Course accreditation
Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited
A delegate of TEQSA has accredited, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), the following higher education course of study offered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited for a period of four years until 8 July 2019:
- Bachelor of Business (Culinary Arts Management)
and the following higher education course of study offered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited (LCBA) for a period of three years until 8 July 2018:
- Advanced Diploma of Business (Culinary Arts Management)
On 8 July 2015 TEQSA, imposed under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, five conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study.
On 7 April 2016 TEQSA, varied under subsection 53(2) of the TEQSA Act, conditions 3 and 4 imposed on the accreditation of the above courses of study on 8 July 2015. The revised conditions are set out below.
Condition 1:
LCBA must provide a report, approved by its Academic Board, which reviews the learning outcomes for each subject for each course with the exception of two core subjects (Course codes: COMM101 and Basic Accounting Principles and Practice 101) and demonstrates the constructive alignment of learning outcomes with the assessment activities as provided with the applications. The report must include how the learning outcomes have been revised to align with the appropriate AQF level.
Condition 2:
LCBA must:
- engage an independent, external academic expert to review its reference lists for the courses, to provide a report on the extent to which the curriculum for the courses of study draws on a current body of knowledge, and to make recommendations about the nature of any changes required to those reading lists to ensure an appropriate level of currency.
- prior to engaging the academic expert, give TEQSA not less than seven days' notice of the expert LCBA proposes to engage and provide a short summary of the relevant expertise and experience of the nominated expert. TEQSA may notify LCBA that it is not satisfied that the nominated expert is appropriate, in which case TEQSA will provide a shortlist of no less than three suitable alternative experts. LCBA must engage one of the shortlisted alternatives to perform the review at (i).
- provide TEQSA with a copy of the report and any recommendations by the academic expert, as well as a response to the report and recommendations endorsed by LCBA's Academic Board.
Condition 3:
LCBA must provide TEQSA with evidence of the application of LCBA's policy and procedure for determining equivalence of professional experience of the delivery partner(s) academic staff who are proposed to teach the courses of study. This includes the criteria for determining whether those academic staff who do not have a qualification one AQF level above the course they teach have the professional experience that gives them the skills, knowledge and capacity to apply skills and knowledge equivalent to an AQF +1 qualification.
Condition 4:
LCBA must:
- engage an independent, external academic expert to provide a report on:
a) the adequacy of the arrangements that LCBA will have in place to oversee and manage work integrated learning 'professional experience', including academic supervision of students at its delivery partner(s) delivery site(s) and
b) the extent to which LCBA's academic oversight of its delivery partner(s) course management and co-ordination including moderation procedures will ensure consistent and appropriate assessment;
- prior to engaging the academic expert, give TEQSA not less than seven days' notice of the expert LCBA proposes to engage and provide a short summary of the relevant expertise and experience of the nominated expert. TEQSA may notify LCBA that it is not satisfied that the nominated expert is appropriate, in which case TEQSA will provide a shortlist of no less than three suitable alternative experts. LCBA must engage one of the shortlisted alternatives to perform the review at (i).
- provide TEQSA with a copy of the report and any recommendations by the academic expert, as well as a response to the report and recommendations endorsed by LCBA's Academic Board.
Condition 5:
LCBA must not recruit or enrol any students in the courses of study.
The course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.
Main Reasons for the Decision
TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited's application for accreditation of two courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards. TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty Limited's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards. The course accreditation covers delivery by two third parties, Technical and Further Education South Australia - TAFESA and the University of South Australia.
The broad issues which relate to the courses of study include:
- learning outcomes
- reference lists for the courses
- oversight of work integrated learning
- teaching and learning
- course coordination and moderation
Reports on TEQSA's determinations contribute to meeting these objects by making its regulatory decisions and actions publicly available. This report provides information about the applicant, the course accreditation process and the main reasons for TEQSA's decision.
