Admission, Selection & Recruitment Policy
This document details Digitaleem policy and procedure for admissions, selection and recruitment of students to its education programmes.
The policy detailed in this document will be applied fairly and equitably, which is consistent with our commitment to providing a flexible and quality learning opportunities for prospective and admitted students and meets with the requirements for the maintenance of the Digitaleem academic standards.
Aims of the admissions policy and procedure
Digitaleem is committed to equality of opportunity for all prospective and existing students. We aim to create a learning environment where all students are treated solely on the basis of merit, performance, and capability regardless of gender, ethnicity, belief, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, age, disability, etc.
Digitaleem aims to recruit with integrity, transparency, and high professionalism. We aim to ensure that places are offered to prospective students whose qualifications, skills, and experience match the program’s entry requirements and academic demands. In recruiting, selecting, and admitting students, Digitaleem aims to:
- Widen participation and provide equality of opportunity to prospective and admitted students judged to be able to complete their program of study successfully.
- Recruit students to programs that best meet their stated career needs and aspirations.
- Offer professional, fair, and unbiased advice and guidance about the program (s) the College offers to prospective students.
Digitaleem aims to offer all students a high-quality learning and social environment, free from discrimination, where academic and professional potential can be supported and realized through study. We attempt to ensure there is compatibility between the qualifications, skills, and experience of admitted students and the demands of the program, through the use of a dedicated recruitment and admissions team.
Entry requirements
Certificate Level
- 10 years of Schooling and above
- Age 15 and above
- Computer Literacy
Diploma Level
- Minimum age 16 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from an employer, etc.
Advance Diploma level
- Minimum age 16 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from an employer, etc.
Intakes
To be admitted to a program students must meet the entry requirements which are published by Digitaleem on its website or other means. We recruit students to programs based on current formal qualifications, experience.
Care is taken to maintain the completeness, accuracy, and reliability of the information in order to help students make informed decisions. Digitaleem reserves the right to amend, include or exclude any entry requirement(s), the content, or other details of the program, in response to any external changes, such as those informed to the College by awarding bodies. Digitaleem also reserves the right to withdraw a program in response to low demand due to lack of capacity or any other delivery imperative. However, in all such eventualities, students will be informed at the earliest opportunity and will be provided with guidance and support about alternative options that may be available. In the case of the withdrawal of a program, alternative options will be provided, the acceptance of which is the prospective student’s decision.
Applicants are strictly advised that the stated entry requirements are adhered to by Digitaleem.
Formal Education Qualifications
Prior to enrolment, applicants will be asked to provide evidence of original certificates of formal education qualifications.
Equivalent formal certificated qualifications are accepted.
Work or other Relevant Experience
A prospective student requesting consideration of relevant work or other experience as meeting, in part or fully, the stated entrance requirements for a program must submit written evidence in support of their application. The Recruitment and Admissions Team will advise prospective students about the work or other experiential evidence that would be acceptable.
Prospective students will be informed of the outcome of their application via email. Digitaleem will carefully consider all applications which fulfill the stated entry requirements, and will make either a conditional offer, a non-conditional offer, or a rejection; in all cases, further advice and guidance will be offered.
In the event of prospective students not fulfilling the requirements for acceptance, Digitaleem will provide feedback, upon request, with the reasons given for non-acceptance. Digitaleem will also provide alternative program options to such students, should there be any available and as long as they have the entry qualifications as stated on the student’s application and required by the program.
Digitaleem reserves the right to refuse an application from any student on the following (not limited to) grounds:
- Limited availability of places
- Application for enrolment on a program made on the basis of falsified documentation
- Lack of capacity or resources to run the program
- The general interests of the wider community of students and staff
- Inability to meet a student’s special requirements
- If a student is unable to meet the entry requirements for the program.
It is the responsibility of prospective students to declare their true and current immigration status at the time of submitting an application for entry to a higher education program offered by Digitaleem.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Digitaleem makes provision for prospective students to evidence prior learning and for this to be recognized. Prospective students are required to demonstrate that they already have the knowledge, understanding, and skills needed to achieve the learning outcomes stated by Digitaleem. Evidence will be evaluated against the learning outcomes and assessment criteria from the relevant program specification. It is the responsibility of the prospective or current student to demonstrate, with objective evidence, that he or she has already achieved the appropriate and claimed to learn outcomes for the relevant part of the program. The College will only recognize prior learning which is equivalent on a like-to-like basis for the program under the application.
