Welcome to Egraduate College's Online Learning programmes. This handbook gives you a quick overview of the skills you need for online learning success. Online learning is also known as distance learning, e-learning, and other names. We call it 'Virtual Education'. Virtual Education is unique and offers both challenges and opportunities. The information here won't make you a perfect online student immediately, but they will help you build lasting strategies for success. We encourage you to use the resources and advice we provide to enjoy and benefit from your online classes.

Virtual Education lets you take classes whenever and wherever you want. Through the internet, you can get instructions, send in your work, ask questions, talk with other students, and take part in class activities from home, office, or a computer lab. Egraduate College focuses on offering top-quality teachers, programmes, and services.

Time Management

Remember, online courses still require time. You might not travel to class, but you might spend more time on technology issues. The time needed for online classes could be more or less than traditional classes, but it's important to plan this time well. When choosing online courses, think about how much time you can give each week and how much the course needs.

Managing Your Time 

It helps online students to plan their time well. Find out when you work best and when you can use the internet and your course materials. Set a regular time each day or week for your course and stick to it. Know if your course requires you to be online at specific times and plan for that. If you're in a different time zone, adjust your schedule for turning in your work.

Class Communication

Successful learners interact frequently with the fellow students during course activities. As an online student, effective communication is key, but can be difficult. Without the face-to-face contact of a traditional classroom, written communication becomes paramount. Since written communication lacks the facial expressions, tone of voice and other non- verbal cues seen or heard during face-to-face communication.

Balancing Responsibilites and Setting Priorities

Vital to a successful virtual education experience is the ability to balance your responsibilities. Knowing how to set priorities is the key to getting the greatest benefit from your online education experience. Determine early in the semester exactly what work is required and do your best to plan ahead. Do not hesitate to ask for advice or help from the programme coordinator at Egraduate College.

Dealing with Stress

Here's how to handle stress from your course:

• Keep track of deadlines. This means not just for your course, but also other important dates in your life during the course.
• Prepare early. If you have something big happening outside of your course for a week, try to do your course work before that week.
• Know what resources you have, especially for technology, and make sure they're ready to use when you're doing your course work.

Taking Charge of Your Learning

As you move forward in higher education and ongoing learning, you'll need to be more responsible for learning by yourself.

Learning on Your Own

While you find different ways to learn and choose your own path, remember to work with other students to ensure you're fulfilling the course requirements.

Knowing What's Expected

To meet your course's needs, you must understand its requirements and expectations. Egraduate College will give you a syllabus. Make sure to read it thoroughly and print a copy.

Asking Questions 

If you're unsure about anything in the course, ask your tutor right away. Your questions might also help other students, so don't hesitate to ask, early and often.

Being an Engaged Learner

To do well, you need to actively understand the course material.

• Read, listen, and take part in the course.
• Get involved in discussions and defining what the course is about.
• Think critically about what you're learning.

Building Self-Discipline

Being self-disciplined is key for online learning. It helps you manage your time well. Without it, you might face challenges. Here are some tips:

• Keep track of when things are due; have a printed syllabus and course calendar.
• Make a regular schedule for checking into your class and stick to it.
• Try to avoid distractions while online.
• Make sure you can always use a computer.
• Have a backup plan in case your computer has problems.

Online Community

Even though it's online, Virtual Education doesn't mean you're learning by yourself. You'll be part of a class with other students and maybe more people to talk to. You help create a classroom feeling by joining in discussions, working on group projects, and other activities. You don't need to see or talk to someone directly to get to know them.

Through your messages and discussions, both delayed and in real time, you can form personal and professional relationships. Your classmates, who might come from various backgrounds, can offer a lot of knowledge and experience. They can provide resources, information, and support. You can share book reviews, links to helpful online resources, and thoughts on specific topics. Together with your classmates, you can build a shared pool of knowledge that's useful even after you finish the course. Egraduate College expects high standards of honesty and integrity from all members of the community. We are committed to creating an environment that facilitates the academic and personal growth of its members.

Privacy Policy Statement for Online Learners

Egraduate College is dedicated to safeguarding the privacy of individuals participating in our online classes. This privacy policy is provided to clarify how we collect, utilise, and protect your personal data. Egraduate College only gathers personally identifiable information when you voluntarily provide it. 'Personal information' refers to data that can identify or contact an individual, separate from student information.

