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Parallel Teaching Policy

Status

Next review
Tue, 14 July 2026

This policy exists to guide where economic and practical circumstances dictate that students from different levels of study are taught simultaneously in the same class.
This policy is necessary to ensure that:

  • The content of units which are intended to be delivered in a parallel teaching format adequately addresses the content needs of different levels of the AQF;

  • The teaching and learning arrangements for the post graduate students especially, are acknowledged and addressed; and

  • The assessment requirements of students studying at different levels of the AQF are in accordance with their relevant AQF levels.

 

Public
Visibility
Approved on: 14 Apr 2022
Review cycle: 3 Years
Owned by
Learning, Teaching And Research Committee
Approved by
Academic Board
Category: Learning and Teaching

Policy Contact:

Learning, Teaching and Research Committee Minute Secretary

Purpose:

This policy exists to guide where economic and practical circumstances dictate that students from different levels of study are taught simultaneously in the same class.
This policy is necessary to ensure that:

  • The content of units which are intended to be delivered in a parallel teaching format adequately addresses the content needs of different levels of the AQF;
  • The teaching and learning arrangements for the post graduate students especially, are acknowledged and addressed; and
  • The assessment requirements of students studying at different levels of the AQF are in accordance with their relevant AQF levels.

Scope:

This policy applies to the Academic Board as the overall authority for academic activities in the College, the Course Coordinators, Unit Coordinators and Academics in Charge of classes taught in parallel, the Dean of Faculty, Dean of Studies, Dean of Academic Advancement and the Registrar.

Definitions:

parallel teaching – “any form of teaching that involves a significant component of undergraduate content forming part of a postgraduate course, or any form of teaching that involves undergraduate and postgraduate students being located in the same class” (University of Adelaide, 2006) or where the form of teaching addresses two different levels of the AQF.

unit co-ordinator – the Academic Staff member responsible for the day-to-day teaching and assessment in individual units. Where visiting lecturers are invited to teach units or segments of units they are responsible to Unit Coordinators.

course co-ordinator – an academic member of the College who is responsible for the development and management of a course of study in the College, wherever it is undertaken.

academic in charge – the lecturer who has primary responsibility for teaching the classes for a particular unit of study.

Statement:

The Academic Board of the College shall give authority to the Course Coordinators, Unit Coordinators and Academics-in-Charge to participate in the practice known as “parallel teaching”, as defined above.

Parallel teaching may be utilised in the event that the requirements of a unit, or course, share a significant amount of content, resources, or class time with undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The Academic Board shall, through the approval processes of the College, ensure that:

  1. The learning outcomes of undergraduate students and postgraduate students meet the distinct criteria according to the Australian Qualifications Framework; in particular-
    • Diplomas, Level 5
    • Associate Degrees, Level 6
    • Bachelor Degrees, Level 7
    • Postgraduate Certificates and Diplomas, Level 8;
    • Master Awards, Level 9;
  2. The content of units or courses undertaken in classes taught in parallel are appropriate to their respective levels and course learning outcomes;
  3. The assessment of students adequately tests and satisfies the learning outcomes of the relevant AQF level.
  4. Neither the higher nor lower AQF level students will be disadvantaged through the process of parallel teaching,
  5. Teaching staff shall be adequately supported to deliver at multiple levels.

In most circumstances, differentiation of course or unit content may occur through tutorials (e.g. for the higher AQF level students), learning material provided, and/or the assessment tasks.

The Academic Board shall, through student surveys, seek from students attending classes taught in parallel, feedback regarding:

  • any experienced negative impacts of the teaching and learning experience
  • ​any experienced beneficial aspects of the teaching and learning experience
  • any suggestions which may improve the learning and teaching experience

The feedback provided by students shall be reviewed and evaluated to improve the design or redesign of future courses or units to meet best practice outcomes.

The Academic-in-charge, in consultation with the Course Coordinator and Unit Coordinator shall ensure that the unit outline informs students that the unit will be delivered by parallel teaching. Course materials prepared for such a class must explicitly acknowledge the parallel teaching.

In all instances in which parallel teaching is proposed, and in order to preserve the academic integrity of the respective levels of study:

  • Students must be enrolled in different units, e.g. XX522 (Diploma Level) or XX822 (Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma Level)
  • ​Higher AQF level students shall be offered additional or separate content delivery; and/or Tutorial or discussion opportunities;
  • Higher AQF level students shall be offered additional or separate assessment tasks designed to acknowledge the different expectations, learning styles, prior knowledge (or lack of prior knowledge) and life experiences of post graduate students.

It shall be the responsibility of the Academic in Charge to ensure that students enrolled in a class taught in parallel do not devalue the learning experience of the other level.

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ABN: 61 551 855 405 | ACN: 641 764 785 | RTO No. 22065 | HE No. PRV12149 | CRICOS: 03853H

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