Rationale for the Quality Assurance Handbook
The Quality Assurance Handbook contains all the procedures and guidelines for quality assurance and its enhancement in one document so that team members will find it easier to implement and align academic experiences according to the Quality Assurance system. OLCA also documents its activities to serve as evidence for quality efforts during evaluation of the implementation of quality plans.
Online and Live Casino Academy abides by the Internal Quality Assurance system. This consists in constantly monitoring the learner’s journey throughout their time with the organisation, this takes place to ensure the learners have received a quality service and that assessment has been correct and fair. The main purposes of following the internal quality assurance are:
- To ensure internal quality assurance is valid, reliable and covers all activities of the
- To ensure that the internal quality assurance procedure is open, fair and free from bias.
- To ensure that there is an accurate recording of internal quality assurance
Quality Learning Policy
Our mission, vision and values guide the Quality Assurance system within the organisation. Its main purpose is to ensure continuous improvement in its learning programmes both through traditional, face-to-face learning and through a high-quality and inclusive digital education provision.
Academic Quality Assurance is a responsibility of the entire academy: management, tuition staff, administrative staff and students. The Quality assurance system contributes effectively to co- ordinate constantly within the academic system whilst identifying demands of discipline variations. The Quality Assurance system ensures:
- Validity, reliability and covers all activities of the academy;
- That is open, fair and free from bias;
- That there is an accurate recording of internal quality assurance
The Academy maintains, improves and evaluates through the quality assurance system to cover all areas in the organization.
Quality Assurance Validation Process
The purpose of OLCA validation system ensures validity and reliability across all academic activities of the institution. The validation process is a key mechanism by which OLCA establishes academic standards, ensuring that:
- the academic rationale for new gaming related programmes is transparent;
- the requirements for students to achieve the intended learning outcomes are clear;
- resources can be provided to deliver the programme to standards acceptable to the institute;
The validation process aims to ascertain that proposed programmes are in line with the Online Live Casino Academy overall vision and mission, are responsive to market demands and the quality is comparable to EU and international standards.
Anti-Bias Policy
Online Live Casino Academy values diversity, inclusion and an environment free from discriminatory conduct. The academy is committed to providing a safe, respectful educational and work environment that is free of harassment and intimidation.
The bias incident protocol offers an effective and efficient process for individuals to report bias incidents and hate crimes. It also outlines procedures to respond to such acts. The protocol is implemented whenever a bias incident or hate crime is perceived or suspected to have occurred in Online Live Casino Academy. Implementation of the protocol may serve as a mechanism to monitor and prevent the acts of bias and hate.
Internal Quality Assurance Records Policy
Online Live Casino Academy provides appropriate and permanent care for records of enduring value in order to make them available for use. The Online Live Casino Academy implements the following quality assurance system records management:
- Files plan – indicates what is where, and how it is organized;
- Retention Schedule – indicates how long to keep what records and what to do with them once the retention period has expired;
- Security access schedule – indicates who has access to what records and conditions of access;
Components of a Records Management Program
- Policy and procedure development;
- Records inventory, appraisal, retention and disposition;
- Management of active files;
- Inactive files management and control;
- Vital records management.
Complaints and Appeals Policy
Online Live Casino Academy operates a specific complaints procedure relating to academic and non-academic issues. Disputes may involve issues such as alleged discrimination, non-professional practice, course schedule or complaints regarding the facilities. There may also be an issue regarding the assessment such as the process, conduct of the assessment process, the assessment criteria, or relevance of the assessment task to the intended programme learning outcomes.
The Academy strives to ensure that as a student at OLCA students gain maximum benefit from the academic, social and cultural experiences it offers. If for some reason the student is not satisfied with a particular aspect of his/her learning experience the student should bring this to the academy’s attention. Students are informed of the ways in which they can appeal a decision.
This policy will be applied for both current and former students of OLCA, providing that the timescales for raising matters of concern, as laid out in the policy, are adhered to.
The Complaints and Appeals Policy indicates the necessary procedures that are required to submit a complaint and an academic appeal. The academic appeal procedure allows students in certain circumstances to ask for a review of a decision relating to the student’s academic progress or award.
Student Disciplinary Policy
The Student Disciplinary Policy is intended to ensure a speedy and efficient resolution of issues. The aim is to prevent unnecessary delay whilst ensuring a full and fair assessment of the particular circumstances of an individual case.
