Concurrent Teaching Policy

Application

All staff members and students of the University.

Purpose

To outline the requirements for courses taught concurrently across different levels to ensure that a clear difference is maintained between the different course levels, and that students are taught and assessed at the level appropriate to their enrolment.  

Background

Concurrent teaching enables the University to:     

  • offer students a wider range of courses than might otherwise be possible     
  • maintain the viability of specialist areas that may attract limited numbers of enrolments
  • maximise teaching efficiency where students require specific content in order to advance their study
  • rotate courses across a cycle of years, allowing staff members to teach in different areas of their expertise and students to access different course content, perspectives and methodologies

Policy

Approval 

1.     Concurrent teaching may be approved for courses at the following undergraduate and postgraduate levels:

  • Stage II/ Stage III
  • Stage III/ Level 8
  • Level 8/ Level 9. 

2.     Concurrent teaching will only be approved for Stage I courses in exceptional circumstances if a strong pedagogical case is made.  

3.     The final decision will be made by the Academic Programmes Committee, or its Chair.   

4.     Concurrent teaching must be approved by the Academic Programmes Committee, or its Chair, for new courses and existing courses where new concurrent teaching arrangements are being proposed.   

5.     Proposals must demonstrate their conformity with this policy. 

Course design

6.     Courses at different levels must have distinct learning outcomes and assessment appropriate to the level of the course. 

7.     The assessment in the higher-level course must be at a more advanced level than that in the lower-level course.    

8.     The prescriptions of the courses may be the same at undergraduate level. 

9.     The prescription for a Level 8 or Level 9 course must reflect its level and therefore may be different to the course with which it is concurrently  taught. 

10.  Students enrolled in Level 8 courses are to be supported in developing advanced capabilities not expected of undergraduate students. 

11.  Where there is concurrent teaching of students enrolled in courses at Level 8 and 9 respectively, the Level 9 course must clearly meet the requirements for that level as set out in the Guidelines for Level 9 courses approved by the Academic Programmes Committee. 

12.  A course must be developed and delivered at the level of the course, and not the level of the student enrolled, or to reflect the programme the course may be credited to.  

Course delivery

13.  Concurrently taught courses at undergraduate level must facilitate learning at different levels.   

14.  If the course includes multiple teaching components then for at least one of these components, students must be assigned by level. Any exceptions to this must be approved by the Academic Programmes Committee or its Chair. 

15.  Where there is concurrent teaching of students enrolled in undergraduate and postgraduate courses or Level 8/Level 9 courses there must be  separate components of teaching at an advanced level in the higher-level course. 

Restrictions and pre-requisites

16.  Courses taught concurrently must be restricted against each other so that a student can only enrol in one. 

17.  A student must enrol in the concurrently taught course that is at the level appropriate to their experience in the subject and the requirements of their qualification. 

18.  A student must meet the prerequisite set for concurrently taught course that is at the level at which they enrol. 

Final result

19.  A student must pass at the level of the concurrently taught course in which they enrolled to be credited with the course. 

Student advice

20.  Students must be advised of the potential impact of enrolling in a concurrently taught course on progression and future enrolment. 

Reporting

21.  Concurrent teaching must be reviewed as part of the course review process on an annual basis and the student voice must be considered as part of this. 

22.   Faculties must report to the Academic Programmes Committee every three years on their processes for monitoring concurrently taught courses and compliance with this policy.   

Definitions

The following definitions apply to this document:

Concurrent teaching refers to teaching whereby students who are enrolled in courses at different levels attend most or all of the same classes. This includes courses classified as Level 8 on the NZQF being concurrently taught with courses classified as Level 9 on the NZQF even when the University catalogue numbers for both courses are at 700 level.

Concurrent teaching does not include:

- A situation where students enrol in a course at a higher level than might be expected and attend classes with more advanced students.
- Courses at the same level that share some or all of the same classes e.g. General Education courses.

Level refers to the level of the course within the University’s course structure for undergraduate courses e.g. Stage II, and the level of a course on the New Zealand Qualification Framework (NZQF) for postgraduate courses e.g. Level 8.

New Zealand Qualification Framework (NFQF) lists the types of approved qualifications in New Zealand by level (1-10). The levels, which are also used for courses, are based on the complexity of learning involved.

Postgraduate Courses include 600- level courses at Level 8 on the NZQF, and 700 level courses which can be at either Level 8 or Level 9 on the NZQF.

Staff members mean individuals employed by the University on a full or part-time basis.

Undergraduate Courses for the purposes of this policy are courses at Stages I-V in the University’s course structure and are at Level 7 on the National Qualifications Framework (NZQF).

University means the University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries.

Key relevant documents

Document management and control

Owner: Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education)
Content manager: Manager Academic Programmes
Approved by: Council
Date approved: 8 December 2021
Review date: 1 October 2026