PURPOSE 

The purpose of this policy is to provide framework for dealing with unsatisfactory course progress and taking remedial actions for international students. The policy also to ensure that international students maintain satisfactory course progress throughout the duration of their enrolment.

SCOPE

This policy applies to all international students enrolled to study a Vocational Education and Training program at Australian Institute of Entrepreneurs (AIOE) 

POLICY STATEMENT 

As a “registered provider” under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) AIOE is bound by that Act and subsequent Education Services for Overseas Students Regulations 2001 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code). Under the guidance and framework provided by these Acts, Regulations and Codes, the AIOE will conduct all course progress requirements ethically, honestly and with fairness to all parties.

LEGISLATIVE CONTEXT

• National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011
• The ESOS Act 2000
• Education Services for Overseas Student (ESOS) Regulations 2001
• The National Code 2018
• Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTO) 2015

Standard 8 of the National Code 2018:

The National Code 2018 lays out the guidelines for the monitoring students’ course progress under Standard 8.  As directed by the Department of Education and Training, a provider who implements the Department of Education-DHA (Department of Home Affairs) Course Progress Policy and Procedures for its CRICOS registered courses, vocational education and training (VET) courses is not required for ESOS purposes to monitor attendance for those courses.

POLICY

1. Australian Institute of Entrepreneurs (AIOE) has registered through PRISMS to implement Department of Education-DHA Course Progress Policy and Procedures.  
2. The monitoring of course progress allows Australian Institute of Entrepreneurs (AIOE) to comply with its obligation under the National Code in particular, Standard 8 (Overseas Student Visa Requirements), in respect of Student Visa holders. Consistent with the National Code Standard 8 and the DoE/DHA Course Progress Policy and Procedures, the institute will monitor record and assess the course progress of each student.
3. International students are required to maintain satisfactory course progress. International students do not meet AIOE’s satisfactory course progress requirements if they:

• deemed ‘Not Yet Competent’ outcome for 50% or more of the units of competency during a Study Period.
• The course progress requirements are made clear to each student during the Orientation Program.

1. This policy and associated procedures will be made available to the international students through student orientation, AIOE’s website and student handbook.
2. The course progress is closely linked to student’s active participation in-class learning, assessment activities and timely completion of assessments. At the beginning of each unit of competency, trainers/assessors will provide information on assessment requirements, conditions, assessment due dates and other relevant competency requirements.

GENERAL PROCEDURES

1. CRICOS timetables are prepared for each qualification/class in accordance with registered course duration in PRISMS. Students will receive a copy of the CRICOS timetable and a schedule of unit delivery at the orientation prior to course commencement. The schedule of unit delivery shows:

• The units of competency
• Delivery and assessment hours 
• Assessment schedule 
• Term breaks

1. In compliance with National Code Standard 8 the Intervention Officer(s) will monitor the course progress of each student.
2. Requirements for achieving satisfactory course progress: 
3. 1. Students need to achieve minimum of 50% or more of the units of competency enrolled in AIOE’s registered VET course to achieve satisfactory course progress. 

1. 1. Students need to be aware that they will be reported to DHA if they do not maintain satisfactory course progress.

1. 1. AIOE has early intervention strategies in place to ensure that students who are deemed ‘NYC’ (failed) for any unit of competency are identified and assisted to maintain their satisfactory course progress by relevant AIOE personnel.

1. Process for assessing satisfactory course progress: 

1. 1. Attendance and assessment results are recorded and monitored weekly by the Intervention Officer(s) at the end of each unit of competency as follows:

1. 1. 1. Trainer(s) forward(s) all the student results from each of their class to the Administration Officer. 

1. 1. 1. Student results (C or NYC) are updated in aXcelerate under each student’s profile by Intervention Officer(s).

1. 1. 1. Intervention Officer(s) identify the students who are deemed ‘NYC’ for any unit of competency.

1. Procedures for intervention for students at risk of failing to achieve satisfactory course progress

1. 1. AIOE has early intervention strategies in place to ensure that students maintain 100% of course progress during their studies. 

1. 1. AIOE has identified that it is the best practice to intervene at unit level as this poses a risk of failing to achieve satisfactory course progress and the intervention should be activated as soon as student receives a ‘NYC’ result. 

1. 1. This ensures that students are constantly being informed the importance of maintaining 100% satisfactory course progress throughout their studies.

1. 1. Intervention strategy is activated for students who have received ‘NYC’ result for any unit of competency at the end of a unit completion. 

1. 1. This means that students who are deemed Not Yet Competent, their names are placed into the aXcelerate’s ‘Unit Feedback’ email and sent to each student. 

1. 1. Students with NYC results are encouraged to make appointments with Intervention Officer(s) to discuss the reasons of their NYC results (failures). 

1. 1. Student appointments are recorded in each student’s profile in aXcelerate and these appointments act as a counselling session to discuss the reasons of student’s NYC result(s) (failures). 