Egraduate College does not actively share personal information about its website users or students. Information provided by users, such as email addresses or details submitted through online forms, is utilized solely for the purpose of assisting users as needed. This assistance may include rerouting inquiries or comments to a more appropriate department or individual within the institution to ensure effective resolution.

Study Habits and Skills:

a. Understanding Your Learning Style 

Recognizing your individual learning style is crucial, regardless of whether you are enrolled in a traditional classroom or an online course. Online classes vary in their presentation methods, making this understanding even more important. There are several learning styles. Visual learners absorb and recall information best through visual elements. Auditory learners, on the other hand, excel when they listen to lectures or discussions. Kinesthetic learners are hands-on and benefit from engaging physically with the learning material. Identifying your preferred learning style can significantly enhance your educational experience in any setting.

These are a few sites that offer free questionnaires to determine your individual learning style:

www.ldpride.net

www.howtolearn.com

www.metamath.com/multiple/multiple_choice_questions.html

www.longleaf.net/learningstyle.html

http://literacyworks.org/mi/assessment/findyourstrengths.html

There are many different theories and styles of learning, that have been categorized into three general styles – The Visual Learner (the seer), The Tactile Learner (the doer), and The Aural Learner (the hearer).

b. Three Types of Learners

i. Strategies for the Visual Learner ("The Seer")

Visual learners thrive by seeing course information in various formats. If you identify as a visual learner, consider these strategies:

• Course materials are typically text-based. Carefully read the content and integrate the information with accompanying diagrams or images.
• Enhance your understanding through textbooks that include diagrams, maps, and illustrations.
• Explore additional online resources related to the course topic.
• Review the course description on the Egraduate College website before enrolling.

ii. Approaches for the Tactile Learner ("The Doer")

Tactile learners excel through hands-on experiences. If this is your preferred style, these suggestions may enhance your online learning experience:

• Actively participate in online discussions with classmates.
• Seek out online courses that include labs or practical components.
• Form study groups with peers enrolled in the same course.
• Contact Egraduate College support for further information about the course's practical aspects.

iii. Tips for the Aural Learner ("The Hearer")

Aural learners absorb information through listening and verbal interaction. Online courses can be challenging for this learning style, as they often rely on text. To adapt effectively, consider these strategies:

• Familiarize yourself with the course by reading its description on the Egraduate College website.
• Discuss with students who have experience with online courses, especially the ones you are considering.
• Look for courses that incorporate video content and other auditory elements.
• Visit the website for detailed information about the course's audio-visual components.

Student Responsibilities in Virtual Education

In a virtual education setting, students bear greater responsibility due to the autonomous nature of the learning process. Beyond managing your own schedule, thoroughly reading assigned materials, and tracking deadlines, there are several key actions required to ensure a successful distance learning experience:

• Avoid Procrastination: Proactively engage in your studies to maintain steady progress.
• Document Submission and Backup:Retain copies of all submitted assignments for your records.
• Adherence to Submission Guidelines: Follow specified instructions regarding file formats and submission processes for assignments.
• Clear Communication: Clearly identify yourself by your actual name in all email communications, even if it differs from your email address.
• Course Engagement and Feedback: Actively evaluate both the course content and the delivery method. Seek assistance promptly whenever necessary to address any challenges or uncertainties.

Academic Honesty

Academic honesty is a cornerstone of the educational framework, crucial for upholding the integrity and value of academic qualifications and the college's reputation.

The principle of academic honesty is critical for accurately assessing a student's comprehension and mastery of course content. This assessment may involve various methods such as quizzes, exams, reports, homework, projects, discussions, and other assignments used by the college to evaluate a student's understanding of the material. Any action that undermines the integrity of these evaluative processes constitutes academic dishonesty.

Egraduate College strictly prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, including but not limited to cheating and plagiarism. Examples of academic dishonesty encompass:

• Copying from another student's work, providing unauthorized access to tests or assignment answers, and using a false identity in an online setting.
• Plagiarism, which includes presenting someone else's academic or creative work as your own, or using another's ideas, words, or phrases without proper attribution.
• Tampering with official academic records.
• Unauthorised modification of graded documents through digital means.
• Submitting work predominantly created by another student.
• Aiding or facilitating any form of academic dishonesty.

Students found to be engaging in academic dishonesty will face consequences, which may include failure of the assignment and additional disciplinary actions as appropriate.