Assessment of the Quality of Programmes and Courses Policy
The OLCA Academic Quality Assurance Policy expects teaching and managerial staff to periodically review and assess their academic programmes and courses in order to confirm the extent to which:
- The programmes and courses reflect the mission and objectives of the academy;
- The programmes and courses are structured and organized;
- The objectives and learning objectives are achieved;
- The programmes and courses not only meet student needs but actually provides an experience that lives up to their highest expectations;
- The programmes and courses help in the attainment of the academy’s vision and mission;
- The programmes and courses are both viable and
Involvement of Stakeholders, Lecturers and Students in QA Policy
All members of staff are required to participate in the development of new courses and strategic planning process. The staff will be able to recommend modules to be included in the courseware and the content of the modules together with the level and method of delivery. The lecturers are required to input this knowledge based on their past experience with similar students following courses of the same level.
Considering that OLCA has a very close contact with employers who engage qualified OLCA candidates to work on a full-time and part-time basis, Gaming and iGaming employers are involved in the curriculum development process as well as past and current students. The Head of School and CEO will moderate the curriculum development and strategic planning process together with all stakeholders and develop a recommended curriculum.
The comments by lecturers through regular staff meetings specifically called to discuss new Curricula contribution based on their own experience from similar courses and levels. In addition, the CEO is in constant contact with employers and employers provide regular feedback regarding human resources requirements, different service and product development of both operators and suppliers within the Gaming and iGaming market.
Any new curriculum, modules or course content/material developed will be vetted by the Head of School and CEO before launching any new programme and also vetted during delivery by actual observation in class besides periodic annual reviews of all material being delivered.
Online Provision Policy
Online Live Casino Academy has developed its own learning platform which has been custom built for the purpose of delivering bespoke online courses in a manner which continuously supports the learners, tutors and administrative staff. The online provision policy has been set to guide learners, trainers and administrative staff how to effectively utilize the interactive features and services of the e-Learning platform.
Procedures For Preventing Academic Fraud
This policy is designed to effectively mitigate any type of academic fraud such as plagiarism, cheating, and collusion. If a student commits or try to commit academic fraud, or assists someone else to do so, the student could be subject to one or more of the imposed sanctions.
Procedures for Ensuring Against Intolerance of Any Kind or Discrimination Against the Students or Staff
OLCA is fully committed to this dignity & respect policy and we are pleased to present it to all students and staff. The purpose of this policy is to create a positive working and study environment. Dignity and respect is an integral part of the academy’s overall policy and must therefore be observed by all staff and students. The Academy undertakes to develop awareness amongst all participants in the educational process of the need to promote dignity and respect for all staff and students. This will involve senior management, staff and students.
OLCA as an Equal Opportunities Employer
Online & Live Casino Academy is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to the introduction and development of employment policies, procedures and practices which do not discriminate on grounds such as gender, marital status, religious belief, sexual orientation, family status, age, disability and race;
Bullying and Harassment Policy
OLCA is committed to providing a safe working and learning environment in which all employees and students have the opportunity to fulfil their potential with dignity. Such an environment should be free of all forms of bullying, harassment and discrimination.
OLCA recognizes that bullying, harassment and discrimination in the working or learning environment can seriously damage a person’s mental and physical health and well-being. Accordingly, OLCA will regard any complaint of alleged bullying, harassment or discrimination as a serious matter that could, if substantiated, lead to disciplinary procedures being invoked.
Financial Plan Policy
The Financial Plan Policy is designed to effectively prepare each year an annual revenue budget to facilitate excellency in the academic operations and the learner’s journey. The budget should be prepared in accordance with the Academy’s objectives and aims as set out in OLCA’s Strategic Plan.
Design and Approval of Programmes Policy
OLCA has a strong design and approval of programmes policy in place to develop programmes according to the academy objectives, Gaming and iGaming partner needs. This policy gives clear guidance to academic staff, students and external stakeholders to meet the mission statement of the academy, national and international needs and development objectives within the targeted market.
Maintenance of Casino Equipment Policy
OLCA has a strong casino equipment policy in place to ensure that students train on fully maintained professional casino tables which puts the student’s and trainer’s experience to a superior level.
