Honouring Quality Education Australian Qualifications Framework Nick Besley Manager, Marketing and Communications Science, Engineering and Health

Australian Qualifications Framework The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. It incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.

National Qualification Frameworks NZ Qualifications Framework UK Qualifications Framework South African Qualifications Framework Irish Qualifications Framework Ethiopian Qualifications Framework Malaysian Qualifications Framework The European Qualifications Framework is a meta-framework designed to ensure understanding of the qualifications of European countries Most countries have qualifications systems and in most cases NQFs are contemplated or being developed into formal qualifications frameworks, e.g. USA, China.

AQF Levels Level 3 – theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning Level 5 – specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning Level 7 – broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning Level 9 – specialised knowledge and skills for research and/or professional practice and/or further learning

Examples Occupation AQF qualification Barrister: Bachelor Degree and Graduate Diploma Bed and breakfast operator: Diploma / Advanced Diploma Binder and finisher: Certificate III or Certificate IV Biochemist: Bachelor Degree or Higher Degree Biotechnologist: Bachelor Degree Bishop: Bachelor Degree or Higher Degree Blacksmith: Certificate III Boarding Kennel Operator Diploma / Advanced Diploma Bricklayer Certificate III

Qualification types A qualification type is AQF terminology for a category of qualification and includes: Senior Secondary Certificate of Education Certificates I – IV Diploma and Advanced Diploma Associate Degree Bachelor and Bachelor Honours Degree Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma Masters Degree Doctoral Degree

New models RMIT’s four year AQF 8 degrees have been revised and include: Project based learning Work-simulated learning environments Engineering degrees include a mandatory 12 weeks work placement Exposure to research methods

Pathway to Masters Students completing a AQF 8 bachelor degree can apply for credits/advanced standing in a relevant masters degree

2014 – the latest news Four-year AQF 8 programs: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) Automotive Engineering; Aerospace Engineering; Advanced Manufacturing and Mechatronics; Mechanical Engineering Biomedical Engineering Chemical Engineering Civil and Infrastructure Engineering Computing and Network Engineering Electrical Engineering; Electrical and Electronic Engineering Electronic Product Design; Electronic and Communication Engineering Environmental Engineering Sustainable Systems Engineering And all the Engineering double degrees Dean’s Scholar (Honours) Pharmacy (Honours)

2015 – the story continues Four-year AQF 8 programs Construction Management (Honours) Property and Valuation (Honours) Project Management (Honours) Fashion (Honours) Interior Design (Honours)

Questions?