Appeals and complaints concerning the recruitment, selection, and admission process
Appeals
Students may appeal against the admission decision, particularly where a prospective student’s application has been rejected or the prospective student has been offered a place on a program that he or she did not initially apply for. To appeal against a selection or admission decision made by Digitaleem, the prospective student who has made the application must complete the Admission Appeals Form which is provided on the College website. The Admission Appeals Form must be completed in full and sent to info@Digitaleem.com or sent by post to the address given on the form. Digitaleem will acknowledge the appeal against an admission decision and aim to make a formal response within ten working days of receipt of the Admissions Appeal Form. If the form has not been completed properly and/or important information is missing the College will contact the person making the appeal to request additional information. If this happens, the College will formally respond to the appeal within ten working days when it has all the information necessary to consider the case and the grounds for the appeal.
Complaints
Digitaleem is committed to operating its recruitment, selection, and admission procedure in a professional, transparent, and timely way and hopes that any dissatisfaction with our service can be resolved amicably and informally. However, prospective or current students may make a complaint about the recruitment, selection, and admission process operated by Digitaleem by using the College’s complaints policy, procedure and complaints form. It is the policy of Digitaleem to endeavor to resolve a complaint informally with the complainant if at all possible. Anyone wishing to make a complaint is asked to attempt informal resolution, in line with the Complaints Policy, before making a formal complaint. If the prospective or current student wishes to make a formal complaint, he or she should use the College’s Complaints Policy and Complaints Form which is provided on the website. The form should be completed as fully as possible and then either emailed to complaints@digitaleem.com or sent by post addressed to the Programme Manager on the respective addresses given under Company Information. Any complaint about the recruitment, selection, and admission process will be dealt with using the procedure and timescales stated in the Complaints Policy.
Applicants with special needs/disabilities
Applicants with disabilities and/or additional learning needs are considered on the same academic grounds as all other applicants. Prospective students will be requested to self-declare such needs at the point of application to ensure appropriate levels of support will be available for support the program of studies. Digitaleem does reserve the right to refuse admission due to lack of capability or resources to meet the additional learning needs provided by the prospective student in his or her application.
Selection and admission Procedure
Applying to Digitaleem is a straightforward process. The following are the stages involved:
STAGE 1: THE APPLICATION
The first stage is to fully complete an application form for the program (s) of study you wish to be considered for. Prospective students are advised to read about the program and the entry requirements and visit the Digitaleem website before completing out an application form. A hard copy of the completed application form must be submitted along with all the required documents
STAGE 2: ASSESSMENT OF THE APPLICATION
An Admission Officer will assess and forward the application and supporting documentation to the Admissions Team. The application will be returned if incomplete and all supporting documentation has not been provided by the prospective student.
STAGE 3: VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTATION
If the application is complete and all supporting documentation has been provided, the prospective student will be invited by a member of the Admission Team to attend the College for the purpose of verification of documents. At this visit, the prospective student will need to bring the original version of all the qualifications submitted in support of the application. Once authenticated, the staff member of the Admission Team will stamp the copies of the documentation supplied after viewing the original to indicate the documents have been authenticated.
STAGE 4: ENROLMENT LETTER
The letter will provide information regarding fees, any loan facilities available to the student, and advise the date of the induction week and the start of the program.
Consent and Use of information
By signing and submitting the application form, prospective students give consent to Digitaleem for processing the information provided on the form for selection, admission, enrolment, communication, and administrative purposes. The prospective student further agrees to the processing and disclosure of the details for any purpose connected with their studies, or for any other legitimate purpose including the compilation of statutory statistical data and personal returns. All application information supplied by the prospective student is treated in strict confidence and is only shared between the applicant, the Admissions Officers, and any members of the Recruitment and Admissions Team, relevant authorities, and/or the concerned academic personnel. All data is held and processed in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Policy.
