This is for students who currently occupy or who aspire to occupy a Company Secretary role or equivalent within the private or public sector. This position typically provides high level  and expert advice and support to the Board Chair and Board members, and ensures the Board operates and is compliant within its legislative requirements and other responsibilities.

This qualifying program provides students (working in the private sector) with specialist knowledge via the Corporate Accountability: Meetings and Disclosure subject, relating to company secretarial practice and the rules of company meetings and their application with particular reference to ASX Listing Rules and governance principles. For students working in the public sector, the subject Public Sector Accountability and Transparency provides an understanding of issues in relation to the role, functions, operations, transparency requirements and performance of public sector organisations. It examines underlying concepts and identifies best practice principles.

Students also study the subject Development of Strategy, which examines the elements, processes and techniques involved in the development and implementation of organisational strategy.

This is for students who have varied career aspirations within the governance and risk management sector – and will further appeal to students wishing to acquire advanced risk management knowledge and skills. The course has a  greater emphasis on risk management through the compulsory Phase 2 subject Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), which provides enhanced knowledge of enterprise risk management practices to assist the board, or another governing body, to determine its strategic responsibility for risk-taking; and how different risks operate within the context of existing enterprise management frameworks. Students’ final subject is a  choice between the Risk Management Project (which builds on ERM and the earlier Risk and Compliance subject) or Development of Strategy which examines the elements, processes and techniques involved in the development and implementation of organisational strategy.

Our postgraduate courses and all subjects are offered in the online study mode at Governance Institute. Online study complements our student demographic who are predominately mid-senior-level professionals who work full-time and study our courses part-time. Online study provides convenience and flexibility. The subject assessments are also conducted online.

Online study is conducted via our Learning Management System (LMS) and typically involves attending two (2) hours per week of live classes (a one-hour lecture and a one-hour discussion) for 12 weeks each semester where you will view your lecturer and other classmates on camera; all live classes are recorded and available in the LMS for reference. All subject materials (except textbooks) are available on the LMS for each week of learning.

When do I study? Timetable information is available on the key dates and fees page.

The Graduate Diploma is offered either full-time or part-time. Students typically take between 2-3 years to finish this course. You are expected to enrol in each semester after you commence your course. A maximum of four (4) years is permitted. A maximum of two leave of absence (LOA) sessions may be permitted from your semester of commencement.

Completing the course in two years requires the completion of six subjects over four semesters. Three-year completion requires the completion of six subjects over six semesters.

Each subject requires students to commit to:

• Attending two (2) timetabled hours of classes per week over 12 taught weeks;
• Ten (10) personal study hours per taught week (preparing for classes by completing readings, and assessment preparation (the presentation and assignment); and
• Twenty (20) personal study hours for examination preparation (noting the final examination is weighted at 50% of the total subject).

Please consider these requirements carefully when deciding on your subject load against your professional and personal commitments. For students who work full-time and who are commencing the course, we recommended enrolment in one (1) subject per semester and a subject load of no more than two (2) subjects per semester for all other students.

Students are expected to maintain satisfactory progress by passing all subjects as they progress through their course. Students who fail to make academic progress may have restrictions imposed on further enrolment or may be identified as “at risk” students, who will be notified and supported as Governance Institute deems appropriate under our Progression and Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Policy.

All teaching and assessment activities for postgraduate courses are delivered in the online study mode. Facilities and resources provided by Governance Institute to students are:

The Blackboard Learning Management System (LMS)

Governance Institute LMS, Blackboard, facilitates a wide range of interactive learning, teaching and assessment activities and also serves as postgraduate students’ online learning community. We employ Instructional Designers who create engaging learning activities and compelling course content and work with subject matter experts and who identify students’ learning needs.

Online library databases

Governance Institute subscribes to two online library databases accessible through the LMS that provide postgraduate students with full access to a wide range of scholarly journal articles, e-books, magazines, and other publications to complete their academic work:

• EBSCO Host
• LexisNexis

Comprehensive course readings

Every postgraduate student is provided with a comprehensive set of course readings for each subject, which are developed by subject matter experts (SMEs) engaged by Governance Institute that comprise current, relevant and stimulating reading material for each of the modules in each subject.

Academic support

Academic support materials provided to postgraduate students include:

• An Academic Integrity Module including a compulsory academic integrity assessment.
• A Referencing Guide.
• Instructional videos on use of learning technologies

Governance Institute contracts a third-party provider to provide examination proctoring software to assure the academic integrity of the final examinations in every postgraduate subject.

Course advice

Governance Institute provides dedicated advice and support to postgraduate students on all aspects of their candidature from admission through to graduation and is contactable at education@governanceinstitute.com.au or by calling 1800-251-849. Governance Institute also produces e-Student Newsletters each semester to keep students informed on a range of topics related to their study and about Governance Institute more broadly.

Student representation and recognition

The Education Committee (a sub-committee of the Board) has a postgraduate student member who is elected for a specified term by and from all enrolled postgraduate students. The student representative advocates for students and presents students’ feedback on behalf of the student body to the Education Committee and to the Education Leadership Team for consideration and discussion. The name and contact details of the current student representative are located within the Blackboard LMS.
Governance Institute also awards a number of prizes to students who excel academically each year, which are presented to recipients at an annual online prize ceremony.