Discussion of Standard 2 – Student engagement before enrolment

Introduction
What's new
Obligations and responsibilities
Implications
Documents, knowledge and procedures
 Definitions
Assistance and examples
Learning Activity
National Code 2007

Introduction

DEST (now DEEWR) Commentary

The recruitment of students follows general marketing and is the first step in establishing a formal relationship between the student and a registered provider. It is important that the recruitment is ethical and upholds the integrity of Australian education and training. Intending students need to be able to access information about the course, fees, facilities, services and resources offered by the registered provider prior to enrolment in order to make an informed choice about their education options. At this point, the registered provider also needs to be satisfied that the student’s English language proficiency, qualifications and experience are appropriate for the course.

Generic standard applicable to all sectors

What’s new

  • Providers supply information about the availability of course credit.
  • Providers inform students of the modes of study through which the course may be offered.
  • Providers list the grounds on which the student's enrolment may be deferred, suspended or cancelled.
  • Providers give students a description of the ESOS framework prior to enrolment.
  • Providers supply information about indicative course related fees, including the potential for fees to change.
  • Providers supply relevant information on accommodation options.
  • Providers inform intending students of schooling obligations and options for school-aged dependents, including that school fees may be incurred.
  • Documented procedures are in place for assessing students' qualifications, experience and English language proficiency.
  • Requirement for a description of the ESOS framework as provided by DEST.
  • Further reference document: DEST Comparison Chart (December 2006).

Obligations and responsibilities

  • Provider must provide, in print or electronic copy, current and accurate information about:
    • requirements for acceptance into a course (including English levels, qualifications, work experience and course credit opportunities)
    • course content and duration, qualifications on offer, modes of study, and assessment methods
    • campus locations and facilities (educational and physical)
    • details of any other providers involved in course offerings and delivery
    • fees including any potential for fees to change over course duration
    • information as to how a student’s enrolment can be deferred, suspended or cancelled
    • explanation of the ESOS framework
    • relevant information about cost of living accommodation and schooling obligations, including fees, for dependents of overseas students.

Implications

  • Some thought would need to be given about interpretation when supplying students with "relevant information" about living in Australia. While section 2.1.h indicates this includes cost of living, accommodation and schooling obligations for dependant children, information to be supplied should also be considered directly from a student's point of view and operate with insights into student needs. Here is an opportunity to increase cross-cultural knowledge, broaden perceptions, provide some contextualization of students' possible actions, construct existing student experiences and strategies, and encourage an early acceptance of difference.

List of document and knowledge of institutional and government procedures required for this standard

  • Documents:
    • Institutional documentation that is accessible in print and electronically and is understandable by potential students which includes:
      • Acceptance requirements for entry into a course
      • Detailed course information
      • Fees information
      • Grounds for enrolment variations
      • Campus locations and facilities
      • ESOS framework
      • Indicative costs of living
  • Knowledge:
    • Institutional information about fee policies
    • Institutional understanding about the grounds for deferring, suspension and cancellation of a student’s enrolment.
    • ESOS Framework
  • Procedures:
    • Institutional procedures for assessing student qualifications, experience and English language proficiency in relation to the course applied for.
    • Institutional procedures for deferring, suspending and cancelling a student’s enrolment.

Definitions of key words/phrases

  • Work experience
    - Utilising workplace expertise as a requirement for acceptance into a course
  • ESOS framework
    - See ESOS Legislative Framework .
  • DEST (now DEEWR)
    - Department of Education, Science and Training (now Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations)
  • English language proficiency
    - Meeting a nominated level of English language skills.
    - See DIAC - Test Scores .
  • Course Credit
    - Prior formal study undertaken at a tertiary institution (i.e. TAFE, other universities either Australian or international) credited towards a new academic program.
  • Mode of study
    - Refers to the way in which a student is enrolled in a course/program of study: internal, external or a mixture of the two.

Where to find assistance and quality practice examples

  • A copy of the ESOS Framework to be made available to students is available for your information.
  • Clear and updated advice to students about the ESOS framework can be found on the Deakin International website.
  • Predeparture documents that explain the student's visa obligations can be found at University of NSW.
  • Executive Summary from the Final Report of the Survey of International Students' Spending in Australia (revised July 2005) . Prepared for Australian Education International (AEI) and the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) by the University of Queensland Social Research Centre (UQSRC). This publication offers an overview of non-tuition fee expenditure by international students enrolled in higher education, vocational education and training, secondary school, and ELICOS programmes in Australian institutions.
  • Everyday living in WA 2007: A guide for international students. Produced annually by the Council for International Students of Western Australia, this booklet is a comprehensive guide for all international students, secondary and tertiay, arriving in Western Australia. It directs them to information and provides directions on how to find further information or assistance. It extensively covers general living information for Western Australia and is of a cultural and practical nature. For further information contact the Council: tel: 08 9325 4156, email: ciswa@bigpond.com, website: www.users.bigpond.com/ciswa .
  • Examples of what to provide in cost of living information
    - Monash University provides an in-depth view of Cost of living for international students . They provide a table of information of estimated figures as a guide. The table sets out average costs over 12-months for a single student living in rented or university accommodation.
    - TAFE NSW offers a suggested Cost of living weekly budget.

Learning Activity

National Code 2007

Outcome of Standard 2

Registered providers recruit students in an ethical and responsible manner and provide
information that enables students to make informed decisions about studying with the
registered provider in Australia. Registered providers ensure students’ qualifications,
experience and English language proficiency are appropriate for the course for which
enrolment is sought.

2.1

Prior to accepting a student, or an intending student, for enrolment in a course, the registered provider must provide, in print or through referral to an electronic copy, current and accurate information regarding the following:

  1. the requirements for acceptance into a course, including the minimum level of English language proficiency, educational qualifications or work experience required and whether course credit may be applicable
  2. the course content and duration, qualification offered if applicable, modes of study and assessment methods
  3. campus locations and a general description of facilities, equipment, and learning and library resources available to students
  4. details of any arrangements with another registered provider, person or business to provide the course or part of the course
  5. indicative course-related fees including advice on the potential for fees to change during the student’s course and applicable refund policies
  6. information about the grounds by which the student’s enrolment may be deferred, suspended or cancelled
  7. a description of the ESOS framework made available electronically by DEST, and
  8. relevant information on living in Australia, including:
    1. indicative costs of living
    2. accommodation options, and
    3. where relevant, schooling obligations and options for school-aged dependants of intending students, including that school fees may be incurred.
2.2 The registered provider must have documented procedures in place, and implement these procedures to assess whether the student’s qualifications, experience and English language proficiency are appropriate for the course for which enrolment is sought

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