Course Development
The College has as one of its key goals the development and provision of high quality training and assessment, for domestic and international students, in a range of ministry fields, and at a range of levels. The development and delivery of such courses involves the following activities:
Delivery and Assessment Strategies. The framework for all courses will be articulated in a delivery and assessment strategy, that describes:
The qualifications delivered by the College, and in what specialisations (if any).
The units required to achieve each qualification
The clustering of units into stream or specialisations
The relationship between the units that make up each qualification, the subjects in which the units will be delivered and assessed, and the sequencing of such subjects.
The nominal hours for each unit, the delivery methods used, the resources required, the trainers required, the trainer: student ratio required, the assessment methods to be used.
The relationship between units, delivery methods and any work placements.
Training Materials. Each subject will have a range of training materials developed. The minimum set of materials includes a Training Manual (for use by trainers and assessors), and the Subject Syllabus (for use by students, and trainers and assessors). The following guidelines are followed in the development, distribution and continuous improvement of these materials, the overall process coming under the leadership of the Academic Dean.
All materials are developed by, or under the close supervision, of qualified and experienced trainers and assessors, with expertise in the field.
All materials are developed to meet the requirements of the relevant training packages, accredited courses, and units of competency.
All materials take into account the diverse learning needs of students
All assessments undergo validation and industry consultation in their development and ongoing improvement.
All materials specify the resources (both human and physical) required for the delivery of the subject, and clear instructions for assessment.
Latest versions of Training Manuals and Subject Syllabus are made available to trainers via the College Portal.
Latest versions of Subject Syllabus are made available to students via the College Portal
All training material is subject to annual review and improvement, utilising feedback from students, trainers, assessors, and industry representatives.
Timetables. The Delivery and Assessment Strategy is combined with student enrolment details, and facility information to develop an annual timetable, that ensures that suitably qualified training and assessing personnel deliver the relevant courses and subjects, with the necessary resources, and according to agreed trainer: student ratios. The timetable is constructed and maintained within the College’s operational database, and provides real-time and customised timetable information to students and trainers.
Trainer: Student Ratio. The College uses the following ratios for different forms of delivery:
Underpinning Knowledge is delivered in lecture settings of larger student numbers per trainer without a specific ratio limit set due to complementary tutorials offered for these subjects with smaller class sizes.
Practical Skill Development is undertaken in tutorials or workshop settings, with up to 25 students per trainer.
Practicum Training is undertaken with a maximum ratio of 5 Certificate IV students, 2 Diploma and 1 Advanced Diploma student per supervised industry specialist.
Continuous Improvement The College employs an annual or semester-based feedback cycle, to gather data from all stakeholders regarding its courses and their delivery and assessment. This feedback is incorporated in the ongoing improvement of all aspects of the College’s training and assessment operations. (See Continuous Improvement Policy). Unless necessary, all Training Materials are subject to an annual improvement cycle.