RMIT University

Aboriginal Study Assistance Scheme: Commonwealth Government living allowance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students enrolled in an approved course.

ABSTUDY: Aboriginal Study Assistance Scheme

Academic Board: The senior academic body of the University responsible for recommending new programs, regulations to Council and approving academic policy and procedures. Previously this body was known as the Academic Board and Board of Technical Studies. Meetings of the Board are held monthly.

Academic career: A grouping system for courses and programs at RMIT according to their similar characteristics based mainly on their level, but also other identifiers. Careers at RMIT are: Undergraduate; Postgraduate; TAFE; Research; Preparatory; Non-award; and Continuing Education.

Academic Management System: RMIT’s database for managing academic and student data.

Academic Unit: An organisational component of an Academic Portfolio such as a School which is responsible, for a particular program or course or group of programs or courses.

Academic Year: The period into which academic study is assigned and which does not necessarily correspond exactly to a calendar year.

Accreditation: The formal approval of Higher Education award programs.

Accredited Program: A program of study, approved and accredited by RMIT Council, leading to an award of RMIT. TAFE programs are accredited/endorsed by the Victorian Qualifications Authority or the National Training Quality Council.

ACER Australian Council for Educational Research

Admission: The process by which a prospective student applies for a place in a program at RMIT University, is considered, and selected or rejected.

Advanced Standing: A student undertaking an RMIT program may have prior achievements recognised by being granted advanced standing. This is done by granting credit points in the program in which he/she is enrolled. This may also be called Recognition of Prior Learning.

AEI: Australian Education International

AEU: Australian Education Union

AMS: Academic Management System, see also Academic Management System

APL: Assessment of Prior Learning, see also Assessment of Prior Learning

AQF: Australian Qualifications Framework, see also Australian Qualifications Framework

AQTF: Australian Quality Training Framework, see also Australian Quality Training Framework

ARC: Australian Research Council, see also Australian Research Council

Articulation: Previous studies in one program can be recognised as providing an equivalent learning experience and credited as a portion of another program. Articulation can facilitate students' progress between, for example, a TAFE program and a degree program when the degree program offers credit for selected TAFE courses thus reducing the amount of time necessary for completion. See also Block Exemption, Advanced Standing and Assessment of Prior Learning.

Assessment: The methods and procedures by which a student's academic progress and standard, at a given time, is measured against the intended outcomes of the program of study. Formative assessment provides feedback to the students during the course on their learning and may or may not be graded. Its purpose is to inform the student of progress and to promote learning. Summative assessment occurs at end of a course or topic area. Its purpose is to determine the actual learning outcomes and is counted towards the grade if the course is graded. It aims to determine what learning has occurred. Norm referenced assessment measure's a student's academic progress and standard, at a given time, is measured against the other students/clients undertaking the same/similar program of study.

Assessment of Prior Learning: The process undertaken to assess a student’s prior learning for credit against RMIT’s modules and courses. See also Advanced Standing and Recognition of Prior Learning.

At risk: The status of a student who is deemed to be experiencing difficulties in their studies and who may be at risk of exclusion.

ATAR: Australian Tertiary Admission Rank See also Australian Tertiary Admission Rank for further information.

ATN: Australian Technology Network, see also Australian Technology Network

ATSI: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

AUQA: Australian Universities Quality Agency, see also Australian Universities Quality Agency

AusAID: Australian Agency for International Development

Australian Postgraduate Awards: Scholarships to support postgraduate research training in the higher education sector and provide financial support to postgraduate students of exceptional research promise who undertake their higher degree by research at an eligible Australian higher education provider.

Australian Qualifications Framework: The national quality management system for the TAFE sector by which States and Territories apply the Standards for registered Training Organisations.

Australian Quality Training Framework: A set of two standards: (1) Standards for registered Training Organisations (RTO), and (2) Standards for State and Territory registering/course accrediting bodies.

Australian Research Council: A large number of government research grants are awarded through the Australian Research Council. The Council recommends to the Minister for Education, Science and Technology the allocation of research funds provided by the Australian Government.

Australian Technology Network: This is an alliance of five universities: Curtin, RMIT, University of South Australia, University of Technology, Sydney, Queensland University of Technology.

Australian Universities Quality Agency: The agency responsible for conducting quality audits of self-accrediting Australian higher education institutions, and State and Territory Government higher education accreditation authorities.

Austudy: Commonwealth Government living allowance for students enrolled full time in an approved course. It is subject to a means test and to satisfactory progress. Abstudy is the equivalent for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

AVCC: Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee.

