Recognition of Prior Learning / Credit Transfer Policy

Introduction

The underlying principle of credit transfer is that no student should be required to undertake a unit of study in a course for which they are already able to demonstrate satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes or elements of competency. The policy aims to maximise the recognition of a student’s prior learning or experiences whilst maintaining the integrity of its academic programs and protecting the academic standards and reputation of its awards. Credit for prior learning will be granted only within the constraints of this principle and where program structures and requirements permit.

The aim of the credit transfer policy is to:

• provide students with credit towards completing their course based on prior learning, where it can be demonstrated that the prior learning and outcomes achieved satisfy the learning outcomes and any other required components of their course;
• facilitate the movement of students between institutions and between courses of various types and levels;
• establish the institutional framework, policies and procedures for the development of credit transfer and articulation agreements between the College and other educational institutions, issuing organisations or accrediting authorities; and
• outline the parameters for determining credit, including the maximum level of credit which can be granted within courses.

1. Granting of Credit

a. Basis on which credit is granted

The College may:

• grant credit for formal study undertaken in recognised tertiary institutions in Australia, including universities, colleges, TAFE and other post-secondary education institutions and for study at recognised overseas institutions;
• grant credit for informal learning where appropriate evidence and/or certification is available.

Credit granted for prior formal learning is assessed by determining the extent to which the applicant’s prior studies and assessed standards are equivalent to the content and learning outcomes of one or more units of study in the course. Credit granted for informal learning is assessed by determining the extent to which the applicant can evidence the learning outcomes of one or more units of study in the course.

b. Types of Credit

Credit may be granted as specified credit, unspecified credit, or block credit.

• Specified credit can be granted for prior study which is of substantially the same standard and has substantially the same content and learning outcomes of an equivalent unit of study in the College course.
• Unspecified credit may be granted towards the electives within the College course.
• Block credit can be granted for prior learning in a grouping of units related to a field of study within the course.

c. Transfer of Grades with award of credit

When credit is granted for prior study, the grades achieved in the prior study are not included in the College academic transcript and are not included in the calculation of grade point average. Units of study for which credit is granted are recorded in the academic transcript with a grade of “TC” only.

d. Credit on the basis of informal learning

Professional and para-professional experience, subsequent professional development activities or training and other experience, through work or life, may be considered in the granting of credit. For informal learning to be considered the applicant must provide evidence of the learning and demonstrate that the standard they achieved from participating in these activities is comparable to the standards in the unit/s in which they are seeking credit. The onus shall be on the applicant to provide appropriate evidence that demonstrates the relevant skills, knowledge and understanding.

2. Credit Limits

The upper limit for the granting of credit based on informal learning will be one quarter of the requirements of the award program.

a. VET Certificate III and IV and Diploma

Eastern College Australia reserves the right not to accept an application where the credit transfers or recognitions of prior learning allow the applicant to study less than 50% of the units offered by the College to receive Eastern's awards.

Credit transfer can be granted under any of the following circumstances:

1. Under the principles of National Recognition a student is granted an automatic credit for any unit that they successfully completed at any other Registered Training Organisation (RTO).
2. When the unit has exactly the same code and title, even if it is not from the same Training Package.
3. When the unit is an older version that has been reviewed and this has resulted in minor changes to the unit code or title eg. A code to B code. This indicates that the outcomes of the unit have remained substantially the same and there is at least 80% commonality with the original unit.
4. When the unit has been transferred from another Training Package/curriculum and recoded, however the learning outcomes remain the same.

b. Higher Education Awards

Ordinarily a student must complete at the College at least half of the credit points of a course of study.
Exceptions to this limit will be considered individually, with the support of the Course Co-ordinator, the Registrar and the Dean of Studies.
Units of study undertaken in courses within the College which may formally articulate into another course may be counted towards satisfying the requirements of the course. These arrangements are not limited by the restrictions on the amount of credit which may be granted as set out above. 

3. Maximum Amounts of Credit points into various awards

^1 Because the volume of study varies for Certificate IV courses, the assessor needs to carefully consider the equivalence of the volume of study when deciding on granting credit from Certificate IV studies.

Where multiple awards or multiple instances of informal learning are used to apply for credit the maximum that may be granted is the largest value of the different levels of prior study in the above table for the award into which the student is requesting credit.

4. Cross-institutional study program

1. The maximum amount of credit that an Eastern student is permitted to enrol in Cross Institutional Study is to be no more than one third of the total unit value for the award. Any agreement beyond this will require special permission from the Course Coordinator and the Dean of Studies.
2. The units elected for Cross Institutional Study will be subject to equivalency requirements (learning outcomes, standard and weighting etc.) and must be first reviewed and endorsed by the Eastern Course Coordinator before final approval for such subject-specific cross-institutional study is granted.
3. Except in exceptional circumstances Eastern will not allow compulsory/core units to be undertaken at another provider through cross-institutional study. Any agreement beyond this will require special permission from the Course Coordinator and the Dean of Studies.

5. Credit Transfer Arrangements

An articulation agreement is an agreement between the College and another institution to document and publicise a specifically approved pathway for progression between a program at the other institution and a College award program, involving specific credit arrangements. The amount of credit granted under an articulation agreement is subject to the credit limits prescribed in this policy. Articulation agreements within the provisions of this policy are approved by the Academic Board.

6. Time Limit on Credit

Credit will not normally be granted for studies or other learnings that have been completed more than ten (10) years prior to applying for credit. A shorter time limit may be applied where there is concern about the currency of the applicant’s knowledge or skills, and/or where professional accreditation requirements limit the granting of credit. The shorter time limit may apply to all applications for credit in a particular program or to a specific student application. Exceptions to the ten (10) year time limit may be approved for certain articulation agreements or for individual cases where post-learning experience demonstrates currency of knowledge or skills.

7. Withdrawal of Credit

The College reserves the right to withdraw credit where an error has been made in assessing an application or where the documentation provided by the applicant is incomplete, misleading or invalid. The withdrawal of credit must be approved by the Academic Board on the recommendation of the Academic Standards and Risk Committee. However, where a change is made to a provision of this credit policy, or where a precedent or articulation is reviewed and changed, credit already granted may not be withdrawn.

8. Application for Credit

Application for credit must be made using the appropriate form. All applications will be reviewed by the Course Co-ordinator, and approved by the Dean of Studies.

a. Notification of the Decision

The College will provide written notification to the student regarding the outcome of the credit application within five (5) working days of the approval of the decision. The notification will detail the amount and types of credit that have been granted for prior learning. In cases in which less credit is granted than was requested, the College shall provide an explanation for the basis upon which the decisionhas been made. All records of the Credit Assessment and outcome shall be retained no less than two years after the student has ceased studies with the college.
Overseas students must formally accept any credit transfer offer and will be advised the revised expected course completion date. Their Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) (via PRISMS) will be issued for the reduced duration of the course.  If a COE had previously been issued, a revised COE, with the revised expected course completion date will be reissued to the overseas student and the change in course duration reported via PRISMS.

10. Appeals

Any applicant for credit who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a credit application may request a review within twenty (20) working days of the decision. Such a review request must be accompanied by a full statement describing the basis for the review.

A request for a review of a credit decision may be lodged with the Principal who will review the initial decision in terms of this credit policy, or delegate such review. The review will be conducted within ten (10) working days, with applicants provided a written response of the outcome. Where the applicant’s request for a review of the decision is unsuccessful, a statement of reasons for the determination is provided.

A student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a review of a credit decision may appeal to an external body under the provisions of the Grievance Procedures.