Student Centered Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy
OLCA embraces the student centered learning methodology hence we developed a strong Student Centered Learning, Teaching and Assessment Policy. It describes ways of thinking about learning and teaching that emphasize student responsibility for such activities as planning learning, interacting with teachers and other students, researching, and assessing learning.
Student-centered learning has student responsibility and activity at its heart, in contrast to the stronger emphasis on teacher-control and the coverage of academic content found in much conventional, didactic teaching. Student responsibility and independence help to develop characteristics of lifelong learners-motivation, self-evaluation, time management and the skills to access information.
The best forms of assessment are aligned with the learning goals we use and are designed to give feedback to students. We need to harness assessment to encourage the sort of learning outcomes we are seeking. In student-centered learning we are emphasizing knowledge, attitudes and skills such as:
- Responsibility for one’s own learning
- Independence and co-operation
- Problem-solving
- Understanding
- Thinking for oneself
Assessment drives learning more than anything else because it represents the bottom line of students’ performance. All assessment methods require that students’ present evidence of their learning, yet in most cases (with the thesis and project work being notable exceptions) it is the teacher who controls the character of that evidence.
At OLCA student-centered learning is encouraged by the use of one to one practical assessments, formative assessment and criterion- referenced assessment.
Self-Evaluation Policy
OLCA has developed a Self-Evaluation policy so it does not rely solely on the internal verification done by its own lecturers and by its own Head of School, but has engaged an External Verifier. The Verifier also checks that any promises said by OLCA to deliver, is actually being delivered and by vetting OLCA’s assessment methods and examinations, the external verifier is establishing whether the high level of professionalism is being maintained or not.
Student Admission, Progression, Recognition and Certification
The Student Admission, Progression, Recognition and Certification policy refers to the admission of OLCA students who apply to participate in a programme and intend to complete a course at the Online Live Casino Academy. The policy covers the whole student experience from pre-enrolment stage, admission, progression, student support, learning resources to the awarding of the certificate.
Teaching Staff Policy
The Teaching Staff policy is one of the founding pillars of OLCA as we believe that teaching staff is our most valuable asset and we invest in their recruitment, training and retention. We value staff who take responsibility for the delivery of constantly high standards and believe that well managed Academies, with good support, training and clear polices provide the basis for excellence. In addition, since OLCA also has online provision the policy ensures that all teaching staff are inducted and offered CPD on digital pedagogies throughout their teaching journey at OLCA.
Information Management Policy
OLCA is committed to ensuring that the records it produces are managed effectively. This policy sets out in broad terms how that commitment should be put into practice. Good records management allows the academy to satisfy the needs of corporate accountability, statutory obligations and audit requirements. In addition, effective records management is effective management of resources, helping to reduce costs and avoid wastage.
Learning Resources and Student Support Policy
OLCA provides access to a variety of resources to promote and support learning. It is the policy of OLCA that environments and resources are provided to both individual and group learning; also accessibility to online learning is given to all involved stakeholders equally and in a fair manner. OLCA informs all candidates about the resources available during the induction session of every programme and in the induction handbook.
Public Information Policy
OLCA shall publish information about their activities, including courses/programmes, which is clear, accurate, objective, up-to date and readily accessible. The information available shall be sufficient for prospective applicants to be able to make an informed choice in terms of the knowledge, skills and competences they are likely to acquire on successful completion of the programme.
OLCA ensures that the information published is sufficient for students to make informed choices by following the MFHEA’s Obligations of the Licensee section.
On-going Monitoring and Periodic Review of Programmes
The On-going Monitoring and Periodic Review of Programmes policy guides internal staff involved in the monitoring and review of programmes. The purpose of these procedures and guidelines is to ensure that proposed programmes:
- are consistent with OLCA’s Strategic Plan and contributes to achieving the Academy’s aims and objectives;
- Offer a valuable and worthwhile educational experience to students;
- Are consistent with the Academy’s financial plan;
- Meet the standards of the MFHEA regulations;
- Comply with all requirements of the relevant approved external validating.
External Stakeholders in Quality Assurance Policy
OLCA developed a strong external stakeholders in quality assurance policy for the engagement of external stakeholders to conduct audits to ensure our quality assurance and academic processes meet the standards of the MFHEA and provide the best possible experience to our students and staff.
Quality Assurance Policy for Students
OLCA developed a strong quality assurance policy to provide quality learning experiences to our students.