Award: The degree, certificate, diploma or other such qualification that may be granted to a student after completion of all the requirements of a higher education program or accredited TAFE program. A joint award is an award made jointly by two or more institution.

BlackBoard: The main computer software used by RMIT in the distributed learning system to provide an online teaching and learning environment.

Block Exemption: The granting of credit against a group of HE courses normally equivalent to 48 credit points or a multiple thereof. At a minimum, this represents a defined study period - semester or year - of an academic program. A Block Exemption may exclude some courses. See also "Advanced Standing" and "Recognition of Prior Learning".

BOTS: Board of Technical Studies.

Board of Technical Studies: See also Academic Board and Board of Technical Studies

Bridging Course: A course designed to equip students to take up a new course or program by covering the gaps between the students’ existing knowledge and skills and the course or program's prerequisites and assumed knowledge.

Candidate: A person who has been granted approved candidature and is enrolled in a higher degree.

Capability Driven Curriculum: Curriculum that is designed to develop and assess targeted capabilities. A major characteristic of capability-based curriculum is the focus on each student's individual development. Capability-based programs are designed so that students acquire a range of generic, technical and professional skills and knowledge that match the needs of specific industries and work environments.

CEQ: Course Experience Questionnaire, see also Course Experience Questionnaire

Clearly in, "Clearly in" rank: The published lowest rank for admission to a course. This enables applicants to assess their chances of selection.

Clearly in, "Clearly in" score: The RMIT score required to check if a student is eligible for entry into a program, listed as a grade/mark/percentage for each program. This score is stated as one criterion along with relevant pre-requisites (work experience, specific subjects).

COG: Commonwealth Operating Grant.

Commencing Student: A student beginning their program for the first time, including when they move from one program code to another. Students moving up a level (e.g. from a Graduate Certificate to a Graduate Diploma or from a Masters (R) to a PhD) will be counted as commencements. One does not count as commencements students moving from a bachelors degree into a related honors program; students moving between a double degree and the related single programs; or students moving down a level in the same discipline (e.g. from a PhD to a Masters by Research in the same project). The definition of commencement also relates to a time period. To be a HE commencement in the current year, students must have commenced their program since 1 September the previous year. This definition is set by the Commonwealth Government.

Commonwealth Government: A term used with reference to the Government of Australia, as distinct from one of the state governments such as the Government of Victoria.

Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (Australian Government): An Australian government register of Institutions and courses for overseas students. There is an online database of courses and educational institutions or providers who are registered to offer courses for overseas students in Australia.

Competency: Used in VET training packages to denote the specification and application of knowledge and skill to a standard of performance required in the workplace, appropriate to an enterprise, industry or cross-industry application.

Competency Standard: An industry-determined specification of performance which sets out the skills, knowledge and attitudes required to operate effectively in employment. Competency standards are made up of units of competency, which are themselves made up of elements of competency, together with performance criteria, a range of variables, and an evidence guide. Competency standards are an endorsed component of a training package, and the basis of most programs in the TAFE sector.

Contact Hours: See Student Contact Hours

Cooperative Research Centre: A Commonwealth Government Program funds research centres based on consortiums of industry, research organisations, educational institutions and relevant government agencies. RMIT is a partner in many of these.

Course: The basic unit of study. (e.g. Business Statistics A, Accounting B)

Course Catalogue: The master list of courses offered by RMIT.

Course Co-ordinator: The person with overall responsibility for managing a course.

Course Discontinuation: Course closure; i.e. the course will no longer be on offer and is removed from the university database. See also Program Discontinuation.

Course Experience Questionnaire: The annual national survey of recent university graduates that provides information about graduates’ perceptions of the quality of teaching, the clarity of goals and standards, the nature of assessment, the level of the workload, and the enhancement of their generic skills. It also asks graduates to indicate their overall level of satisfaction with the program just completed. (Here "Course" is used in the sense of an overall program of study rather than one particular component.)

Course Guides: Documents giving students basic information about a course. The outline (Part A) course guide provides an overview of the course. The detailed (Part B) course guide provides the course details and includes information about the learning activities, teaching schedule, assessment etc.. A Part B course guide may change every teaching period and can vary with location and mode of delivery.

Courseware: The set of Web-based, educational resources that may comprise a complete and full credit-bearing course. It includes learning paths, activities, notes and assessment. Multimedia courseware may contain text, images, animation, sound and motion video. It offers highly interactive learning functionality for the learner, and contains instructional support.