Plagiarism

Plagiarism involves using another person's work — be it writing, conversation, music, ideas, or any form of creative expression — and presenting it as your own.

This rule applies to material from various sources, including: Web pages, books, songs, TV shows, emails, interviews, articles, artworks, and other mediums.

When you use another person's work in any form, such as paraphrasing, summarising, or directly quoting phrases, sentences, or larger portions, you must clearly cite the source within your paper. This is more than just including the source in a bibliography at the end; it requires proper in-text citation to acknowledge the original creator.

Egraduate College allows up to a 25% similarity threshold for submitted work to be considered for grading. However, exceeding this limit or failing to properly cite sources may result in academic penalties. Violations of academic integrity standards at Egraduate College, such as plagiarism, can lead to severe consequences including receiving a failing grade for the course or dismissal from the college.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this handbook is designed to set you on the path to success as an online learner at Egraduate College. Remember, questions are a natural part of the learning process, and we strongly encourage you to reach out whenever you need assistance. Whether it's a quick call to our helpdesk or an email to study@egraduatecollege.com, our team is ready to support you every step of the way. Don't hesitate to get in touch; we're here to help you thrive in your online learning journey! 

This Privacy Policy outlines the practices of Egraduate College (EC) regarding the collection, usage, protection, and disclosure of information gathered from users of the www.egraduatecollege.com website. As users of our Service, comprising undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate programs, you consent to our information practices as detailed in this policy.

Acceptance of Terms

By accessing and using our Service, you signify your agreement to the terms of this Privacy Policy.

Information Gathering and Usage

EC may obtain personal information such as names, email addresses, phone numbers, and postal addresses from its users. This information assists us in identifying and communicating with you, delivering services, and enhancing your experience with our Service.

Log Information

Your use of our Service leads to the collection of Log Data, which may include your computer's IP address, browser type, visited Service pages, date and time of your visit, time spent on pages, and other relevant statistics.

Cookie Usage

EC's Service may utilise cookies—small data files stored on your hard drive. These cookies help in gathering information and improving our Service. You have the choice to accept or refuse these cookies, but refusing them might restrict access to certain Service functionalities.

Third-Party Service Providers

We engage external companies and individuals for tasks like facilitating our Service, conducting Service-related services, or assisting in Service usage analysis. These third parties may access your personal information but are bound not to disclose or use it for other purposes.

Data Security

Securing your personal data is a priority for us, and we employ commercially reasonable safeguards. However, no internet transmission or electronic storage method is infallibly secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.

External Website Links

Our Service may include links to third-party websites outside EC's control. We recommend reviewing the privacy policies of these sites, as we bear no responsibility for their content, privacy policies, or practices.

Children's Privacy Protection

Our Service is not intended for individuals under 13 years of age. We do not deliberately gather information from children under 13. If we discover such data collected without parental consent, we will promptly delete it. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us.

Privacy Policy Updates

EC reserves the right to modify this Privacy Policy at any time. We advise regularly reviewing this policy for changes. Continued use of the Service following any changes indicates your acceptance of the revised policy.

A cancellation charge will apply according to the following scale:

• up to 21 days before the course begins: lose deposit plus non-refundable fees.

• 21 days to 15 days: 33% of the total invoice

• 14 days to 8 days: 66% of the total invoice

• 7 days to 3 days: 75% of the total invoice

• 2 days or less: 100% of the total invoice

No refunds will be made after the course has started.

Health and Safety Policy for Online Distance Learners

1. Purpose of the Policy

This policy is designed to ensure the health and safety of all online distance learners at Egraduate College, who are studying from various locations around the world.

2. Scope of the Policy

This policy applies to all students enrolled in online distance learning courses at Egraduate College, regardless of their geographic location.

3. Policy Accessibility

This policy is available online for all enrolled distance learners and faculty members.

4. Understanding the Policy

All distance learners and educators are encouraged to familiarise themselves with this policy to ensure a safe and healthy online learning environment.

5. Regular Policy Review

Egraduate College commits to annually reviewing and updating this policy to ensure its relevance and effectiveness.

6. Ergonomics and Workspace Safety

• Students are advised to set up an ergonomic workspace to prevent strain and injury.
• Regular breaks are encouraged to reduce the risk of eye strain and repetitive strain injury (RSI).

7. Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Egraduate College provides resources and support for the mental health and wellbeing of its distance learners.
• Students are encouraged to maintain a balanced lifestyle, including sufficient rest, exercise, and social interactions.

8. Online Safety and Cybersecurity

• Students must follow guidelines for safe internet use and protect their personal information.
• Egraduate College provides cybersecurity resources to help students safeguard their data and privacy.

9. Emergency Preparedness

• Students are encouraged to be aware of local emergency procedures and contacts.
• In case of a local emergency, students should prioritise their immediate safety and inform the college of any disruptions to their learning.

10. Reporting Health and Safety Concerns

• Students should report any health or safety concerns related to their online learning environment to Egraduate College.
• The college will investigate and address reported concerns promptly.

11. Accessibility and Support

• The college ensures that online learning materials and platforms are accessible to all students, including those with disabilities.
• Technical support is available to assist with accessing online learning resources.

12. Community and Peer Support

• Egraduate College fosters an online community where students can share tips, advice, and support for maintaining health and safety while learning remotely.

Updated: 20/10/2023

Definition and Stance on Plagiarism

Plagiarism is the unethical copying of material without proper acknowledgment of its original source. Egraduate College strictly prohibits plagiarism in all forms. Students must distinguish between plagiarism and the acceptable use and interpretation of others' work.

Acceptable Use

Utilising information from another source is permissible as a minor part of your work, provided the original source is correctly referenced. It is not acceptable to present work that is largely an identical copy of another source's content (words or graphics) without proper acknowledgment.

Consequences of Plagiarism

If found guilty of plagiarism, students face potential suspension, monetary fines, or even expulsion. Legal actions taken by the owner of the plagiarised material will be the sole responsibility of the student; Egraduate College assumes no legal liability.

Definition of Plagiarism

Copying sentences or large parts of text from any source, including the internet, books, or other publications, constitutes plagiarism. Egraduate College is committed to maintaining its academic integrity and does not award qualifications to anyone found guilty of plagiarism.

Detection and Monitoring

Plagiarism is detected through various means, including web searches, analysis of writing style and content depth. Incidents will be recorded, and students will be required to rewrite and resubmit their work.

Policy on Repeated Offences

Continued instances of plagiarism, despite warnings, demonstrate a failure to learn and will impact the student’s ability to pass their course.

Plagiarism Scanning and Reporting

All submitted work is subject to plagiarism scanning. Reports indicating plagiarism levels above a certain threshold will result in a warning and potential resubmission of the assignment. Egraduate College adopts a tiered response to repeated offences, escalating to a disciplinary committee if necessary.

Assessment of Student Work

To ensure authenticity, various methods like questioning, personal logs, and peer reports may be used to verify the originality of submitted work.

Updated: 26/10/2023

1. Purpose of the Policy

This policy helps students at Egraduate College who need changes in how they are assessed because of a disability or specific learning needs.

2. Who Can Use This Policy?

All students and staff at Egraduate College can use this policy.

3. Finding the Policy

This policy is available for everyone at Egraduate College.

4. Understanding the Policy

It's important for all students and staff to know this policy.

5. Reviewing the Policy

Egraduate College checks this policy every year and changes it if needed to make sure it's fair and follows the law.

6. What Does Reasonable Adjustment Mean?

Reasonable adjustment means making changes to help students with disabilities or learning needs during assessments. This could include:

• Giving extra time for an assessment.
• Changing assessment materials, like providing them in Braille.
• Having someone help during the assessment, like a sign language interpreter.
• Changing the setup of the assessment room.

7. Asking for Adjustments

• Students must tell Egraduate College staff if they need adjustments.
• Staff will ask the right organization for these adjustments at least 7 days before an assessment.

8. Special Considerations

Sometimes, students might face temporary problems like illness or injury. They can ask for special consideration, which might change their assessment mark slightly. This request should be made within 5 days of the assessment.

9. Keeping Records

All information about adjustments and special considerations is kept safe and private.

Updated: 24/10/2023

1. Purpose of This Policy

This policy is to make sure everyone at Egraduate College is treated fairly and with respect, no matter who they are.

2. Who Should Use This Policy?

All students, teachers, and staff at Egraduate College should follow this policy.

3. Where to Find This Policy

This policy is available for everyone at Egraduate College.

4. Understanding the Policy

It’s important for all people at Egraduate College to know and understand this policy.

