Work Experience in Industry, Fieldwork & Off-Campus Subjects
Work Experience in Industry
Government regulations require the University to provide DEST with information on Work Experience in Industry (WEI) subjects. A WEI subject is one that involves work experience placement, e.g. subjects that include professional practice or clinical placements.
The introduction of a WEI subject, whether compulsory or elective, constitutes a major change to an academic program, requiring completion of the major change form. It is therefore not a matter for quarterly report. The completion of the form will enable the Academic Registrar and APC to determine how the subject will be classified for the purposes of the Higher Education Funding Act (Cth ) 2004. WEI must be classified in accordance with the following scheme. The University’s power to charge tuition fees and receive funding for the subject’s load depends on how the subject is classified.
Category 1
Learning and performance are neither supported nor directed by the University. Students enrolled in a category 1 subject do not consume Student Learning Entitlement (SLE), cannot be charged tuition fees, and cannot be counted in the teaching load.
Category 2
Learning and performance are supported but not directed by the University. Students enrolled in a category 2 subject do not consume SLE and do not count in the teaching load. They can, however, be charged tuition fees.
Category 3
Learning and performance are directed by the University. Students enrolled in a category 3 subject consume SLE, can be charged tuition fees and are counted in the tuition load.
Detailed regulations specify the criteria for a Category 2 and Category 3 subject. A subject is not to be considered a Category 3 ('directed') subject unless all of the following are performed by University staff, or staff engaged by the University:
- ongoing and regular input and contact with students; and
- oversight and direction of work occurring during its performance; and
- definition and management of the implementation of educational content and objectives of the subject; and
- definition and management of assessment of student learning and performance during the student placement; and
- definition and management of the standard of learning and performance to be achieved by the student during the placement.
A subject is not to be considered a Category 2 subject ('supported but not directed') unless all of the following are performed by University staff, or staff engaged by the University:
- interaction with students, which may include site visits; and
- organisation of student placements; and
- ongoing monitoring of student work and progress; and
- assessment of student learning and performance during the placement.
Any subject which does meet the criteria for a Category 3 or 2 WEI subject is therefore a Category 1 subject ('not supported nor directed').