English language requirements
For all the below mentioned Programmes which are both taught and assessed in English, it is critical that they have an appropriate level of English language skills. The following clarifies the requirements for recruiting applicants. Students who are non-native English speakers and who have not undertaken their final two years of schooling in English, can demonstrate capability in English at a standard equivalent to the levels identified below, before being recruited to the programme where the programme is both taught and assessed in English:
- Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) level B2
- PTE 51
- IELTS 5.5; Reading and Writing must be at 5.5 or equivalent.
- Evidence of individual’s proficiency in English Language.
Short Courses
Certificate Level
- 10 years of Schooling/ O ‘levels and above
- Age 16 and above
- Computer Literacy
- Evidence of individual’s proficiency in English Language
Diploma Level
- Minimum age 17 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling, O levels or equivalent
- Computer Literacy
- Evidence of individual’s proficiency in English Language
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
Advanced Diploma level
- Minimum age 18 years and above
- 12 years of Schooling, A levels or equivalent
- Computer Literacy
- Evidence of individual’s proficiency in English Language
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
Level 3 Qualifications
- For learners who have recently been in education, the profile is likely to include one of the following:
- A level 2 BTEC qualification in business or a related vocational area
- A standard of literacy and numeracy supported by a general education equivalent to four GCSEs at grade A*-C
- Other related level 2 qualifications
- Related work experience. More mature learners may present a more varied profile of achievement that is likely to include experience of paid and/or unpaid employment.
HNC Programs
- Minimum age 16 years and above
- 10 years of Schooling/ O ‘levels
- Level 3 in Relevant field.
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
HND Programs
- Minimum age 18 years and above
- 12 years of Schooling/ A’ levels
- HNC in Relevant field
- Computer Literacy
- Those who are planning to build their careers in relevant fields.
- Statement by the prospective student outlining their work experience (if any)
- Evidence to support the above statement, for example, appointment letter, reference from employer, etc.
Level 07 Qualifications
- The Pearson BTEC Level 7 Professional qualifications in Strategic Management and Leadership are for learners aged 19 and above.
- A BTEC National Certificate or Diploma in an appropriate area (for L4 and L5).
- A GNVQ/AVCE in an appropriate vocational area.
- A GCE A Level profile which demonstrates strong performance in a relevant subject or an adequate performance in more than one GCE subject. This profile is likely to be supported by GCSE grades level A-C.
Internal Malpractice consists of those acts which undermine the integrity and validity of assessment, the certification of qualifications and/or damage the authority of those responsible for conducting the assessment and certification. This refers to acts and omissions made by staff or students involved with the assessment process.
Scope
This policy and procedure relates to college staff malpractice and applies to all internal assessments, and internal and external examinations. Where awarding bodies have their own published procedures these will take precedent over the college policy.
Legislation
The Human Rights Act applies to the operation of this policy.
Responsibilities
All staff have a responsibility to give full and active support for the policy by ensuring:
- The policy is known understood and implemented.
Actions to Implement and Develop Policy.
- Curriculum Leaders should, at the appropriate time, introduce new members of staff to this policy.
- Course teams use robust internal moderation/verification procedures.
- Course teams should use the induction period, or other appropriate time, to introduce learners to this policy.
Definitions and Examples
COLLEGE STAFF MALPRACTICE
Deliberate action by a member of staff that has the potential to undermine the integrity of the assessment process. The following are examples of malpractice by centre staff; this list is not exhaustive and other examples of malpractice may be considered by the College at its discretion.
- Improper assistance to candidates.
- Inventing or changing marks for internally assessed work (course work or portfolio evidence) where there is insufficient evidence of the candidates’ achievement to justify the marks given or assessment decisions made.
- Fraudulent submissions that could lead to false claims for certificates.
- Inappropriate retention of certificates.
- Producing falsified witness statements, for example for evidence the learner has not generated.
- Allowing evidence, which is known by the staff member not to be the learner’s own, to be included in a learner’s assignment/task/portfolio/coursework.
- Facilitating and allowing impersonation.
- Misusing the conditions for special learner requirements, for example where learners are permitted support, such as amanuensis, this is permissible up to the point where the support has the potential to influence the outcome of the assessment.
- Failing to keep assessment/examination/test papers secure prior to the assessment/examination test.