5. Checking and Updating the Policy

Egraduate College will review and update this policy every year to make sure it’s still good and follows the law.

6. Our Commitment

We at Egraduate College believe in fairness and respect for everyone. This means:

• Everyone has the same chance to learn and work.
• We do not allow unfair treatment or disrespect.
• We treat everyone’s needs seriously.

7. What is Unfair Treatment?

Unfair treatment means treating someone worse because of who they are. This includes things like their gender, race, age, disability, sexual orientation or beliefs.

8. What We Do Not Allow

We do not allow:

• Bullying or mean behavior.
• Making someone feel bad because of who they are.
• Ignoring someone’s needs or rights.

9. Reporting Problems

If you see or face unfair treatment at Egraduate College, please tell us. We will look into it and help solve the problem.

10. Our Promise to Help

We promise to help everyone feel safe and respected at Egraduate College. We will listen to any problems and try to fix them.

11. Respecting Each Other

We encourage everyone at Egraduate College to respect and help each other. This makes our college a better place for everyone.

Updated: 24/10/2023

1. Purpose of the Policy

This policy helps students at Egraduate College who want to question or appeal against their assessment results.

2. Who Can Use This Policy?

All students, teachers, and staff members involved in delivering or taking Egraduate College courses can use this policy.

3. Policy Accessibility

This policy is available to all students, staff, and third parties.

4. Knowing the Policy

It is important that everyone involved in teaching, assessing, and taking courses at Egraduate College understands this policy.

5. Regular Review

Egraduate College will review this policy every year and change it if needed. This ensures our procedures are fair and meet all required standards.

6. Right to Appeal

Students have the right to appeal if they think their assessment wasn't fair. Reasons to appeal can include:

• How the assessment was done
• Whether enough types of evidence were used
• Chances given to show skills or knowledge
• Access to assessment and internal verification
• How the appeal was handled
• Administrative issues like registration errors

7. Appeal Process

• Lodging an Appeal: If you want to appeal, you must write to the relevant staff within 7 working days after getting your assessment result.
• Acknowledging the Appeal: We will confirm we received your appeal within 2 working days.
• Investigating the Appeal: A staff member who was not involved in your assessment will look into your appeal. This may include talking to everyone involved.
• Outcome of the Appeal: We will tell you the result within 10 working days after you lodge your appeal. If we need more time, we will let you know.

8. If Appeal is Successful

• If your appeal is accepted, we will correct your assessment result.
• Staff involved may get additional training.
• Each appeal is handled based on its own situation.

9. Escalating the Appeal

• If you are not satisfied with the decision, you can ask us to take your appeal to the awarding body.
• The awarding body will then handle your appeal according to their policy.

10. Record Keeping

• All information about your appeal will be kept safe and private.
• We will share details with the awarding body if they ask for them.

Updated: 31/10/2023

1. What is This Policy For?

This policy helps students and staff at Egraduate College if they have a complaint about the services, courses, or staff.

2. Who Can Use This Policy?

Anyone involved with Egraduate College, including students, teachers, and other staff, can use this policy.

3. Where to Find the Policy?

This policy is available for everyone at Egraduate College to read and use.

4. Understanding the Policy

It's important that students and staff know about this policy and how it works.

5. Checking and Updating the Policy

Egraduate College will check this policy every year and change it if needed. This is to make sure it is always fair and up to date.

6. Making a Complaint

If you are unhappy with something at Egraduate College, you can make a complaint. Reasons might include problems with:

• Courses or teaching
• Staff behavior
• Facilities or resources
• Administration issues

7. How to Make a Complaint

• Informal Complaint: First, try to solve the problem by talking directly to the person involved or to a staff member.
• Formal Complaint: If talking doesn't work, you can make a formal complaint. Write to us explaining what happened, why you are unhappy, and what you think should be done.

8. What Happens Next?

• We will let you know we received your complaint within 2 working days.
• Someone who is not involved in the problem will investigate your complaint.
• We aim to give you an answer within 10 working days. If it takes longer, we will tell you.

9. If You Are Not Happy with Our Answer

• If you're not satisfied with how we handled your complaint, you can ask to have it reviewed again.
• As a last step, you can take your complaint to an outside organisation, like the awarding body.

10. Privacy and Records

• We will keep your complaint private and safe.
• We will only share details if needed to solve the complaint.

Updated: 31/10/2023