Vocational Graduate Certificate and
Vocational Graduate Diploma

AQF Guidelines for the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma (2005)

Vocational Graduate Certificate

1. Purpose

To assist employers, employees, professional associations, unions, Training Package and course developers, accrediting bodies, registered training organisations and the wider public, including students, parents, and education and training bodies, to understand factors determining the level of the qualification. Also, to assist developers of Training Packages and courses of training to assign appropriate AQF qualifications within a Training Package, or to a course to be submitted for accreditation.

2. Context

The Vocational Graduate Certificate qualification is authorised in the Vocational Education and Training sector. The Vocational Graduate Certificate qualification takes into account developments under the National Training Framework - the introduction of Training Packages and the implementation of the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). Training Packages use competency standards to describe the skills and knowledge needed to perform effectively in the workplace. These competency standards are packaged into units of competency. Units of competency are components of AQF qualifications. It is a requirement of the AQTF that competency standards from relevant Training Packages be used where they exist.

Qualifications developed outside Training Packages must not duplicate qualifications contained in Training Packages. Registered Training Organisations and/or State/Territory Course Accrediting Bodies will need to be satisfied that any qualification proposed outside a Training Package cannot be achieved by the customisation and flexibility offered within a Training Package or by the issuance of a Training Package qualification together with one or more Statements of Attainment.

The National Training Quality Council, the body responsible for the endorsement of Training Packages, also has responsibility for the endorsement of national competency standards that are not part of Training Packages. These Guidelines apply equally to qualifications based on these competency standards.

In the Vocational Education and Training sector there are a number of useful reference documents which are listed in Appendix 1 (AQF Implementation Handbook Third Edition).

3. Learning Outcomes

3.1 Authority
In the Vocational Education and Training sector, qualifications are based on nationally endorsed competency standards where they exist or on competency standards and vocational knowledge developed by relevant industry, enterprise, training, community or professional groups. The qualifications certify achievement of learning outcomes generally identified as sets of competencies for levels of workplace performance reflected in the characteristics and distinguishing features of each qualification. The focus in the Vocational Education and Training sector is on the capacity to assess directly the performance criteria in the competencies specified within the Training Package or accredited course.

Authorisation of alignment of competency standards to AQF qualifications occurs as follows:

• National Industry Skills Councils, through the process of developing Training Packages, determine the relevant qualification for each set of national competency standards in their respective Training Packages. Through this process a Vocational Graduate Certificate may be added to an existing Training Package or included in a new Training Package. This determination is subject to endorsement by the National Training Quality Council of the Australian National Training Authority.

• State/Territory Course Accrediting Bodies, or Registered Training Organisations with delegated authority to self-manage accreditation, through the course accreditation process determine the relevant qualifications for any combined sets of national competency standards for which there is a training need, derived either from more than one Training Package and/or other endorsed sets of competency standards. The title of the new qualification must be clearly distinct from those in the related Training Packages.

• Where there is no relevant Training Package, State/Territory Course Accrediting Bodies, through the course accreditation process, determine the relevant qualification for other sets of competency standards and vocational knowledge developed by relevant industry, enterprise, training, community or professional bodies to meet an identified training need.

3.2 Characteristics
Characteristics of competencies or learning outcomes at this level include:

• the self-directed development and achievement of broad and / or specialised areas of knowledge and skills building on prior knowledge and skills.
• substantial breadth, depth and complexity involving the initiation, analysis, design, planning, execution and evaluation of technical and/or management functions in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts.
• applications involve making significant, high level, independent judgements in major, broad or specialised planning, design, operational, technical and/or management functions in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts. It may include responsibility and broad ranging accountability for the structure, management and output of the work of others and/or functions.

The degree of emphasis on breadth as against depth of knowledge and skills may vary between qualifications granted at this level.

3.3 Distinguishing Features
Where additional information is required to assist in determining the qualification level, the following chart could be used to help determine the most compatible match.

It is emphasised that the chart is not intended to be used as a checklist which all Vocational Graduate Certificate qualifications must include, or to replace the authority statement above.

Distinguishing Features: Advanced Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma

