Managing Quality and Risk in Co-Delivery

PLACEMENTS, WIL EXPERIENCES AND MANAGING RISK

Co-delivey of our curriculum with partners includes a range of placement and work-integrated learning activities including industry projects, internships, service learning. Western's Placement Policy  and Placement Procedures provide the principles and administrative controls for placements undertaken as a requirement of any program of study or subject at Western.

Acts, regulations and requirements relating to placements and WIL

There are several key legislative and regulatory instruments that will assist you with respect to placements and work integrated learning (WIL) experiences.  These include:

  • Fair Work Australia – links to legislation, links to placements, unpaid work experience or internships and unpaid work, You will also need to review equivalent State and Territory industrial laws
  • Higher Education Support Act 2003
  • Higher Education Standard Framework 2015 (5.4, 6.2.1, 5.1, 1.4, 3.1)
  • TEQSA - WIL guidance notes, including to identify that all placements and WIL experiences are quality assured, that there is adequate guidance and support and supervision provided for students, and they are formalised in a an agreement.
  • ESOS National Code and related student visa rules
  • National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund (NPILF) - part of the Job Ready Graduates Package, the National Priorities and Industry Linkage Fund will have a strong focus on meeting the future Australian workforce requirements for STEM-skills and increasing the number and quality of  work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities for students.
  • Any accreditation and registration requirements for admission to a profession or industry

What does the Placement Policy require us to do?

In addition to complying with relevant legislative and regulatory requirements, Western’s Placement Policy states that:

  1. Schools, The College and University Institutes to develop Placement Agreements with external placement organisations in relation to placements required within a program of study or subject that they, or their students arrange, unless otherwise advised by the Office of General Counsel.
  2. All current and valid Placement Agreements should be recorded in accordance with the University's records and archive management system (TRIM), and within the University's student placement system (InPlace).
  3. Schools, The College, University Institutes and third-party providers to ensure students adhere to any mandatory policies and procedures that stipulate compliance to inherent and special requirements.
  4. Schools, The College, University Institutes and third-party providers record all program of study or subject required placement experiences within the University's student placement management system (InPlace).

MANAGING COVID-19 PLACEMENT RISKS

The following guiding resources can assist you to manage specific risks with respect to placements and work integrated learning opportunities:

You can document how you assess risks in a variety of ways. The Placement Policy outlines what you must do; the method you choose to assess risk can vary depending on the type of experience, discipline, environment or location.  If you'd like to use a structured risk assessment, you can  utilise the Office of Audit and Risk's useful workbook.

COVID-19 PLACEMENT INFORMATION

Click here for up to date information about any changes announced by placement partners.

HOW TO IDENTIFY AND MANAGE RISKS?

Clauses 14-17 of Western's Placement Policy and clauses 20-26 of Western's Placement Procedures identifies the key foundational controls for managing placement risks.

Delivering curriculum in collaboration with partners includes but is not limited to workplace placements, guest lectures, mentoring students, participating in simulations, acting as clients for student consulting teams, participating in student conferences, or collaborating in cooperative research projects.

Managing institutional risk around the co-delivery of placements and work-integrated learning is a strategic, operation and legal responsibility of Western. We demonstrate, via the Higher Education Framework, that “risks to higher education operations have been identified and material risks are being managed and mitigated effectively” (HES Framework, section 6.2.1.e),  with placements and WIL being “quality assured, including assurance of the quality of supervision of student experiences” (HES Framework, section 5.4.1). Different risks may apply to the co-creation of curriculum.

Quality assurance and risk management of placements and WIL are interdependent.  Western can demonstrate quality assurance through the management of all risks that can impact the delivery and quality of placements and WIL experiences.

What are some of the due diligence can be undertaken to minimise risk and improve quality in placements and WIL experiences?

  • All placements are recorded in InPlace
  • Document the expectations and obligations of the parties in a written WIL agreement
  • Placements are reviewed cyclically, where the results inform and improve quality assurance of placements
  • Partner and/or academic supervision is identified, and the student-centric purpose of WIL are clear
  • Learning objectives of the WIL placement and the obligations of the student and partner are clearly articulated
  • Any unsuccessful experiences are discussed with the partner to minimise impact upon relationships
  • Engage the host by explaining the student’s skills and the benefits of the experience for the agency
  • Any special requirements are defined and met by students before allocation and commencement.