Policy: Micro-credentials and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)

Purpose

To describe the standards which underpin the University’s introduction, modification, and disestablishment of micro-credentials and MOOCs.

Overview

This policy covers all ANU micro-credentials, micro-credential stacks, MOOCs and all ANU staff with educational responsibilities.

Scope

This policy applies to all ANU staff and students across the University.

Definitions

Lifelong learning: “Lifelong learning is the term used to describe any learning activities that are undertaken throughout life to acquire knowledge, skills and the application of knowledge and skills within personal, civic, social and/or employment-related contexts” (Australian Qualifications Framework, 2nd ed. (January 2013), p. 97 (https://www.aqf.edu.au/; accessed 02/04/2019).

Massive Open Online Course (MOOC): a model for learning content that is delivered online that is generally free. MOOCs are available to geographically dispersed participants normally without prerequisites or entry qualifications.

Micro-credential: is a short-form credential designed and taught for lifelong learning rather than as part of an ANU program. For clarity, a micro-credential is not a program or a course as defined in ANU policy and procedure.

Micro-credential stack: a cohesive group of micro-credentials designed to achieve an overarching description and set of learning outcomes.

Policy statement

1. Micro-credentials and MOOCs are part of the strategy to realise the ANU Strategic Plan; as such, the approval process for each micro-credential, micro-credential stack or MOOC will specify how it is aligned with the ANU Strategic Plan.
2. ANU micro-credentials, micro-credential stacks and MOOCs are part of the university’s suite of offerings to facilitate lifelong learning in support of:

• Senior Executive education;
• Professional development; and
• Personal development.

3. ANU micro-credentials and MOOCs are not AQF Qualifications.
4. Micro-credentials and MOOCs are not ANU programs or courses as defined in policy and procedure and must not be described as programs or courses.
5. Micro-credentials cannot be co-taught with 1000-, 2000-, or 3000-level undergraduate courses.
6. Micro-credentials and MOOCs cannot be included in the program orders for any ANU AQF qualification, but are eligible under the ANU Recognition of Prior and External Learning Policy and the Credit and Exemptions Procedure for consideration for credit towards an ANU AQF qualification; ANU Micro-credentials and MOOCs are regarded as formal learning.
7. Micro-credentials and MOOCs are not eligible for HECS/CGS support and are not available for cross-institutional enrolment.
8. ANU will continue to offer non-credentialed professional and short courses as per the Professional and Short Courses Policy and Procedure.

Micro-credentials

9. The defining characteristics of ANU micro-credentials are that they:

• demonstrate the university’s intellectual leadership in the taught disciplines or fields;
• are designed and taught at graduate level either by ANU staff or by ANU staff in conjunction with experienced practitioners;
• include a face-to-face component which is normally in person but may be synchronous online; and
• that their convening, teaching and assessment is not contracted out to third parties.

10. The ANU Micro-credentials and MOOCs Committee monitors, advises and provides assurance to the Academic Quality Assurance Committee on the quality of micro-credentials and micro-credential stacks offered by the University through its Colleges and the Centre for Learning and Teaching. ANU quality assures each of its micro-credentials in their:

• design through the development and governance process set out in the Procedure;
• academic integrity through requiring all enrolees to abide by academic integrity as specified by Academic Board and commit to this as part of the induction process prior to commencing their first ANU micro-credential; elective training will be made available to all enrolees;
• academic expertise through compliance with the Knowledge, Pedagogical Skills, and Qualifications Requirements for Educators Policy and Procedure;
• enrolee outcomes through assessment that requires demonstration of each of the learning outcomes; and
• enrolee engagement and impact through enrolee surveys that are consistent with the ANU Student Surveys and Evaluations Policy and Procedure.

11. If the language of instruction is not English the language of instruction must be specified in the proposal, on all material published by the University about the micro-credential, and must appear prominently on any certificate of attainment or attendance.
12. Language micro-credential enrolees with previous language experience or exposure are required to undertake a language proficiency assessment to ensure enrolment at the most appropriate level. Enrolees who are not sure if they need to undertake a language proficiency assessment should seek advice from the micro-credential convenor. Enrolees who intentionally misrepresent their language proficiency level may be investigated under the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 or the Academic Integrity Rule 2021 as having failed to comply with assessment directions and having sought unfair advantage.
13. To be eligible for award of a micro-credential, enrolees must successfully complete and pass the assessment for the micro-credential. Enrolees who attend the contact for the micro-credential but do not complete and pass the assessment are not eligible for the award of a micro-credential but may receive a certificate of attendance.
14. Two or more ANU micro-credentials may be stacked to form another ANU micro-credential that demonstrates greater depth and/or breadth of study, following the principle that multiple courses may be combined to form a program.

MOOCs

15. The defining characteristics of ANU MOOCs are that they:

• demonstrate the university’s intellectual leadership in the taught disciplines or fields;
• are designed and taught at undergraduate or graduate level either by ANU staff or by ANU staff in conjunction with experienced practitioners;
• that their convening, teaching and assessment is not contracted out to third parties.

16. The ANU Micro-credentials and MOOCs Committee monitors, advises and provides assurance to the Academic Quality Assurance Committee on the quality of MOOCs offered by the University and its constituent parts. ANU quality assures each of its MOOCs in their:

• design through the development and governance process set out in the Procedure;
• academic integrity through requiring all enrolees to abide by academic integrity as specified by Academic Board;
• academic expertise through compliance with the Knowledge, Pedagogical Skills, and Qualifications requirements for Educators policy and Knowledge, Pedagogical Skills and Qualifications requirements for Educators procedure; and
• for those undertaking the identity verified stream, enrolee outcomes through assessment that requires demonstration of each of the learning outcomes.

17. If the language of instruction is not English the language of instruction must be specified in the proposal, on all material published by the University about the MOOC, and must appear prominently on any certificate of attainment or attendance.
18. To be eligible for a Verified Certificate, enrolees must successfully complete and pass the assessment for the MOOC. Enrolees who participate in teaching activities but do not complete and pass the assessment may receive a certificate of attendance.