Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Bond University Limited

TEQSA has renewed, under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), the registration of Bond University Limited for a period of seven years until 28 September 2024 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA has assessed the application for renewal of registration submitted by Bond University Limited against the Threshold Standards.

TEQSA is satisfied that Bond University Limited continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

TEQSA's assessment considered Bond University Limited's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

TEQSA found that Bond University Limited (trading as Bond University) has demonstrated:

1. the quality of corporate and academic governance
2. excellent record-keeping in the form of minutes of meetings of the Council, Academic Senate, and committees
3. a focus on continuous improvement and the enablers for student engagement (including a strong student-to-staff ratio)
4. support for participation by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
5. effective processes for developing and reviewing courses that require professional accreditation
6. strong research performance in Health and Medical Sciences.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Sheridan College Incorporated

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 Sheridan College Incorporated for a period of seven years until 30 August 2024:

• Bachelor of Business

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed one condition on the accreditation of the above course of study.

Condition 1: Sheridan College must submit to TEQSA by 31 December 2017 the following documents:

1. Revised course unit listing,
2. Unit Outlines for any new units developed for delivery in the course, and
3. Unit Outlines for any units in the course that undergo revision.

The course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Sheridan College's application for accreditation of one course of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Sheridan College is considered at risk of not complying with aspects of the Threshold Standards.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by The Australian College of the Arts

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 courses of study offered by The Australian College of the Arts (Collarts) for a period of four years until 25 October 2021.

• Diploma of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing)
• Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing)

A delegate of TEQSA has imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the accreditation of the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing):

Condition 1: Prior to offering a student a place in the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing), Collarts must provide to TEQSA evidence of the appointment of a suitably qualified Program Leader. The appointee must possess:

1. a qualification in a relevant discipline at least at AQF level 8
2. demonstrated experience in overseeing the development and coordination of higher education academic programs.

Condition 2: Not later than four weeks prior to the commencement of each teaching period for the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing), in relation to each staff member at each location proposed to teach one or more units in the course, Collarts must provide TEQSA with:

1. the name of each staff member intended to deliver each unit in the course
2. the units proposed to be taught and delivery location
3. each staff member's qualifications in the discipline of the course being taught
4. if a staff member does not hold a qualification in a relevant discipline at least one AQF level above the course in which they are teaching, details of the basis on which Collarts determined that the staff member holds professional experience equivalent to such a qualification.

Main reasons for decision

The issues which led TEQSA to impose conditions and a shortened period of accreditation are:

a) This is the first course to be taught by Collarts with a focus on Fashion Marketing.

b) Whether the numbers, qualifications, experience, expertise and sessional/full-time mix of both academic staff who teach or tutor the course of study, and support staff, are appropriate to the nature, level, and mode of delivery of the course of study and the attainment of expected student learning outcomes.

c) The extent to which the staff who teach students in the course of study are appropriately qualified in the relevant discipline, and whether they have a sound understanding of current scholarship and/or professional practice in the discipline that they teach.

TEQSA's assessment considered Collarts' arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by The Australian College of the Arts

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 courses of study offered by The Australian College of the Arts (Collarts) for a period of four years until 25 October 2021.

• Diploma of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing)
• Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing)

A delegate of TEQSA has imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the accreditation of the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing):

Condition 1: Prior to offering a student a place in the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing), Collarts must provide to TEQSA evidence of the appointment of a suitably qualified Program Leader. The appointee must possess:

1. a qualification in a relevant discipline at least at AQF level 8
2. demonstrated experience in overseeing the development and coordination of higher education academic programs.

Condition 2: Not later than four weeks prior to the commencement of each teaching period for the Bachelor of Applied Business (Fashion Marketing), in relation to each staff member at each location proposed to teach one or more units in the course, Collarts must provide TEQSA with:

1. the name of each staff member intended to deliver each unit in the course
2. the units proposed to be taught and delivery location
3. each staff member's qualifications in the discipline of the course being taught
4. if a staff member does not hold a qualification in a relevant discipline at least one AQF level above the course in which they are teaching, details of the basis on which Collarts determined that the staff member holds professional experience equivalent to such a qualification.

Main reasons for decision

The issues which led TEQSA to impose conditions and a shortened period of accreditation are:

a) This is the first course to be taught by Collarts with a focus on Fashion Marketing.

b) Whether the numbers, qualifications, experience, expertise and sessional/full-time mix of both academic staff who teach or tutor the course of study, and support staff, are appropriate to the nature, level, and mode of delivery of the course of study and the attainment of expected student learning outcomes.

c) The extent to which the staff who teach students in the course of study are appropriately qualified in the relevant discipline, and whether they have a sound understanding of current scholarship and/or professional practice in the discipline that they teach.

TEQSA's assessment considered Collarts' arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Eastern College Australia Incorporated

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 Eastern College Australia for a period of seven years until 16 October 2024:

• Master of Education

TEQSA has imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, three conditions on the accreditation of the Master of Education:

Condition 1

The Master of Education must be delivered face-to-face (only) until evidence has been provided that the curriculum has been redesigned with appropriate online learning pedagogy, necessary to facilitate student engagement and critical inquiry within a blended learning environment, consistent with the nature and the levels of the units being taught.

Condition 2

Prior to commencing delivery of the Master of Education, provide evidence to TEQSA that an additional academic staff member with appropriate qualifications has been employed to teach in the course.

Condition 3

Following the first year of benchmarking against a similar accredited course of study, evidence must be provided of the Academic Board's review of benchmarking of the Master of Education, as captured in minutes, demonstrating any action taken to improve academic standards where divergence is identified in comparison with the benchmarking partner.