CRC: Cooperative Research Centre, also see Cooperative Research Centre

Credit Point: In Higher Education credit points are the medium of exchange used to give a value to an amount of learning. Courses are normally 12 credit points or multiples thereof.

Credit Transfer: The recognition granted to academic studies completed in another course or program. See also: Recognition of Prior Learning / Current Competency.

CRICOS: Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (Australian Government)

Current Competency: A competency currently possessed by a person. People can lose competence over time so that, having been competent in the past, they may need further training and practice to demonstrate current competency (taken from ANTA website).

Curriculum: The specifications for a course which describe the planned learning experiences a student is to undergo, generally including objectives, content, intended learning outcomes, teaching methodology, recommended or prescribed assessment tasks, assessment exemplars, etc.

Deferment: The postponement of studies for one year by an applicant who has received an offer for a program, but who has not yet enrolled. Deferment may be granted by RMIT following an application giving reasons for this being desired. See also leave of absence.

Design and Social Context college: One of the major organisational groupings of academic disciplines at RMIT. This college comprises 10 schools in the design, communications, education and social sciences fields.

DEST: Department of Education, Science and Technology.

DIMEA: Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.

Discipline-based Electives: These are courses that may be chosen by a student from a program-specific list, built around key disciplines or specialisations or chosen according to program-specific rules as to disciplines or specialisations. Refer to the policy: Electives In Undergraduate Programs (Student Electives). See also Student Electives

Distributed Learning System: The suite of learning technologies that provides access to online learning and communication environments.

DLS: Distributed learning system, see also Distributed Learning System.

Domestic full fee paying undergraduate student: Australian citizen or resident who pays full fees for his/her enrolment in an RMIT undergraduate award program.

Double degree: Two Higher Education programs, each of which has been separately approved, which are studied concurrently. These programs are usually from different discipline areas, for example Business/Engineering. Double degrees are normally completed in less time than would be required for the two degrees taken one after the other.

DSC: Design and Social Context Portfolio, see also Design and Social Context Portfolio

Dual Award: A dual award enables students to study concurrently for a higher education program, normally a Bachelor degree in one discipline, and a TAFE program such as the Advanced Certificate in another discipline, thus providing an opportunity to supplement one discipline with a practical, vocationally-oriented discipline.

DVC: Deputy Vice-Chancellor

Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000: This Australian government Act regulates the provision of education and training services to international students studying in Australia and stipulates student visa conditions.

EFTS: Equivalent full-time student, see also Equivalent full-time student

EFTSL: Equivalent full-time study load, see also Equivalent full-time study load

EFTSU: Equivalent Full-time Student Unit, see also Equivalent Full-time Student Unit

Elective: see Student Electives.

ELICOS: English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students

Emeritus Professor: Emeritus Professorial titles are awarded to retired or retiring professors at RMIT. The award is for exceptional people perceived as being significant leaders in their fields.

Enabling course: see bridging course

Enrolment: An enrolment exists when (1) a person has been admitted to an award course, or other program, and completed the enrolment requirements of RMIT, and (2) the person is still entitled to continue with their studies (ie. has not been excluded on grounds of unsatisfactory progress), and has not formally indicated that they have withdrawn from or deferred their studies

ENTER: Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER), see also Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER)

Equivalent full-time student: TAFE measurement of a standard load based on contact hours. Varies from program to program.

Equivalent Full-time Student Unit: A measure required in reporting student statistics to the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and technology

*Equivalent full-time study load: A measure of the study load, for example, a standard full-time annual program for a course generates one EFTSL.

Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank (ENTER): Calculated by VTAC. The ENTER is an overall ranking based on VCE performance that is used in selection for tertiary institutions.

ESL: English as a Second Language.

ESOS Act: Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, see alsoEducation Services for Overseas Students Act 2000

Examiner: A person appointed by the Research Committee to examine a research thesis / project.

Exchange Student: A student who participates in a program which allows for some study at one of RMIT’s partner institutions. Students are required to study courses that will be credited to their RMIT program.

Exclusion: An academic progress decision to terminate an enrolment, which is usually based on a student’s unsatisfactory progress in their program.

Exemption: The acknowledgement that a person has satisfied the requirements of a module/course or unit of competency

Extension studies: Tertiary unit/s undertaken by a Victorian Certificate of Education student in addition to the normal Board of Study requirements, forming part of the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank and which may count towards further formal studies.

External: Study undertaken whereby lesson materials, assignments, etc. are delivered to the student or undertaken remotely, and any associated attendance at the institution is of an incidental, irregular, special or voluntary nature.