Advanced Diploma		Vocational Graduate Certificate		Vocational Graduate Diploma
Do the Competencies or Learning Outcomes enable an individual with this qualification to:		Do the Competencies or Learning Outcomes enable an individual with this qualification to:		Do the Competencies or Learning Outcomes enable an individual with this qualification to:
demonstrate understanding of specialised knowledge with depth in some areas		demonstrate the self-directed development and achievement of broad and/or specialised areas of knowledge and skills building on prior knowledge and skills		demonstrate the self-directed development and achievement of broad and/or highly specialised areas of knowledge and skills building on prior knowledge and skills
analyse, diagnose, design and execute judgements across a broad range of technical or management functions		initiate, analyse, design, plan, execute and evaluate major, broad or specialised technical and/or management functions in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts		initiate, analyse, design, plan, execute and evaluate major functions either broad and/or highly specialised within highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts
generate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level		generate and evaluate ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level		generate and evaluate complex ideas through the analysis of information and concepts at an abstract level
demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills		demonstrate a command of wide-ranging, highly specialised technical, creative or conceptual skills in complex contexts		demonstrate an expert command of wide-ranging, highly specialised, technical, creative or conceptual skills in complex and/or highly specialised or varied contexts
demonstrate accountability for personal outputs within broad parameters		demonstrate responsibility and broad ranging accountability for personal outputs		demonstrate full responsibility and accountability for personal outputs
demonstrate accountability for personal and group outcomes within broad parameters		demonstrate responsibility and broad ranging accountability for the structure, management and output of the work of others and/or functions		demonstrate full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of work of others and functions including planning, budgeting and strategy

In order to assist determining the relevant qualifications, the most compatible set of features should be selected. Not all features will necessarily apply.

4. Responsibility for Assessment

Assessment is the responsibility of Registered Training Organisations. These bodies must comply with the Standards set in the AQTF Standards for Registered Training Organisations.

5. Pathways to the Qualification

5.1 Candidates may enter the qualification through a number of entry points demonstrating potential to undertake study at graduate level, including from:

• a relevant Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or a relevant Certificate IV or Certificate III together with significant relevant vocational practice;
• relevant extensive vocational practice, without formal qualifications;
• a Bachelor Degree
• other higher education qualification, often with relevant vocational practice.

Where a Vocational Graduate Certificate is in a directly related field, or is nested with a Vocational Graduate Diploma the Vocational Graduate Certificate would normally provide up to 50% credit towards the Vocational Graduate Diploma.

5.2 Access to the qualification in the Vocational Education and Training sector could be through:

• a training program meeting the requirements of an endorsed Training Package or a training program meeting the requirements of an accredited course(s) delivered by a Registered Training Organisation; or
• where it is necessary to meet specific vocational requirements, a training program meeting the requirements of an accredited course(s) delivered by a Registered Training Organisation drawing on units of competence from more than one endorsed Training Package and/or other competency based programs accredited by States and Territories; or
• a combination of a training program meeting the requirements of an endorsed Training Package or a training program meeting the requirements of an accredited course delivered by a Registered Training Organisation, plus recognition of prior learning and/or credit transfer and/or experience; or
• the recognition of prior learning that provides evidence of the achievement of the competencies or learning outcomes for the qualification.

5.3 Time taken to gain the qualification will vary according to the pathway taken (see 5.4 below) and factors related to the particular industry or work area.

Nominal duration statements may appear in training programs that may be part of the non-endorsed Learning Strategies component of a Training Package. Nominal duration statements are also to be included in accreditation submissions for planning purposes but will not be used to determine the level of a qualification.

Although the duration of programs may vary, the volume of learning in the Vocational Graduate Certificate should be comparable to that of the higher education Graduate Certificate; that is typically requiring six months full-time or the equivalent part-time.

5.4 Examples of possible pathways include:

• Work-based training and assessment
• Institution-based education and training and assessment
• Part institution-based education and training and assessment / part work-based training and assessment
• Recognition of prior learning
• Recognition of prior learning combined with further training as required
• Accumulation of a variety of short courses / training programs.

These examples suggest only some of a wide range of possible pathways. They are not intended to be prescriptive, nor are they limited to this particular qualification level.

6. Authority to Issue the Qualification

Each State/Territory has legislative responsibility for authorising the issuance of the qualification. This responsibility is carried out by Registered Training Organisations or in some instances by a body authorised under statute. The AQTF provides nationally agreed Standards for Registered Training Organisations to issue qualifications.

7. Certification Issued

A qualification is:

formal certification, issued by a relevant approved body, in recognition that a person has achieved learning outcomes or competencies relevant to identified individual, professional, industry or community needs.

Individuals issued with the qualification, Vocational Graduate Certificate, will also receive documentation that identifies the units of competency that have been achieved.

Individuals who complete only some of the requirements for the qualification will receive a Statement of Attainment. The Statement of Attainment will include, either on the Statement itself or as an attachment, the whole units of competency that have been achieved.

The issuing body will be responsible for providing and maintaining records in relation to the above. See the AQTF including Standards for Registered Training Organisations, Standard 4: Effective administrative and records management procedures.

Vocational Graduate Diploma

The Guideline for the Vocational Graduate Diploma follows the Guideline for the Vocational Graduate Certificate, but with the following characteristics and pathways:

Characteristics

Characteristics of competencies or learning outcomes at this level include:

• the self-directed development and achievement of broad and / or specialised areas of knowledge and skills building on prior knowledge and skills
• substantial breadth, depth and complexity involving the initiation, analysis, design, planning, execution and evaluation of major functions, both broad and/or highly specialised, in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts
• further specialisation within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge
• applications involve making the high level, fully independent, complex judgements in broad and/or highly specialised planning, design, operational, technical and/or management functions in highly varied and/or highly specialised contexts. It may involve full responsibility and accountability for all aspects of work of others and functions including planning, budgeting and strategy.