Main reasons for the decision

The issues which led TEQSA to impose the conditions are:

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to the Eastern College Australia accreditation of the course of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Eastern College Australia 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 Eastern College Australia's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education award.

• The broad issues that relate to the Master of Education include:

  a) Course Design

  b) Teaching and Learning

  c) Assessment

TEQSA's assessment considered Eastern College Australia Incorporated's arrangements for delivery at all its Australian sites.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 20 February 2021 in the provider category of 'higher education provider'.

Background to Decision

Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd submitted an application for renewal of registration in the category of 'higher education provider' under Section 35 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act). Subsection 36(4) of the TEQSA Act enables TEQSA to renew a provider's registration for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of ACPE Limited

TEQSA has renewed the registration of ACPE Limited, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, for a period of seven years to 17 September 2022, in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed one condition on the registration of ACPE Limited as a higher education provider.

Condition 1

ACPE Limited, by 30 June 2016, and then annually by 30 June each year or until further notice, must provide TEQSA each preceding academic year's Quality Teaching and Learning Report (or equivalent) demonstrating:

• implementation of effective quality assurance arrangements, monitoring and review, leading to significant improvement in student attrition rates
  • the report must include analysis of yearly trend data on student attrition, student progress, course completions and grade distributions at the course and institution level.
• improvements in the level of scholarly activity per staff member
• active consideration by the Academic Board

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA assessed the application submitted by ACPE Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites. TEQSA considers that the decision to apply one condition to ACPE Limited's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as ACPE Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

The broad issues which relate to the ACPE Limited's registration included:

• a delay in the reporting of the Quality Teaching and Learning Report with information regarding student performance data, benchmarking and academic scholarship, required to enable ACPE Limited's governing bodies to carry out their functions
• the trend data provided for the period within scope indicated decreasing student enrolments and increasing attrition rates. In the absence of reporting, it was unclear what the outcomes were of ACPE Limited's strategies to address these issues

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

On 29 August 2013, TEQSA determined, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of three years to 29 August 2016 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

On 29 August 2013, TEQSA imposed, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, five conditions on the registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider.

TEQSA made subsequent decisions on 27 February 2014 and 12 March 2015 to revoke conditions two, three, four and five.

The main reasons for these decisions are outlined in the Addendum of this report.

Conditions currently imposed:

Under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, one condition is currently imposed on the registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider:

Condition 1: Batchelor Institute's self-accrediting authority is limited to its current courses at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels 8, 9 and 10, as currently focused on Indigenous knowledges.

Main Reasons for Decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to register Batchelor Institute for a period of three years and to apply conditions to the renewal of registration as a higher education provider is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act for the following reasons:

• Batchelor Institute is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards. In particular, a number of aspects of Batchelor Institute's higher education operations give rise to concerns of future non-compliance with Sections 3 and 4 of the Provider Registration Standards. Of most immediate concern is the performance of Batchelor Institute's current Higher Degree by Research courses.
• Batchelor Institute has been through a period of review and significant reorganisation. It has demonstrated that it is putting in place arrangements to support its corporate and academic governance and a framework to protect academic integrity and quality, including initiatives to improve the performance of its Higher Degree by Research courses.
• The decision will allow Batchelor Institute a reasonable period of time to implement both its new governance arrangements and the measures to improve academic quality and performance. It will give Batchelor Institute an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of these arrangements and measures.
• The decision ensures that TEQSA will be able to review their effectiveness and ensure that Batchelor Institute has in place the highly effective academic governance processes needed to self-accredit its courses.

Addendum to Public Report on 27 February 2014: Conditions Revoked

On 27 February 2014, TEQSA made a decision to revoke conditions two, three and four, followed by a decision to revoke condition five on 12 March 2015. The decisions to revoke the conditions were made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied the conditions had been met.

The conditions previously imposed on 29 August 2013 were that:

Condition 2: By no later than 31 March 2014, Batchelor Institute must provide TEQSA with a report on the major review of the Master of Indigenous Knowledges (by Research) and an implementation plan for the outcomes of the review.

Condition 3: Batchelor Institute must not accept any new enrolments in the Master of Indigenous Knowledges (by Research) until two months after the date TEQSA receives the report and the implementation plan referred to above.

Condition 4: By no later than 31 December 2013, Batchelor Institute must provide TEQSA with up-to-date individual learning plans for each current Higher Degree by Research student. These plans are to include:

1. an evaluation of the student's progress to date
2. timelines and mapping of a path to completion of or exit from the relevant course
3. details of academic and other support to be provided to the student.

Condition 5: By no later than 30 September 2014, Batchelor Institute must complete a review of its corporate and academic governance documents, including by-laws, charters, policies, procedures, terms of reference and delegations, and report to TEQSA on the outcome of the review.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

On 13 April 2017, TEQSA determined, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education be renewed for a period of seven years to 13 April 2024 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider', with self-accrediting authority.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

TEQSA found that the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education continues to meet the Threshold Standards. The Institute's capability to continue exercising its self-accrediting authority for AQF levels 8 -10 has been clearly demonstrated.

In particular, TEQSA found that the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has demonstrated:

• improved corporate governance and the necessary expertise to drive the strategic direction of the Institute as an indigenous higher education provider
• significant improvements to its policy framework
• a commitment to building its research capacity, consistent with its strategic objectives
• robust internal academic quality assurance processes
• strong benchmarking activities
• well-targeted support, appropriate to the varying needs of its students.