1. 1. Once a Counselling session is finalized and signed by the student, Intervention Officers continue to monitor the progress of these students. 

1. 1. The Students who have failed 2 or less number of Unit of competency will work on these reassessments with their Trainers under the Student Intervention Training (SIT) Program. Students who have failed more than 2 Units of Competency, a special Student Intervention Training (SIT) Program is arranged for the students. A special timetable is developed outside the normal course timetable to enable them to maintain course progress.

1. 1. A sanction is placed on the students file in aXcelerate so that these students can be monitored regularly with feedback from the trainers.

1. Process for determining the point at which the student has failed to meet satisfactory course progress

1. 1. At the end of each term of study, the Student Intervention Officer(s) will generate a report from aXcelerate which lists the students that received NYC units for that study period. Students who are deemed NYC or failed 50% or more of the units of competency attained in that study period will be deemed as failing to meet satisfactory course progress. 

1. 1. The Student Intervention Officer(s) will contact each international student who are identified as failing to meet satisfactory course progress and arrange an appointment with Academic Manager or other designated staff for counselling session to be held as specified within five (5) days of that communication.

1. 1. During the academic counselling session the Student Intervention Officer in consultation with the Academic Manager will determine what additional support will be provided to the international student. This may include, but is not limited to, the international student:

• attending Special Intervention Training (SIT)  Program which is conducted on weekly basis by designated trainer/assessor;
• attending academic skills programs and/or assistance with LLN issues if any;
• attending at least a specified number of scheduled classes during specified period of time;
• attending counselling;
• receiving assistance or professional help with personal issues which are influencing Course Progress;
• receiving mentoring; or
• combination of the above.

During the academic counselling sessions the student will also be advised:

• on the suitability of the course in which they are enrolled;
• of opportunities to demonstrate the necessary competency in areas in which they had not been previously able to demonstrate competency;
• of the possibility that conditions may be placed on their enrolment and that continued unsatisfactory course progress in two consecutive terms of study could lead to their enrolment being terminated, resulting in a report to DHA which may result in the cancellation of their student visa (based on the decision of DIBP).

1. 1. A record of the academic counselling session (Intervention form/Counselling form) and any additional support to be provided will be documented and signed by the Student Intervention Officer(s)/PEO/Academic Manager/ and the student and placed on the student’s file.

1. Continuing failure to meet course progress requirements:

1. 1. If an international student fails to meet the course progress requirements in a second consecutive term of study after an intervention strategy has been put in place, Student Services will advise the international student in writing of the intention to report the student for not achieving satisfactory course progress. The international student will also be advised that they have a right to appeal the decision within 20 working days of the date stated on the letter. 

1. 1. If a student is identified for a second, but not consecutive, study period as not making satisfactory course progress, AIOE does not report the student for unsatisfactory course progress. 

1. Complaints and appeals process for intention to report  

1. 1. A student may appeal to the intention to report decision on the following grounds: 

1. provider’s failure to record or calculate a student’s marks accurately,
2. compassionate or compelling circumstances, or
3. provider has not implemented its intervention strategy and other policies according to its documented policies and procedures that have been made available to the student.

1. 1. If the international student lodges an appeal, during the period the appeal is being considered, the international student must continue their studies in the course until the outcome of that appeal has been finalized.

1. 1. Where the student’s appeal is successful, the outcomes may vary according to the findings of the appeals process. 

1. 1. If the appeal shows that there was an error in calculation, and the student actually made satisfactory course progress (successfully completed more than 50% of the course requirements for that study period), AIOE does not report the student, and there is no requirement for intervention.

1. 1. If the appeals process shows that the student has not made satisfactory progress, but there are compassionate or compelling reasons for the lack of progress, ongoing support must be provided to the student through AIOE’s intervention strategy, and AIOE does not report the student.

1. 1. Where the international student has chosen not to access the complaints and appeals process, the student withdraws from the process, or the process is completed (ie. the student’s appeal was unsuccessful) within 20 working days, the international student’s enrolment will be formally terminated and the Student Services Officer will report the student to DHA and Department of Education via PRISMS. A copy of all the student’s documentation along with the cancelled CoE, PRISM variation report and any other relevant document(s) should be uploaded in aXcelerate as well as placed in the Student’s file.

1. 1. DHA will consider all the information available and if they decide to consider cancellation, DHA will send a Notice of Intention to Consider Cancellation (NOICC) prior to a decision being made to cancel the student’s visa.  Students will be given an opportunity to respond to the NOICC and explain their situation. The student does not need to attend a DHA office.

Staff involved /responsible for recording, monitoring, counselling and reporting on course progress 

• Trainers/Assessors  
• Academic Manager
• Student Services Officer(s)
• Student Intervention Officer(s) 
• PEO
• Student Welfare 

Policy review

This policy covers all international students studying at AIOE. This policy is available to students and staff by way of the college website(s) and through student/staff orientation handbooks.

This policy will be reviewed as part of the College’s one-year policy review cycle or as required by regulatory changes.

DEFINITIONS