admitting Students to one or more Courses for the current Academic Year....moreThe process of admitting Students to one or more Courses for the current Academic Year. Typically defined as a concern or Complaint raised by an Employee against a process, action, omission or Decision within the responsibility and control of the University which relates to employment or related internal People Portfolio matters, which has or is likely to have an unreasonable negative impact on the ability of an Employee to undertake their duties, or similar impact on the...moreTypically defined as a concern or Complaint raised by an Employee against a process, action, omission or Decision within the responsibility and control of the University which relates to employment or related internal People Portfolio matters, which has or is likely to have an unreasonable negative impact on the ability of an Employee to undertake their duties, or similar impact on their career. An academic staff member responsible for the administration of the Course offerings in one or more discipline areas....moreAn academic staff member responsible for the administration of the Course offerings in one or more discipline areas. Higher Degree by Research (HDR) Student A Student enrolled in an HDR program....moreA Student enrolled in an HDR program. The expression of the set of knowledge, skills and the application of the knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate as a result of learning....moreThe expression of the set of knowledge, skills and the application of the knowledge and skills a person has acquired and is able to demonstrate as a result of learning. A Policy Instrument refers to an instrument that is governed by the Policy framework. These include Policies, Procedures and Schedules....moreA Policy Instrument refers to an instrument that is governed by the Policy framework. These include Policies, Procedures and Schedules. An operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy....moreAn operational instruction that sets out the process to operationalise a Policy. Research is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative....moreResearch is the creation of new knowledge and/or the use of existing knowledge in a new and creative way to generate new concepts, methodologies, inventions and understandings. This could include the synthesis and analysis of previous research to the extent that it is new and creative. A person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled....moreA person who is enrolled in a UniSQ Upskill Course or who is admitted to an Award Program or Non-Award Program offered by the University and is: currently enrolled in one or more Courses or study units; or not currently enrolled but is on an approved Leave of Absence or whose admission has not been cancelled. A party with which the University has a Third Party Arrangement for the purposes of delivering some or all of a higher education program that leads to the award of an Australian regulated higher education qualification....moreA party with which the University has a Third Party Arrangement for the purposes of delivering some or all of a higher education program that leads to the award of an Australian regulated higher education qualification. The term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland....moreThe term 'University' or 'UniSQ' means the University of Southern Queensland. | |
| Definitions that relate to this procedure only | |
| Keywords | Equivalence of experience and expertise, academic qualifications and levels, academic Employees, supervised teaching, Australian Qualifications Framework, Third Party Provider |
| Record No | 22/544PL |