The self-assurance report is an opportunity for you to articulate and evidence the effectiveness of your systems of self-assurance as they relate to your operational context and the application to renew a course in teach out, thereby demonstrating how you have assured yourself of ongoing compliance with the requirements of the HES Framework.
Outcomes of your self-assurance activities should be used to demonstrate your capacity to identify, mitigate and manage risks to the course that arise from the decision to place the course in provider-initiated teach out, and the measures in place to support students throughout the teach out process.
Where you have identified limitations in your capacity to manage risks to students and the quality of education, you should outline your plans to address and overcome these limitations.
In preparing your self-assurance report and application, TEQSA recommends demonstrating consideration of the following:
| Suitability of the course to enter teach out |
- Rationale for teaching out the course
- New enrolments to the course have ceased
- The course will cease to be delivered to students within 24 months of the date on which the current accreditation period is to end
- This is the first application to renew the course in teach out.
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| Teach out plan |
The teach out plan considers:
- the number of months/years that the course needs to remain in teach out
- course progression analysis and forecasted completions for individual students to ensure that all students will either successfully graduate or transition out of the course within the teach out period
- contingencies to enable students sufficient time to complete their studies should they take unplanned leave, fail units, or request part-time study arrangements
- the resources and support services required to support delivery of the course throughout the teach out period and maintain educational quality
- transition arrangements for alternative courses at the same providers, including entry requirements and recognition of prior learning (RPL)
- transition arrangements and agreements with other providers, including entry requirements, RPL and any additional costs to the students.
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| Information for students |
- Provider marketing material for the course is updated
- Communications with students are transparent and:
- advise of the decision to teach out the course
- outline the options available to enable completion of the course, including options for students who find that they will not be able to complete by the teach out expiry date
- provide assurance that they will experience no adverse impact due to the decision to teach out the course, with continued resources and support services available to support student progression and completion.
- Students are aware of, and can access, grievance and complaints handling processes (see TEQSA’s guidance note on grievance and complaint handling).
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| Governance |
- Actions taken to implement the teach out process are consistent with internal policies concerning the discontinuation or teach out of courses
- The decision to teach out the course has been approved by the peak governing bodies after consideration of:
- the rationale for the recommendation to teach out the course
- risks to financial viability
- risks to students and educational quality.
TEQSA recommends that providers consider our guidance note on academic governance.
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In preparing your self-assurance report you are also expected to self-identify and address any significant risks specific to your individual circumstances, including any risks associated with the regulatory and compliance history of the course (e.g. active course conditions or voluntary undertakings).
Further information
For more information or assistance when applying for renewal of course accreditation in teach out, please contact the Courses team at assessments@teqsa.gov.au.
