ROYAL MELBOURNE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

EDUCATION INNOVATION AND QUALITY COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF MEETING NO 1/2016

HELD AT 1PM ON 3 OCTOBER 2016

THE LARGE BOARDROOM, BUILDING 1, CITY CAMPUS

ATTENDANCE
Chair: / Professor Belinda Tynan
Attendance: / See Appendix 1
Secretary / Dr Jessica Lee-Ack
1 PROCEDURAL ITEMS
1.1 / Attendance and welcome
The Chair welcomed new members. Attendance and apologies were noted.
1.2 / Order of Business
The following items were starred for discussion: 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 4.1 and 6.1. Two new items were included under “Other Business” (6.2 Strengthening connections between Sub-Committees and 6.3 Partnership with Guangzhou University).
The Committee accepted the recommendations of all non-starred items.
1.3 / Minutes of Meeting 9 August 2016 (Education Committee)
The Committee approved the minutes of Education Committee meeting 6/2016 held on 9 August 2016.
2 ACTIONS ARISING
2.1 / Rolling Action Sheet and Actions Arising
Noted. The Chair advised that a discussion paper on admissions was currently being developed and would be tabled at a future meeting.
2.2 / Scope of Registration
Changes to the Scope of Registration for August 2016 were noted.
2.3 / Learning & Teaching Innovation Update
Updates provided by the Learning Teaching Innovation Initiativewere noted.
2.4 / SSCC Student Leadership Summit Feedback (August 2016)
The Committee discussed the report which described the top five issues identified by Student Staff Consultative Committees. The Committee noted:
  • Issues relating to teacher/student communication were linked to other issues such as timely feedback and class sizes in some areas;
  • RUSU is continuing to work with RMIT on improving Blackboard;
  • The priority for students was clear, transparent and consistent assessment criteria, provided earlier;
  • Student members of SSCCs are keen to be part of the solution and would welcome increased transparency about “next steps” to resolve issues; and
  • While some issues require local (i.e. program level) solutions, there are also systemic issues that need a whole of institution response.
Colleges are currently in the process of analysing the work of SSCC’s and it was agreed that the DPVCsL&T would report back to the Chair on the actions being undertaken to address the issues outlined in the paper.
2.5 / RMIT Statement of Commitment on Child Safety
RMIT is currently in the process of implementing the Action Plan to comply with the Victorian Government Child Safe Standards (the Standards). The Committee noted that Compliance, Regulation and Reporting Group is working with Human Resources on changes to policy in line with the Standards and is meeting with Colleges to discuss obligations and actions.
3 GOVERNANCE
3.1 / Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015 Transition: action plan
The Committeeapproved the action plan to support transition to the HESF (Threshold Standards) 2015 on 1 Jan 2017. The Committee agreed to monitor progress to ensure completion of actions ahead of January 2017 to capture updates to risk assessment and identification of on-going activities from 2017. While the Threshold Standards are in effect from 1 January 2017, some activities may be in transition in early 2017. A proposal for a new program review process has been developed and will be shared with the DPVCsL&T. A revised version of the proposal will be tabled at the November meeting.
4 STRATEGIC CONVERSATIONS
4.1 / Drivers for improvement to AGS
Members considered the analysis of the five most improved institutions in the Australian Graduate Survey results in light of the following questions:
  • Are the findings of the ‘most improved’ institutions consistent with your observations about what is occurring nationally?
  • What other evidence is there to substantiate how these institutions have improved over the past five years?
  • What are the key take away messages from the investigation about what institutions have done to lift up scores in the CEQ?
  • What are the implications for RMIT of this competitor activity?
The Committee noted:
  • Some institutions have made a concerted effort to reduce underperforming programs and do not tolerate poor performing programs;
  • Positive signalling works well in some institutions – RMIT needs a clearer definition of what an RMIT program is, what makes it distinctive and valuable;
  • Careers counselling for international students located within the institution’s offshore offices has been a successful strategy;
  • Addressing the culture of student support is critical (customer care focus), as well as addressing issues of fragmentation;
  • Short term projects (1 year) do not deliver the type or level of change that is required; and
  • Projects need to be sustainable.
It was agreed that the DPVCsL&T and Executive Director, Vocational Education would share the PowerPoint presentation with their Learning & Teaching Committees and Vocational Education Executive Committeeand seek feedback on priorities for 2017 (N.B. this presentation is confidential and not for wider distribution).
In 2017, an “Education Plan” will be developed,providing an opportunity to identify longer term projects to address the issues identified through continued poor performance in AGS as well as the issues and priorities identified by RUSU. The Committee will have an opportunity to learn more about new projects for 2017 and to discuss other possible longer term projects that should be initiated to drive improved outcomes.
5 PROGRAM APPROVALS
5.1 / Application for exemption to the Work Integrated Learning procedure DP005 Diploma of Languages
Education Innovation and Quality Committee approved an exemption to the Work Integrated Learning procedure, for DP005 Diploma of Languages, from Semester 1, 2017.
5.2 / Plan Discontinuations (with active students): Plan BP162APVI Bachelor of Information Technology (Applications Programming) and Plan BP162MDVI Bachelor of Information Technology (Multimedia Design) PLR: 1440, 1450 PPTL: 11341, 11344
The Committee noted the discontinuation of the program plans BP162APVI Bachelor of Information Technology (Applications Programming) and BP162MDVI Bachelor of Information Technology (Multimedia Design) to be de-activated from 31 July 2016 and agreed to recommend this for noting by Academic Board. The Committee approved the transition plan for the program plans.
5.3 / Program Discontinuation (with active students): BP184 / BP184P4, BP184P11, BP184P12A Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences) PLR: 1600 PPTL: 11566, 11569, 11570
The Committee noted the discontinuation of the program BP184 Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Pharmaceutical Sciences) to be de-activated from 31 December 2019 and agreed to recommend this for noting by Academic Board, and approve the transition plan for the program.
5.4 / Program Discontinuation (with active students): MC058 Master of Applied Science (Geospatial Information) and Plan Discontinuation (with active students): GD054 Graduate Diploma in Geospatial Information PLR: 1550 PPTL: 10902, 10913
The Committee noted the discontinuation of the program MC058 Master of Applied Science (Geospatial Information) and the plan GD054 Graduate Diploma in Geospatial Information to be deactivated from 1 January 2022 and agreed to recommend this for noting by Academic Board. The Committee approved the transition plans for the program and the plan.
5.5 / Program discontinuations (with active students): MC195 Master of Strategic Procurement and GC149 Graduate Certificate in Strategic Procurement
The Committee noted the discontinuation of MC195 Master of Strategic Procurement (including intermediate awards and all plans), to be de-activated from 1 January 2020, and agreed to recommend the discontinuation be noted by Academic Board. The Committee approved the transition plan for this discontinuation.
6 OTHER BUSINESS
6.1 / RMIT Renewal of Registration as a Non-School Senior Secondary Provider
The Committee noted RMIT’s new registration period as a Non-School Senior Secondary Provider for delivery of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) from 1 January 2017 until 31 December 2021.
The Committee noted the following internal actions for the School of Education:
  1. Development of a written procedure to formalise annual monitoring and review of VCE student outcomes.
  2. Publication of an annual report of VCE student outcomes on RMIT’s website.