- Falsifying records/certificates. For example, by alteration, substitution, or by fraud.
LEARNER MALPRACTIC
Any action by the learner that has the potential to undermine the integrity and validity of the assessment of the learner’s work. The following are examples of malpractice by learners; this list is not exhaustive and other instances of malpractice may be considered by the College at its discretion:
- Plagiarism of any nature; in which case reference should be made to the Plagiarism Policy
- Collusion by working collaboratively with other learners to produce work that is submitted as individual learner work.
- Copying (including the use of ICT to aid copying).
- Deliberate destruction of another’s work.
- Fabrication of results or evidence.
- False declaration of authenticity in relation to the contents of a portfolio or coursework
- Impersonation by pretending to be someone else in order to produce the work for another or arranging for another to take one’s place in an assessment/examination.
Procedures used to deal with the above
- Where the College discovers or suspects an individual, or individuals, of malpractice it will conduct an investigation in a form commensurate with the nature of the malpractice allegation.
- Such an investigation will be initially undertaken by the Centre Manager, who will interview all personnel linked to the allegation.
- The College will make the individual(s) aware (preferably in writing) at the earliest opportunity of the nature of the alleged malpractice and of possible consequences should malpractice be proven.
- The investigation will proceed through the following stages:
- Preliminary investigation, conducted by the college, into the allegation to determine whether a full investigation is necessary. If the allegation appears to have substance, then all assessments by this member of staff should be halted until the investigation is complete
- hould it be determined that a full investigation is necessary it shall be conducted by an independent Investigation Officer appointed by the Programme Manager.
- During the investigation the College will give the individual the opportunity to respond to the allegations made.
- All stages of the investigation shall be documented by the person leading the investigation.
- The individual will be informed of the avenues for appealing against any judgements made.
- The Investigation Officer shall produce a report of their findings for the attention of the Director of Workforce Planning and the Programme Manager.
- For cases of staff malpractice, the Director HR and the Programme Manager will decide whether to invoke the Staff Disciplinary Procedure.
- For cases of learner assessment malpractice, reference should be made by the Investigation Officer to the other relevant policies: Conduct for internally set examinations Policy and Plagiarism Policy
- Where the Investigating Officer report indicates that the student assessment is suspect or flawed, then the following should be consulted for appropriate penalties.
Sanctions and penalties against learners
Digitaleem can impose the following sanctions and penalties against learners found guilty of assessment malpractice and maladministration, it depends on the severity of the case that what kind of penalty will be imposed on them. Digitaleem panel can impose one or more penalties as per the case, not all the sanctions and penalties are appropriate to every type of qualification or circumstance.
Developmental Engagement Meeting
If you are studying at level 3 (foundation) or level 4 (first year) and the allegation of academic misconduct is minor and your first offense, you will be invited to a Developmental Engagement Meeting. Your Programme Leader will advise you on how to avoid academic misconduct in the future. A Developmental Engagement Record, which outlines the advice given to you, will be completed and signed by you and your Programme Leader. Digitaleem will keep a log of this meeting on file
Formal Meeting
If the case is more serious, or it is not your first offense you will be sent a letter inviting you to a formal meeting. This letter will provide you with details of the alleged academic misconduct. You will be given 5 working days’ notice of this meeting.
Staff at the meeting will consider the facts of the case, and any pleas in mitigation. Where it is established, on a balance of probability, that an offense has been committed, a penalty will be applied. A report of these proceedings will be recorded by Digitaleem.
Assessment Disciplinary Committee
If the case is referred to an Assessment Disciplinary Committee, you will be sent a letter detailing the allegations and inviting you to a hearing.
Mitigation
When considering a case of Academic Misconduct, you will be invited to submit a plea of mitigation. This will be regarded as an admission of Academic Misconduct.
The Chair of Assessment Disciplinary committee (of concerned departments) will decide whether a penalty is appropriate or shall be lessened in light of a statement of mitigation.
Being ill at the time you did your work is often not accepted as mitigation. In most circumstances, Exceptional Factors being approved will not provide sufficient basis for a plea of mitigation to an Assessment Disciplinary Committee.
