MT01 - AMSA Approval - Distance Education
Purpose
The following procedure provides detail of the requirements for a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to gain approval to include the delivery of Distance Education to those who are seeking to qualify for a International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) or International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW – F) qualification.
Scope
This procedure outlines the process for AMSA approved RTO’s to offer courses or components of courses by Distance Education, which lead to the issue of a STCW or STCW-F qualification.
Definitions
For clarification of terms and abbreviations used within this procedure refer to the Definitions
Associated documents
- Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations 2011
- International Maritime Organisation (IMO) Model Courses
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel, 1995 (STCW-F)
- International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW)
- Marine Orders Part 6 - Marine Qualifications Radio (MO6)
- Marine Orders Part 3 - Seagoing Qualifications (MO3)
- Maritime Training Package TDM07 (MTP) published by the Transport & Logistics Industry Skills Council (TLISC)
In the case of the Australian Maritime College (AMC) reference should be made to the accredited curriculum documents.
1. Application
An RTO must submit to AMSA a full application in writing for approval to conduct Distance Education for the award of STCW or STCW-F qualifications to candidates who successfully complete the program (refer to Section 3, Submission).
The conditions applying to the approval are:
- Only AMSA approved RTO’s offering full certificate of competency courses may apply for approval to conduct Distance Education;
- The assessment criteria must be in accordance with AMSA requirements, and
- Recognition of Prior Learning or Credit Transfers must be in accordance with AMSA requirements.
2. Assessment/Approval of the application
For AMSA approval of Distance Education, the training provider must comply with the requirements specified in the AMSA Audits – STCW/ STCW-F Certificate of Competency and Short Courses
3. Rejection of RTO submissions for AMSA course approval
Amsa reserves the right to reject a submission from an RTO seeking approval to provide training leading to the issue of an AMSA seafarer certificate under Marine Orders Part 3 – Seagoing Qualifications.
AMSA may reject a submission at its discretion, and will reject its submission when:
- There are already existing AMSA approved providers of the proposed course in the same area with under utilised facilities.
- Submissions are inadequate with respect to compliance with AMSA course guidelines or IMO Model courses, as appropriate.
- The RTO does not have appropriately qualified and experienced lecturers for delivery of the proposed course.
- The RTO does not have the necessary equipment or facilities to conduct the proposed course.
- The RTO does not have an audited and verified quality management system.
If a submission is rejected by AMSA feedback will be provided to the RTO stating the reasons why the submission was unacceptable. AMSA will then not accept a further submission from the RTO for a period of 12 months from the date of rejection. If the RTO chooses to make a new submission AMSA will charge the appropriate approval assessment fee.
4. Submission
A RTO wishing to gain approval to deliver Distance Education that leads to an issue of a STCW or STCW-F qualification must make a written submission to AMSA under the following headings:
Contact details
The full name and address of the RTO that is requesting approval to deliver Distance Education.
Registered Training Organisation
As being a (RTO) is a prerequisite, documentary evidence issued by the appropriate Australian authority should be submitted.
Full title of the course
Reference should be made to the MTP, where applicable, and STCW.
Aim of the course
The aim of the course is to be specified indicating the STCW or STCW-F qualification the program is designed for, including compliance with STCW or STCW-F and reference to the relevant MTP units of competency or profile.
Objectives of the course
The MTO is to specify the intended outcomes of the training.
Overall Course training plan
The RTO is to specify how the Distance Education components of the training plan will form part of the overall approved course.
Course curriculum
The course curriculum is to be based on the MTP units of competency and where clarification is required, referenced to the appropriate IMO Model Course.
Entry standards
The RTO is to specify the entry standards that the candidate must comply with before being accepted on the Distance Education training program.
Additionally, the methodology of Recognition of Prior Learning or Credits must be specified.
Conduct of the training
Explanation of the following must be specified:
Qualifications of teaching staff
Training and assessment must be undertaken by persons qualified in accordance with the provisions of Sections A-I/6 and B-I/6 of the STCW Code. Staff should as a minimum have completed Level IV Certificate for Assessment & Workplace Training. A list of lecturers together with their qualifications and experience is to be provided.
Access to lecturers
Students who enrol on a Distance Education program must have access to teaching staff throughout the specified period.
Student support
The submission is to include how the RTO will offer equivalent support to that of any other full time college based student.
Course intake limitations
The RTO is to determine if the number of students enrolled on the Distance Education program is to be limited by number. If appropriate, the number is to be specified.
Course notes and reference documents
Course notes and reference documents must be of a suitable quality and substance to enable the student to complete the course by Distance Education. Copies of the complete course are to be submitted with the application.
Text books
If required a comprehensive reading list is to be made available to the students at the commencement of the Distance Education program.
Facilities and Equipment
If it is necessary for the candidate to be familiar with and/or use equipment, this must be made available to the student. The RTO is to specify how this is to be achieved.
Class attendance
The MTO should assess the competencies and identify which require college attendance. The RTO should give consideration for the student to attend their training establishment for a given period to consolidate subject matter before attempting the final assessment. This is normal practice for Distance Education programs.
Assessment procedures
- The RTO is to comply with Sections A-I/6 and B-I/6 of the STCW Code.
- All candidates studying for STCW qualifications will be required to present sufficient evidence of competence and meet all the performance criteria within the range of the subject matter.
- RTO’s must devise appropriate instruments of assessment for consideration as part of the approval process and submit a copy of the assessment plan together with the marking scheme.
- Supplementary methods of assessment are to be specified.
- There is to be a final assessment. A candidate who fails the final assessment may resit it once. Failure to attain the required standard will require the candidate to repeat the components of the relevant competencies.
- The academic history of the candidate must record the results of all pass or fail assessments. These are to be retained for subsequent verification by AMSA.
- Venues and invigilators for the final assessment must be arranged by the RTO. Educational institutions such as universities, colleges and schools should be used where possible and venues must be approved by AMSA prior to their use. All students will be required to provide photographic identification to the invigilator prior to undertaking the final assessment.
Quality standards
- The RTO is to comply with Sections A-I/8 and B-I/8 of the STCW Code.
- The arrangements for delivering training and assessing competences must be continuously monitored by the RTO through a quality standards system to ensure achievement of the defined objectives.
- RTO’s are required to maintain a quality standard through documented procedures that will be audited by AMSA at regular intervals. (Refer to: Approval and Audit of Maritime Training Programs.)
- The quality standards system and evaluation arrangements may be part of a RTO’s overall quality assurance system.
Course completion documentation
A course completion document, in a form approved by AMSA, is to be issued by the RTO to the candidate upon the satisfactorily completion of the training course.
5. Time restraints/constraints
Course Completion
The student must complete the approved course within three (3) years of the commencement date.
Course validity
In accordance with MO3, provision 7.3, where the issue of a certificate (competency, proficiency or short course) to a person is dependent upon that person completing an approved course, that course must have been completed:
- if the applicant provides proof of continuity of sea service since completion of the course which is at least equivalent to the requirements for revalidation in 10.1(a)(i) – within 10 years of the certificate being issued; or
- in any other case – within five (5) years.
The time period commences from the date the course completion certificate was issued by the RTO.