Graduate Certificate in Quality Assurance

This is a one-year, part-time program designed for educators, administrators and quality assurance practitioners seeking to extend their knowledge and skills in tertiary sector quality assurance. It offers expert perspectives on QA issues, policies, national systems and institutional approaches in both national and international tertiary education contexts, drawn from the best and latest research and resources. It aims to provide concepts, insights and practical skills for designing, analysing and operating QA systems; and access to an international network of practitioners facing similar challenges.

Participants can expect a structured suite of readings, study tasks, moderated on-line discussion groups and regular lecturer feedback with a strong cohort experience in groups of 10-15 participants.

By the end of this program successful participants will have acquired insights and perspectives on QA systems, approaches and challenges in tertiary education contexts.

This one-year, part-time program consists of two core units and one of three elective units, to attain 50 credit points.

• The first core unit, Tertiary Education Policy and Management is 25 credit points, and the second core unit, External Quality Assurance is 12.5 credit points.
• Participants choose one of the three electives for the remaining 12.5 credit points, either Operating An External Quality Agency, Maintaining Quality Within Institutions, or Institutional Research in Tert Ed.

In each unit participants study online materials introducing each topic and participate in regular moderated online discussions where they contribute written commentary on the topic, and receive lecturer feedback.

Compulsory subjects

Elective subjects

Please choose one of the following subjects:

1. In order to be considered for entry, applicants must have completed:
• an undergraduate degree or equivalent; and
• and two years of documented relevant work experience.
Applicants must also be currently employed in a tertiary sector institution or other relevant organisation.
Meeting these requirements does not guarantee selection.

2. In ranking applications, the Selection Committee will consider:
• prior academic performance; and
• the professional experience

3. The Selection Committee may seek further information to clarify any aspect of an application in accordance with the Academic Board rules on the use of selection instruments.

4. Applicants are required to satisfy the university’s English language requirements for postgraduate courses. For those applicants seeking to meet these requirements by one of the standard tests approved by the Academic Board, performance band 7 is required.

The Melbourne Graduate School of Education welcomes applications from students with disabilities. It is University and Graduate School policy to take reasonable steps to enable the participation of students with disabilities, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student’s participation in the Graduate School’s programs.
The core participation requirements for study in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education are:

In all courses

1. The ability to comprehend complex information related to education and the disciplines in which the student is teaching.
2. The ability to communicate clearly and independently in assessment tasks a knowledge of the content, principles and practices relating to education and other relevant disciplines.
3. Behavioural and social attributes that enable a student to participate in a complex learning environment. Students are required to take responsibility for their own participation and learning. They also contribute to the learning of other students in collaborative learning environments, demonstrating interpersonal skills and an understanding of the needs of other students. Assessment may include the outcomes of tasks completed in collaboration with other students.

Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with the Student Equity and Disability Support Team: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Graduates may progress to a range of other graduate coursework programs.

Successful students will have acquired:

• Well-informed perspectives on the issues and challenges for tertiary education systems and institutions, with a particular emphasis on the role of QA in a dynamic sector
• An ability to apply the knowledge and skills gained in this program to engage more confidently and effectively in the tasks of leading people, influencing policy, and implementing QA policies and processes at both the system and the institutional level.