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Glossary

Term Description

AQF

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. Qualifications from each education and training sector in Australia are incorporated into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework. Microcredential courses do not fall under the AQF but may contribute credit to a course that does fall under this framework. For further information see www.aqf.edu.au.

Australian Core Skills Framework

The Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) is a tool which assists both specialist and non-specialist English language, literacy and numeracy practitioners describe an individual's performance in the five core skills of learning, reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy.

Award / Credential

A recognised certification of achievement or competence, which may be granted to a student after completion of all the requirements of a higher education course or vocational education and training (e.g. TAFE) course.

Campus

The physical location from where a program of study is being primarily delivered. This location may or may not be owned by the higher education provider that enrols the student. For online or other distance education courses, this would be the location where the electronic course material is maintained.

Commitment

The volume of learning (or ‘workload’) gives students an indication of the effort or time-commitment required to complete a microcredential course.

Credit


The type of recognition (credit towards award courses, credit towards vendor/ industry certifications, pathways or other recognition) that can be given upon completion of a microcredential.

Delivery Mode

The method of delivery of a microcredential, e.g. onsite, online or a combination of both, and whether the microcredential requires synchronous engagement or is asynchronous. Where delivery is onsite, the location(s) will be stated.

Duration

The length of time it takes to complete a course of study.

Educator

An institution or organisation that provides an education service e.g. a university, private tertiary education provider or registered training organisation.

Industry / Occupation

The industry/s that a microcredential sits within, and the occupations / career pathways a microcredential may lead to.

Level

A mastery level indicates how well a student understands a specific topic. There are five levels used on this website and they are based on the Dreyfus Model of skill acquisition: Novice, Advanced Beginner, Competent, Proficient and Expert.

Microcredential

A certification of assessed learning or competency, with a minimum volume of learning of one hour and less than an AQF award qualification, that is additional, alternate, complementary to or a component part of an AQF award qualification. 

Multi-Modal

A multi-modal course is taught partially in person and partially online. Students should expect there to be mixed teaching methods used throughout their course.

Online (Learning) 

Online learning refers to a course that takes place over the internet.  

Prerequisite

The microcredential or level of experience that must be successfully completed prior to attempting to earn or complete the referenced microcredential.

Recommended Prior Learning

The microcredential, course and/or professional experience a learner is recommended to complete before attempting to undertake the referenced microcredential.

Stackability

Any other microcredentials that a microcredential combines with (stacking) that lead to an overall certification being awarded upon completion, or entry into a further course.

TAFE (Technical & Further Education)

TAFE institutions are Australian education providers that offer a range of vocational level courses. TAFE courses are designed to give students a skillset that will make them job-ready in their chosen field.

UAC

The Universities Admissions Centre is an organisation that processes applications for admission to tertiary education courses, mainly at institutions in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory

University

A higher education provider that is established as a university or recognised as a university, by or under a law of the Commonwealth, a state, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory, and meets nationally agreed criteria for a university.

VET (Vocational Education and Training)

VET prepares students for trades, crafts and careers at various course levels by delivering training that focuses on developing the specific skills and knowledge required for particular industries. VET qualifications include certificates I-IV, diplomas, advanced diplomas, graduate certificates and graduate diplomas.

Volume of Learning / Workload

The volume of learning (or ‘workload’) gives students an indication of the effort or time-commitment required to complete a microcredential course.