6.2 / Strengthening connections between Sub-Committees
In an effort to strengthen connections between Academic Board’s sub-committees, the sub-committee Chairs (DVC E and DVC R&I) have agreed to invite a member to serve on the other sub-committee. The DVC E asked members to contact her if they would like to serve on Research Committee.
6.3 / Partnership with Guangzhou University
A partnership is being developed with Guangzhou University to deliver programs from September 2018. RMIT is seeking approval from the Chinese government to deliver programs – including Diplomas, Degrees, Masters and Higher Degree by Research programs – in the biomedical field. The Diploma programs are modelled on the Diploma of Commerce and will be designed to strengthen the students English language skills. The College of Science, Engineering and Health is currently developing program proposals and will be seeking Academic Board approval for these programs in 2016.
7 CLOSURE – NEXT MEETING
8.1 / Next meeting – 8November 2016.
CHAIR: /
DATE: /

Appendix 1 - Attendance

Represented by:
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Education / Professor Belinda Tynan(Chair) / Present
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), College of Business / Associate Professor Shona Leitch / Present
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), College of Design and Social Context / Associate Professor Andrea Chester / Present
Deputy Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching), College of Science, Engineering and Health / Associate Professor Tom Steiner / Present
Vice President Academic, RMIT Vietnam / Professor Beverley Webster / Present
Executive Director, Vocational Education / Mr Keith Cowlishaw / Present
Director, Strategy and Analytics / Mr RohitMediratta / Present
Dean of Students / Ms Fiona Ellis / Present
Director of Global Quality Regulation & Compliance / Ms Michelle Hoodbhoy / Present
One Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander academic nominated by theChair, on the advice of RMIT's Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander academics / Dr Suzi Hutchings / Apology
Nominee(s) of the DVC E with expertise of relevance to learning and teaching innovation / Dr KerinElsum / Present
Ms Sherridan Maxwell / Present
Mr David McLean / Present
External nominee(s) of the DVC E with expertise in digital innovations in learning and teaching / Vacant / Present
One student enrolled in postgraduate Higher Education nominated by the Student Union Council / Mr Paul Hoac / Apology
One student enrolled in undergraduate Higher Education nominated by the Student Union Council / Mr Alan Padgham / Apology / Sarah Firth
Alternate: Ms Ella Caulfield / Apology
One student enrolled in Vocational Education nominated by the Student Union Council / Mr Alex Borsato / Apology
In attendance:
  • Dr Jessica Lee-Ack (Secretary)

Education Innovation and Quality Committee Minutes – 01-16 – 3 October 2016 - Unconfirmed