FFPOS: Full Fee-Paying Overseas Students

Flexible delivery: A range of approaches to providing education and training, giving learners greater choice of when, where and how they learn. Flexible delivery may involve distance education, mixed-mode delivery, online education, self-paced learning, self-directed learning, etc

Flexible learning: An approach to education and training that is focused on the learning, and which allows for the adoption of a range of learning strategies in a variety of learning environments to cater for differences in learning styles, learning interests, needs and variations in learning opportunities and/or circumstances.

FTE: Full Time Equivalent

General Staff: All staff who are not academic, TAFE teaching, or security staff: administrative, secretarial, technical, library, clerical, grounds and maintenance staff

Generic Skills: Skills which are not specific to work in a particular occupation or industry, but are important for work, education and life generally, e.g. communication skills Generic skills are among the capabilities/competencies designed into a capability driven curriculum.

Generic Title: The broad field of study into which a number of particular programs are grouped by RMIT, e.g. Applied Science.

Go8: Group of 8, see also Group of 8

GPA: Grade Point Average, see also Grade Point Average

Grade Point Average: A numerical calculation, weighted by credit points or hours, of the mean of the grades received by a student over a defined study period (eg a semester) or over an entire program.

Graduand: A student who has completed a course and qualified for an award, but whose award has not yet been conferred.

Graduate capabilities: The integrated personal qualities, knowledge and skills that it is planned for graduates to have acquired in preparation for full and equitable social and professional participation for a future that is largely unknown. At the broadest level graduates will have the capability to: act as professionals; reflect as citizens; and learn from their experience

Group of 8: An alliance of eight Australian universities: University of Adelaide, Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, University of Sydney and University of Western Australia..

HE: Higher Education, see also Higher Education

Head of School: The head of a major academic unit within an academic portfolio.

HECS / Fee HELP: Higher Education Contribution Scheme, see also Higher Education Contribution Scheme

HERDSA: Higher Education Research and Development Society

HEW: Higher Education Worker, see also Higher Education Worker

Higher degree by research: A postgraduate program in which at least two-thirds of the student load is required to be research work and not more than one-third as coursework

Higher Education: Post-secondary education offered by a university or other recognised higher education institution, or through Open University Australia, leading to the award of a degree, an associate degree, or a post-graduate qualification.

Higher Education Contribution Scheme: Commonwealth Government scheme whereby students pay part of the cost of their university education and part is paid by the Government. They can pay their contribution up-front (attracting a discount) or defer payment until their income reaches a threshold amount.

Higher Education Worker: A classification standard for general staff.

HoS: Head of School, see also Head of School

Hub: The central service, advice and information point for students. In the City, the Hub is located in building 12 on level 4. The Hub at Bundoora is in building 202, level 2, room 36 and at Brunswick it is in building 514, level 2, room 8.

IBL: Industry Based Learning., see also Industry Based Learning.

IECD: International and Development Portfolio, see also International and Development Portfolio

IELTS: International English Language Testing System, see also International English Language Testing System

Industry Based Learning: A program offered at undergraduate level in which students are offered the opportunity to undertake a full time paid placement in industry in an area relevant to their studies. It is offered at many Universities throughout the world and is known by many names, including Co-operative Education and Sandwich Year.

Intellectual Property: Intellectual property means any confidential information or any rights resulting from intellectual activity in the industrial, scientific, educational, literary or artistic fields, including but not limited to the electronic media and any rights under relevant laws. It includes any new ideas, concepts, theories, designs, processes or other artifices created via research or development.

International and Development Portfolio: The portfolio at RMIT that oversees and facilitates international partnerships, recruitment of international students and local development projects.

International English Language Testing System: A comprehensive test of English language proficiency designed to assess the ability of non-native speakers of English who intend to study or train in the medium of English.

International Student: A student who is not an Australian citizen or permanent resident of Australia

ITAB: Industry Training Advisory Body

Joint Award: This means an award made jointly by two or more institutions where each of the institutions is identified on the Joint Award testamur.

Learner Directed Hours: Hours of independent study expected to be undertaken by a student.

Learning Agreement: The learning agreement is the contract for the pattern of study that is agreed to between the student/client and RMIT. It may include the employer as a third stakeholder making certain commitments, for example to grant time release, to enable employee access to company data or equipment or to agree to supervisor roles and practices. In most cases the learning agreement is reached through an enrolment process.