The degree of emphasis on breadth as against depth of knowledge and skills may vary between qualifications granted at this level.

Pathways to the Qualification

Candidates may enter the qualification through a number of entry points demonstrating potential to undertake study at graduate level, including from:

• a relevant Vocational Graduate Certificate, Advanced Diploma or Diploma, or a relevant Certificate IV or Certificate III together with significant relevant vocational practice;
• relevant extensive vocational practice, without formal qualifications, usually following completion of a Vocational Graduate Certificate;
• a Bachelor degree
• other higher education qualification, often with relevant vocational practice.

The completion of a Vocational Graduate Certificate from a directly related field, for example from the same Training Package, or in a nested program with a Vocational Graduate Diploma would normally provide up to 50% credit towards the completion of the Vocational Graduate Diploma.

To receive a complimentary copy of the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma Information Booklet please email your name and mailing address to the AQFAB Secretariat aqfab@aqf.edu.au.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma

Where do the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma 'sit' in the AQF?

• positioned at the same level as the higher education Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma;
• two new graduate vocational education and training qualifications which extend beyond the six levels already accommodated through Certificates I-IV and the Diploma and Advanced Diploma;
• the Vocational Graduate Certificate and the Vocational Graduate Diploma require a similar volume of learning to the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma: that is, typically six months full-time or the equivalent part-time for the Vocational Graduate Certificate and twelve months full-time or the equivalent part-time for the Vocational Graduate Diploma;
• entry points include, but are not limited to, an Advanced Diploma, a Diploma, Certificate IV or Certificate III with relevant industry experience; extensive relevant industry experience demonstrating potential to undertake study at graduate level; a Bachelor Degree, or an Associate Degree with relevant industry experience;

What are the distinctive outcomes of the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma?

• high level employment-related skills and knowledge which in most cases are specified in sets of competency standards developed by relevant industry, enterprise, community or professional bodies to meet an identified training need at professional levels;
• a focus on competency in a workplace environment.

What do they add to the AQF?

• expanded learning pathways;
• outcomes oriented to the specialised needs of industry and enterprise at graduate level;
• transparency of sectoral choice between qualifications at the same level in the AQF.

How are they different from other graduate qualifications?

• more focussed on industry outcomes, with less emphasis on an academic discipline than the Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma;
• offers a short-cycle VET-sector graduate pathway alternative to the Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma;
• offers a VET-sector pathway from the Bachelor Degree for specialist industry or enterprise competencies;
• may draw on competencies from a specific nationally endorsed Training Package, from a number of Training Packages, or may sit outside Training Packages.

How do they articulate with other qualifications in the AQF?

• may be articulated within a coherent suite of VET-sector qualifications;
• the Vocational Graduate Certificate may articulate with full credit with the Vocational Graduate Diploma in the same field;
• may give access to, or articulate with credit towards, a related coursework Masters degree program, by arrangement between the awarding bodies (including the self-accrediting institutions, or other higher education providers and RTOs). These arrangements may be supplemented by agreements at the national or state and territory level.

Who may undertake a Vocational Graduate Certificate or Vocational Graduate Diploma?

• People who want to develop new skills, for example suitably experienced mature aged workers, with or without existing qualifications, who want to acquire new skills to support them to stay in the workforce and contribute to the economy;
• People who want to upgrade or extend existing skills, for example suitably experienced tradespeople with an Advanced Diploma, Diploma or higher level Certificate who want access to a streamlined way to enhance their skills;
• People who want to complement existing skills, for example higher education graduates who want access to short, specific programs in niche areas to enhance their employment-related skills and their value to employers.

Who may offer a Vocational Graduate Certificate or Vocational Graduate Diploma?

• Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) which, as well as TAFEs and private VET providers, may include universities and other approved higher education institutions which become RTOs for the purpose of offering these qualifications.

Can the holder of a Vocational Graduate Certificate or Vocational Graduate Diploma be 'deemed' to have a Bachelor Degree?

This question sometimes arises when a job specifies a qualification 'equivalent to or above the level of Bachelor Degree'. Like the higher education Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma, the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma are graduate qualifications above the Bachelor Degree in the AQF. However, it is important to note that, in both sectors, these qualifications have a more selective purpose than the Bachelor degree and so do not have the comprehensive coverage of the academic discipline base characteristic of the Bachelor Degree.

To receive a complimentary copy of the Vocational Graduate Certificate and Vocational Graduate Diploma brochure containing this information please email your name and mailing address to the AQFAB Secretariat aqfab@aqf.edu.au.