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    Third Party Arrangements Policy

    Policy name ​​Third Party Arrangements Policy
    Policy number COR001
    Date approved 28 June 2021
    Approving body Cairnmillar Council
    Responsible officer Dean
    Implementation officer Dean or a Delegate
    Next review date June 2026
    Related policies
    • Course Development Policy

    1. PURPOSE OFTHIS POLICY

    From time to time, The Cairnmillar Institute (the Institute) may, enter into an arrangement with a third-party service provider (“third party”), to manage or deliver some or all of the services for a course of study (“third-party arrangement”) including:

    • Provision of student support services
    • Course design development and approval
    • Course delivery (teaching, learning and assessment) and management

    This policy identifies the Institute’s approach to ensuring any service or course provided under a third-party arrangement meets the Institute’s standards and requirements to ensure the student experience and student learning outcomes are at least equivalent to those for the same or a similar service or course of study when delivered by the Institute.

    2. POLICY

    The Institute must only enter into third party arrangements with a reputable higher education provider and/or other reputable organisation or person.

    The intention to consider a third-party arrangement must be brought to the attention of the Academic Board as early as possible.

    Before the Institute enters into a third-party arrangement, the Institute must consider the skills, experience and appropriateness of the third party to deliver the service. This assessment includes considering the third party’s:

    1. Professional qualifications, experience and status and their key personnel including, where relevant, whether they are consultants on the (ITECA) register.
    2. Reputation including the testimonials, references or recommendations given by other clients of the third party.
    3. Financial viability.
    4. Independence from the Institute’s senior management.

    3. PROCEDURE

    The request to the Institute for Third party arrangements must be documented in a memorandum of understanding or similar formal agreement (MOU) between the Institute and a third-party provider.

    The MOU must include:

    1. The purpose of the third-party arrangement.
    2. The parties’ roles and responsibilities.
    3. A probationary period for the Institute to assess and decide whether the MOU should continue.
    4. The costs, if any, associated with delivery of the service by the third party.
    5. Measures for assessing the effectiveness and quality of the services and service delivery under the third-party arrangement (“criteria for success”).
    6. The process for reviewing the criteria for success.
    7. The date(s) on which the criteria for success will be reviewed.
    8. That any coursework must comply with:
      • TEQSA Threshold Standards (Provider, Course and Qualifications)
      • Australian Qualifications Framework policies
      • ESOS Act (2000)
      • The National Code (2007)
      • Result in programs that are of at least an equivalent standard and quality to the Institute’s other academic programs
    9. The procedure for dealing with disputes about the MOU.
    10. How the MOU may be terminated.

    4. AUTHORITY TO ENTER INTO THIRD PARTY ARRANGEMENTS

    MOUs:

    1. May be negotiated by a senior member of staff who has permission from the CEO.
    2. Must be reviewed by:
      • Second senior member of staff
      • Dean
    3. Must be signed by the CEO.
    4. Must be tabled at the Academic Board or Council.

    5. MONITORING THIRD PARTY ARRANGEMENTS

    The Institute will:

    1. Register all third-party arrangements.
    2. Keep copies of all MOUs for the third-party arrangements while they are on foot and for a period of seven (7) years from termination of the MOU.
    3. Maintain a schedule of the reviews to be conducted under the MOUs for all third-party arrangements (“review schedule”).
    4. Conduct reviews in accordance with the review schedule to test whether the criteria for success are being met.
    5. Consult with key stakeholders and the Dean about whether the criteria for success are being met under the MOUs.

    6. RESOURCES AND REFERENCES

    Legislative and compliance framework relevant to the development of this policy:

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