Learning Hub: The online portal to the distributed learning system, sometimes called Online@RMIT.

Learning Object: Digital learning resources such as text, images, video, audio-visuals, etc. which can be used by staff and students to enhance the student's awareness and appreciation of a topic being taught. Many learning objects can be used / reused to support the learning experiences of multiple courses.

Learning Resources: Learning resources assist students with their learning experience in a course, and can be any of the following: prescribed texts, reference books, journals, websites, industry models, case studies, online discussion boards, threaded discussions, databases, conference papers, professional association articles, statistics, and video conferencing.

Leave of Absence: An approved break from a program after it has commenced e.g. for work, financial or family reasons. Leave can be taken for a maximum of 12 months at a time. See also deferment.

LOA: Leave of absence, see also Leave of absence

Load: Credit points and/or hours for subjects studied. Load is calculated at the course level and is used for the generation of fees and determination of eligibility for government allowances etc.

LOTE: Language Other Than English

Middle Band: The group of applicants for admission to a program between the clearly-in applicants and the clearly-out applicants. This group will normally have ENTER rankings that fall within the range of 10% above or below the likely clearly-in rank.

Mixed Mode Student: At least one unit of study is undertaken on an internal mode of attendance and at least one unit of study is undertaken on an external mode of attendance.

Mode of Attendance: A classification of the manner in which a student is undertaking a program. Internal mode is when all units of study for which the student is enrolled are undertaken through attendance at the institution on a regular basis. External mode is when all units of study for which the student is enrolled involve special arrangements whereby lesson materials, assignments, etc. are delivered to the student, and any associated attendance at the institution is of a special or voluntary nature. Full-time and part-time are the other dimensions of attendance mode.

Moderation: A process of checking assessments which is intended to maximise consistency, fairness, flexibility and reliability of the assessments. Moderation should be provided for in the curriculum design process and be ongoing in the delivery of courses and programs.

Mutual Recognition: Recognition provided by RMIT (as a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) for Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by another RTO (mandatory under the Australian Quality Training Framework). Credit will be given for modules or units of competency for which an original official Certificate or Statement of Attainment is produced.

NAC: New Apprenticeship Centre, see also New Apprenticeship Centre.

National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition: A branch of DEST that provides information, advice and assistance in relation to the recognition of overseas qualifications and skills, and assists other countries in recognising Australian qualifications. See: http://www.dest.gov.au/noosr/

National Tertiary Education Union: This is the national union for academic and general staff.

National Training Information Service: An online database developed by the Australian National Training Authority (ANTA), providing information on vocational education and training in Australia, including details of training packages, competency standards, assessment guidelines, programs, qualifications, and registered training organizations.

NESB: Non-English Speaking Background.

New Apprenticeship: An umbrella term for the new national apprenticeship and traineeship arrangements which came into effect on 1 January 1998. The main characteristics of New Apprenticeships include a contract of training between employer and apprentice or trainee, public funding and support for employers, choice of training provider, a wider range of occupations and industries than previously, competency- based training using national training packages, apprenticeships in schools, and a continued role for group training companies.

New Apprenticeship Centre: An organisation providing advice and assistance to apprentices, trainees and employers with training arrangements, training agreements and financial incentives under the New Apprenticeships system.

Non-standard enrolment: An enrolment in which a student replaces a core course with another course from within or outside RMIT

NOOSR: National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition, see also National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition

NTEU: National Tertiary Education Union, see also National Tertiary Education Union

NTIS: National Training Information Service, see also National Training Information Service.

NUS: National Union of Students

Off-campus student (external mode): All the units of study for which the student is enrolled involve special arrangements whereby lesson materials, assignments, etc. are delivered to the student, and any associated attendance at the institution is of a special or voluntary nature. (This does not include off-the-job training conducted by the institute as part of Training Agreements for Apprenticeship Traineeship Training Program (ATTP).)

Offshore program: An RMIT program provided in another country in conjunction with an RMIT institutional partner. An Offshore Award Program may also include some learning experiences provided in Australia. Some offshore programs are delivered via an educational delivery agency or professional association in which case the process does not lead to an RMIT Award. Offshore award programs will conform to RMIT program quality assurance. Study of an RMIT online award program by an individual student in another country does not constitute an offshore award program, unless an institutional partner is involved.

OHS: Occupational Health and Safety

Ongoing Postgraduate Research Experience Survey: The survey conducted by RMIT every two years to assess student satisfaction against the following scales: resources; the research environment; university procedures; supervision; and research skills.

