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The Platinum performance targets relating to student support and advice and induction

ACCA's learning partnerships department regularly reviews the results of all Approved Learning Partners - Student Tuition (ALP-ST). Those that continuously meet or exceed the pass rate targets are invited to apply for Platinum status.
 
Once an ALP's eligibility to apply for Platinum status has been confirmed, they will be required to demonstrate that they can go the extra mile in managing their institution and delivering ACCA courses that really give students the tuition access and support they need to become ACCA members.
 
Here, we take a closer look at the Platinum performance targets relating to student support and advice and induction - what they mean, how you can achieve them and how to demonstrate this in your Platinum application.

Student support and advice

Student support and advice should be available to ensure students are provided with up-to-date information on entry points to the ACCA Qualification and, hence, are enrolled for classes that correspond to their entry and exemption eligibility.

2.27 Students are offered appropriate pre-enrolment advice on entry points to the ACCA Qualification and are advised of available study routes suited to their needs.

In order to achieve this target, you will need to offer specific pre-enrolment advice to students about ACCA's minimum entry requirements, exemptions as well as alternative study routes (eg CAT) based on a student's individual needs. Your student support staff should also be confident in pointing students in the right direction about ACCA's requirements relating to exams, professional experience and ethics. Further, your student support staff should also be familiar with the exemption enquiry database on ACCA's website that details all exemptions that may be available on the basis of qualifications held by students.
 
As a Gold ALP-ST, you are already aware of the need for students to have access to adequate support and advice. You also already have knowledge of ACCA policies and processes that will assist you in meeting this performance target. You may provide your staff training manual and/or staff handbook to demonstrate the knowledge of your staff on entry points to the ACCA Qualification and available study routes. In order to demonstrate this target, you may also provide any pre-enrolment promotional material issued to students. This target will be discussed further with your ACCA course leader as well as with your students as part of Platinum approval visit.

Induction

The performance target for induction aims to ensure that the tuition provider is committed to the orientation of new students and cares about helping new students to settle in. Tuition providers should also be aware that students join the ACCA Qualification at different levels, and that students starting their ACCA studies at the Professional level may need some additional support to recognise the difference between their previous academic study and professional study.

2.28 An induction session is offered to new students before the start of a course.

In order to achieve this target, you will need to demonstrate that you offer an induction session at the start of each course, allowing students to visit your premises, meet the tutors and have the opportunity to ask any questions they may have about your institution and ACCA.
 
In order to demonstrate this target, and that students receive direction from your institution at the beginning of their course, you may provide a copy of your standard induction session agenda, induction pack/instructions for students and/or your student course handbook. This will also be be verified during your approval visit when we have a meeting with your students.

This article appeared in the May 2010 issue of Teach Accounting, ACCA's magazine for teachers of finance professionals. Subscribe to Teach Accounting