For advice on submitting a plea of mitigation, you can contact the following:
Tel: 00-92-346-6555677
Mail: zobia@digitaleem.com
Sanctions for staff – assessment malpractice and administration
In cases of staff malpractice, the role of Digitaleem is confined to considering whether the integrity of its examinations and assessments has been placed in jeopardy and whether the integrity might be jeopardized if an individual is found to have indulged in assessment malpractice and maladministration were to be involved in the future conduct, supervision or administration of the Digitaleem’s examinations or assessments.
Where a member of staff has been found guilty of malpractice, Digitaleem may impose the following sanctions or penalties:
1. Written warning
Issue the member of staff with a written warning that if the offense is repeated within a
set period of time further specified sanctions will be applied.
2. Special conditions
Impose special conditions on the future involvement in its examinations and/or
assessments by the member of staff, whether this involves the internal assessment, the
conduct, supervision, or administration of its examinations and assessments.
3. Training
Require the member of staff, as a condition of future involvement in its examinations,
to undertake specific training or mentoring, within a particular period of time, and a
the review process at the end of the training.
4. Staff barring
Bar the member of staff from all involvement in the delivery of its examinations and
assessments for a set period of time. Other Digitaleem and the regulators will be informed when a suspension is imposed.
These sanctions will be notified to the Principal who will be required to ensure that they
are carried out.
Plagiarism involves passing off the work of another as one’s own. It is necessary and normal that learners learn from the work of others, including academic staff, fellow learners, and published materials, but it is essential that learners always acknowledge the source of the ideas and information used in their work.
Plagiarism can involve copying from the work of a fellow learner or downloading material from the internet. In these and all other cases, learners must clearly state their source. Plagiarism involves not only written work, but all forms of work that learners may submit for assessment, including, for example, musical composition, artifacts, and data in electronic form on a computer.
All forms of plagiarism will be treated very seriously by the staff at Digitaleem. In addition, learners should be warned that plagiarism may involve a breach of intellectual property rights, infringement of which may result in legal action being taken against a learner by the owner, publisher, or distributor of that intellectual property.
Policy on Plagiarism
Avoidance
- All learners will be given a copy of this plagiarism policy, as a basis for discussion, as part of course induction.
- To minimize the possibilities for plagiarism essay titles and assignments will be, as far as possible, designed so as to make ‘copying’ or using the work of others unhelpful or inappropriate.
Detection
- Digitaleem has access to plagiarism detection software and will periodically run random pieces of work through the program to check instances of plagiarism.
Treatment
- If an assessor suspects plagiarism as defined above, s/he will investigate the matter in confidence with the learner(s) concerned to establish whether plagiarism has indeed taken place.
- If an assessor judge that plagiarism has occurred, the assessor will normally follow validating partner procedures. However, where the college is required to use its own procedures, the assessor will report the case to the Internal Verifier and submit the relevant evidence.
- The Internal Verifier will make a decision based on the evidence provided and, occasionally, further investigation, seeking advice if necessary from one of the Quality Nominee. Where the learner is requested to attend an investigatory hearing, they may seek support with the hearing from the Academic Advisor. The decision should always be reported to the Programme Manager.
- Depending on the extent of the offence and the evidence submitted, first time offenders may be allowed to resubmit the work within two weeks of establishing that plagiarism has taken place. The maximum mark or grade for such re-submitted work will be a pass.
- Second-time offenders will incur severe penalties, more specifically, the piece of work in question will be awarded no marks, nor will it be able to be used as evidence for the achievement of any learning outcomes. This will result in non-completion of the learning outcome and failure of the module. The learner’s personal assessor and/or course assessor/coordinator will also be fully informed.
- Any case of repeated or final-year plagiarism will be treated very seriously and may result in the learner being asked to leave the course.
Appeals
- Any appeals concerning the application of this policy should, in the first instance, be directed to the appropriate Internal Verifier who will investigate the case within ten working days, consulting both the learner(s) and subject assessor(s) concerned.
- If a learner is not satisfied with the outcome of this procedure, then s/he will have access to the college’s formal academic appeals procedure. If you have any questions about plagiarism and the policy, you can speak to either your assessor or the Academic Advisor.
You may reschedule to any future course or combination of alternate courses at nominal administrative cost. No refund is available after registration.