Online @ RMIT: Online @ RMIT is a facility offered by RMIT University that provides access to course and program material and online learning tools, such as course reading material, quizzes, conferences, chat sessions and other interactive activities

Onshore International Student: A student studying on-campus in Australia as a temporary resident who is the holder of an international student visa granted under the Australian Government’s Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.

Onshore program: A program delivered by RMIT in Australia.

Open Universities Australia: An educational organisation which enables people to undertake tertiary or vocational study designed for people who don't have the time or desire to study on-campus. Students use materials supplied to their home, often supported by online study resources and television and radio programs. RMIT is a member and supplies courses.

OPIS: Online Planning Information System

OQU: Overseas Qualifications Unit, see also Overseas Qualifications Unit

OUA: Open Universities Australia, see also Open Universities Australia

Overseas Qualifications Unit: Similar to NOOSR: an office that assists the overseas trained to work and study in Australia by providing information, advice and assistance. This office is located in Melbourne.

Partner institution: An approved international educational institution that joins with RMIT to deliver a program offshore.

Pass by Compensation: A procedure which allows a student to be credited with completion of a course where the student's overall performance in their program is sufficiently strong to compensate for inadequate performance in one of the component courses. This is not appropriate to TAFE competency-based programs.

Pathways: Vocationally targeted pre-vocational VET bridging and pre-entry programs that facilitate students' progress through these various tertiary education levels (for instance, between a TAFE program and a degree program) through the recognition of previous studies. For example, where a completed TAFE program is recognised as forming the entrance requirements to a degree program. Some degree programs also offer exemptions from selected courses, reducing the amount of time necessary for completion.

Period of candidature: The period from the date of commencement of candidature as determined by the Research Committee to the date the thesis/project is submitted.

Plagiarism: The presentation of work, an idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence that may lead to expulsion from the University. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material used is not appropriately cited.

Portfolio: Part of the RMIT organisational structure that denotes a focus area, for example the Research and Innovation Portfolio or the Science, Engineering and Technology Portfolio.

Portfolio Board: The Board established within the RMIT Regulations and responsible for the academic affairs of the Portfolio.

Postgraduate Research Experience Questionnaire: A Commonwealth-sponsored annual survey on research higher degree students to provide feedback on the quality of research supervision and School support from their research candidature. See also: Ongoing Postgraduate Research Experience Survey.

Postgraduate student: Any student enrolled as a candidate for a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, degree of Master or Doctor or any other program for admission to which completion of a degree is normally required.

PQA: Program Quality Assurance, see also Program Quality Assurance

Practice-based research: A model of applied research which operates on a project base that is generated within the operations of an industrial partner or of a professional practice.

Preferential Entry Scheme: A co-operative scheme between the Higher Education Sector and the VET Sector of RMIT, which provides the basis for selection into appropriate Higher Education Sector courses for a restricted number of qualified RMIT VET Sector graduates, who are currently completing their studies.

Prerequisite: A requirement that must be completed to be eligible for admission to a program or course. A prerequisite is usually a program or a course. For example, a prerequisite course for an undergraduate degree is a course which must be successfully completed at an approved Year 12 level, in order for the successful applicant to have a reasonable chance of successfully completing the program.

Professorial Fellow: Professorial Fellow titles are available to people from all sectors of industry and the community who have achieved eminence in their chosen area, generally meet our Associate Professorial criteria, and who by association with the University may increase RMIT's profile whilst making some contribution to its activities.

Profile: The planned suite of RMIT's teaching and research activities which are reviewed annually against observed trends and the strategic goals of the university, and reported in line with statutory requirements.

Program: The set of courses that are undertaken to qualify for an academic award.

Program Advisory Committee: Established for a particular academic program to advise and provide strategic assistance with program planning and development.

Program amendment: Any change to an accredited program that alters the: mix of courses included, delivery mode, program title, program length or learning outcomes.

Program annual review and report: The annual review of the performance of a program against the Program Quality Assurance criteria, which includes an overview that summarises achievements, issues, and action plans for the program.

Program Brochure: Pamphlet produced on behalf of the Higher Education sector which describe a program available at RMIT, likely career outcomes and application procedures

Program catalogue: The master file of all programs offered by RMIT

Program Discontinuance: The permanent removal of an award program from offerings at RMIT University

Program Experience Survey: A student feedback instrument that is administered to current students, and which is based on the Course Experience Questionnaire.

Program Guide: A document written for students that outlines information relevant to the program and forms the basis for the Board’s recommendation of programs for approval by Council.

