Version Information
Wed, 29 Mar 2023
Approved by: Academic Board
Current Version: V1.1
Replaces Version: V1.0
Next Review: Wed, 31 May 2023
Domain:
Institute
Related Policies
- Course Development and Approval Policy
- Course Evaluation and Review Policy
- Critical Incident Policy
- Quality Assurance Policy
- Student Code of Conduct and Shared Responsibility
- Student Grievance Complaints and Appeal Policy (Academic)
- Student Grievance Complaints and Appeals Policy (Non-academic)
- Student Misconduct Policy
- Student Progression Policy
Work Integrated Learning Policy
Purpose
This policy provides an overarching framework for the work integrated learning components of Metavision Institute’s higher education courses to ensure the quality of students’ professional practice learning, and their wellbeing and safety in external host organisations. The provision of Work Integrated Learning experiences in Metavision Institute’s higher education courses enhances the quality of student learning, facilitates the integration of theory with practice, and equips graduates for employment and professional practice.
Scope
This policy applies to work integrated learning components of units in Metavision Institute’s accredited higher education courses, and to placements with host organisations that have been formally approved and are subject to signed agreements.
Definitions
Host Organisation: a formal entity offering a work integrated learning placement for Metavision Institute’s students.
Placement: an approved, organised, structured, supervised and assessed workplace experience approved by Metavision Institute for its higher education students that enables students to learn about workplace expectations and culture and to acquire the skills outlined in Metavision’s graduate attributes.
Student Placement Agreement: the signed agreement between Metavision Institute and the Host Organisation, which sets out the rights, responsibilities and expectations of all parties involved in the placement, and specifies the Host Organisation’s policies that protect students and clients from risk of harm.
Work integrated learning arrangements: the planning, implementation and oversight of work integrated learning experiences. It involves the implementation of appropriate agreements with Host Organisations and provisions for students’ access to ongoing and crisis supervision of their practice with clients.
Relevant TEQSA Threshold Standards
This policy aligns with Sections 2.3 Wellbeing and Safety, 5.4 Delivery with Other Parties, and 6.3 Academic Governance of the Higher Education Standards Framework 2021.
Policy
- Metavision Institute’s higher education courses have a coherent teaching philosophy for work integrated learning units that has been intentionally designed to provide quality practice-based learning for students and align with professional accreditation requirements.
- Assessment tasks in work integrated learning units are graded as Non-graded Pass and Non-graded Fail in recognition of the challenges inherent in placement and supervision requirements, to decrease competition in supervision, and in recognition of the range of learning opportunities presented across Host Organisations.
- The requirements for work integrated learning units are clearly articulated in course information for prospective students, in unit outlines, and in a Preparing for Placement lecture to be provided in Week one of the first work integrated learning unit in each course.
- It is Metavision Institute’s responsibility to provide all students enrolled in work integrated learning units with suitable placements.
- Host Organisations provide evidence of their policy framework to ensure the wellbeing and safety of students on placement and their clients, including Anti-Discrimination, Equal Opportunity, Workplace Health and Safety, Privacy and Critical Incident policies, prior to the approval of the student placement by the Academic Director.
- Placements cannot commence until the Metavision Institute and the Host Organisation have signed an MOU.
- Students are not permitted to enrol in work integrated learning units while they are on probation.
Implementation
- Students are provided with formal preparation by Metavision Institute in a Preparing for Placement lecture before commencing placement with their Host Organisation. Host Organisations provide students with induction into the policies and workplace culture at the beginning of the placement.
- Students are to abide by the PACFA Code of Ethics (as may be updated from time to time) at all times in their placement.
- Metavision Institute provides clinical supervision of students’ practice while they are undertaking client practice hours in their placement. Host Organisations provide placement supervision for students.
- The Host Organisation Supervisor completes the Host Organisation Evaluation form to evaluate the student’s learning and performance, using a pro forma template at the end of the semester, and emails the completed form to the Unit Coordinator.
- If a student is not meeting placement requirements, the Host Organisation contacts the Unit Coordinator and a joint meeting with the student is arranged. If the Unit Coordinator identifies that the student is at risk of failing the unit, the student is referred to the Academic Director, and the provisions in the Student Progression Policy are followed.
Responsibilities
The Governance Board is responsible for oversight of risk management for students in work integrated learning activities.
The Academic Board is responsible for ongoing quality assurance of work integrated learning activities for students in Metavision Institute’s higher education courses.
The Academic Director is responsible for:
- Ensuring that Host Organisation MOUs are designed to meet the standards of this policy,
- Implementing, monitoring and evaluating the student experience of Work Integrated Learning
activities, and - Ensuring that all students participating in Work Integrated Learning activities are appropriately
prepared by attending the Preparing for Placement lecture and are aware of the Host Organisation’s requirements regarding hours of attendance, punctuality, dress code, appropriate use of IT resources, workplace health and safety, conflict resolution mechanisms, and any other requirements.
The Unit Coordinator is responsible for overseeing the supervision and assessment of students in work integrated learning units.
Host Organisations are responsible for ensuring appropriate placement supervision arrangements for students are in place, and that students are regularly provided with feedback about their performance.
Students in work integrated learning units are responsible for following the PACFA Code of Ethics, meeting their Host Organisation’s requirements and policies, and fulfilling assessment requirements as outlined in the unit outlines.
Related Documents
- MOU with Host Organisations
- PACFA Code of Ethics
- Risk Management Framework