Program Leader: The person with overall responsibility for managing a program. People in this role may have various titles including: program leader, program manager, program co-ordinator, cluster manager or senior educator.

Program log: A record of all relevant program information.

Program map: A representation of the anticipated structure of courses a student agrees to undertake as part of their program, including elective courses and rules. The program map may contain variations to the standard program structure and may change during a student’s progress through their program.

Program Proposal: The document outlining the strategic alignment of a proposed program development / redevelopment with the university's priorities. The document also provides market analysis related to program relevance, and an analysis of the proposal's financial viability.

Program Quality Assurance: RMIT's systematic and cyclic approach to managing, improving and assuring quality in coursework award programs. It is based on criteria which address issues of quality, viability and relevance in program design and improvement.

Prospective student: An individual who has enquired, applied or is awaiting selection for an award program at RMIT University;

PVC: Pro Vice-Chancellor

QMS: Quality management system, see also Quality management system

Quality management system: The policies and processes identified and adhered to across RMIT to ensure the consistency of practices and outcomes.

R&I: Research and Innovation portfolio, see also Research and Innovation portfolio

Recognition of prior learning: Acknowledgement of a person’s skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or credit in a course or module. RMIT processes use the term RPL to refer to recognition for informal or non-credentialed learning (e.g. work-based training programs for which there is no nationally recognized qualification), and the term Credit Transfer to refer to recognition of formal credentialed learning.

Registered Training Organisation: An organisation registered by a state or territory recognition authority to deliver training and/or conduct assessments and issue nationally recognised qualifications in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF).

Research and Innovation Portfolio: The portfolio at RMIT that oversees and facilitates the research and development activities of the university and related matters.

RMIT Research Centre: A formally recognised area excellence in research and innovation in the University that has demonstrated performance of national and /or international importance.

RPL: Recognition of prior learning / current competency, see also Recognition of prior learning / current competency

RTO: Registered Training Organisation, see also Registered Training Organisation

SAP: RMIT's human resource and financial information system.

Scholarship: A form of financial aid given to students, usually to help pay for their tuition expenses. Scholarships are a form of gift aid and do not have to be repaid. Many scholarships are restricted to students in specific courses of study or with academic, or artistic talent. A renewable scholarship is awarded for more than one year.

School: The basic academic organisational unit at RMIT.

Science, Engineering and Health college: One of the major organisational groupings of academic disciplines at RMIT. This college comprises 10 schools in a range of applied sciences, engineering and health fields. Formerly known as Science, Engineering and Technology.

Scope of Registration: A listing of the AQTF qualifications for which a Registered Training Organisation is allowed to deliver training and/or assessment services and issue credentials.

Semester: The teaching year is divided into semesters each comprising teaching weeks (13 weeks in Higher education, 15 weeks in TAFE), non-teaching week, and an examination period.

Service level agreement: The agreement made between RMIT and a partner institution that specifies their responsibilities in the provision of educational infrastructure and teaching and learning services associated with the delivery of an RMIT award program. A service level agreement is documented in a contractual annexure.

SET: Science, Engineering and Technology Portfolio, see also Science, Engineering and Technology Portfolio

Single Course Enrolment: Enrolment into an accredited course of RMIT, but not as part of enrolment into an accredited Award program. Single course enrolment does include enrolment by an award student into courses which are additional to that academic award.

Skills Victoria: Victorian Government office responsible for the regulation of the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, including RMIT TAFE.

SLA: Service level agreement, see alsoService level agreement

SOG: State Operating Grant

SOS: Student Outcomes Survey, see also Student Outcomes Survey

Special Consideration: Students whose graded assessments are affected by illness, disability or impairment factors relating to their personal environment or by other serious cause may apply for Special Consideration. See the policy: Special Consideration in assessment.

SPIRT: Strategic Partnerships with Industry Research and Training Scheme, see also Strategic Partnerships with Industry Research and Training Scheme

SSAU: Superannuation Scheme for Australian Universities

Staff / Student Consultative Committee: A forum for resolving problems that students may have with program related matters such as the structure of the program, course areas offered, assessment procedures, general teaching methods, timetabling issues, extracurricular activities, resources and facilities and workload.

Stand-alone course: A course designed to be offered as an elective that is not a specified part of an established program structure

Strategic Partnerships with Industry Research and Training Scheme: A funding scheme controlled by the Australian Research Council

Student: Any person enrolled at the University for any award of the University. This does not include persons who (a) have qualified for the award for which they have been enrolled and the period from the end of the examination period to the commencement of the next semester (excluding summer semester where relevant) has expired; (b) have been excluded from the University or had their candidature terminated pursuant to any Statute or Regulation thereunder; (c) have not for any academic year or period of study re-enrolled by the date prescribed; (d) have given the Academic Registrar notice in writing of discontinuance by the date prescribed.

Student centred learning: Learning processes and course design that encourage and enable students to be actively involved in their own learning.

Student Contact Hours: The basis of TAFE funding – in which Skills Victoria agrees each year to fund delivery of a total number of contact hours by RMIT's TAFE division.

Student Electives: Courses where the student may exercise choice in their enrolment and that, within a program structure, are not normally part of the core professional sequence. Electives in a program may be pre-defined and limited to a specific group of courses, or be entirely open and taken from those available across the university. Each program will define the rules governing elective study requirements. For example, discipline-based electives are courses chosen by a student from a program-specific list, built around key disciplines or specialisations, or chosen according to program-specific rules as to disciplines or specialisations.

Student Load: The total student equivalent full-time student units (EFTSUs) or contact hours (in TAFE) for a given program, or for the division or institution as a whole.

Student Outcomes Survey: Annual survey administered nationally to gather data about the perceptions of recent VET graduates about the quality and usefulness of their programs.

Student Union Council: The governing body of the Student Union

Study abroad student: A student from anywhere in the world who undertakes study for one or two semesters at RMIT in Australia under the auspices of an exchange agreement with their home university.

SUC: Student Union Council, see also Student Union Council

Supervisor: A supervisor of a research candidate's program of research and study. A senior supervisor is a member of the staff of RMIT who is responsible to the Head of School in which the candidate is enrolled for the candidate's program of study and research.

Suspend: To prohibit a student from attending any teaching or assessment session or from entering upon the University precincts, either in whole or in such part as may be prescribed, for a specified period;

TAFE: Technical and Further Education, and refers to Institutes of TAFE. TAFE institutes were founded by state governments in the 1970s (often replacing technical colleges or institutes of technology). Over time, as the national training system has matured, TAFE institutes have become fully integrated into the VET sector and are now one of the major providers of VET programs and services. See also VET.

Testamur: A certificate recognizing the successful completion of a formal and accredited program of study.

TOEFL: Test of English as a Foreign Language

Traineeship: A system of vocational training combining off-the-job training at an approved training provider with on-the-job training and practical work experience.

Training Package: An integrated set of nationally endorsed standards and qualifications for training people to meet industry-specified needs.

Training Plan: The negotiated agreement between RMIT, an employer or group training company and a trainee/apprentice if appropriate. It specifies the roles of all parties and details such items as; core modules/competencies, electives, training, assessment, delivery mode, visits etc.

Transfer: Credit granted in an RMIT program for a program satisfactorily concluded at another institution where the title, content and objectives of that program are the same as those for the RMIT program.

TRIM: RMIT's corporate document management system.

Unit of competency: A component of a VET competency standard. Specifies knowledge and skill and the application of that knowledge and skill to the standard of performance expected in the workplace.

VCAL: Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning, see also Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning

VCE: Victorian Certificate of Education, see also Victorian Certificate of Education

VET: Vocational Education and Training, see also Vocational Education and Training In Australia, VET is used to refer to the sector within the education industry which provides training and qualifications in the trades, paraprofessional and technical areas. Other sectors in the Australian education industry are Schools (primary and secondary education for children) and Higher Education (university-level qualifications). See also TAFE.

Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning: A certificate awarded to some students at the end of secondary schooling (high school) if their course and achievements meet certain criteria.

Victorian Certificate of Education: A certificate awarded to some students at the end of secondary schooling (high school) in the state of Victoria if their course and achievements meet certain criteria.

Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre: The Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre processes applications for admission to Victorian Universities. Owned by the universities. See: http://www.vtac.edu.au/

Virtual Research & Innovation Institute: Area of concentration for collective research outputs. Four Virtual Research and Innovation Institutes have been established to date, in: Biotechnology, Global Sustainability; Globalisation, and Information & Communication Technology (ICT)

Vocational Education and Training: Post-compulsory education and training which provides people with occupational or work-related knowledge and skills at certificate, diploma and associate diploma levels.

VRII: Virtual Research & Innovation Institute, see also Virtual Research & Innovation Institute

VTAC: Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre, see also Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre

Weighted average mark: The allocation of a numerical value to a grade range to calculate an average figure for inter/intra-institutional comparison.

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