• In March 2020, in an initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic, ASQA and TEQSA announced flexibility in regulatory arrangements and requirements to enable providers to support students to study online either in Australia or offshore.
• As long as the student remained enrolled with their provider, and the assessment requirements of the course allowed it, the location of the student and the mode of delivery would not prevent the student from attaining an Australian qualification. 
• The Prime Minister has announced that fully vaccinated international students and temporary graduate (subclass 485) visa holders will be able to arrive in Australia from 1 December 2021.
• As there are around 164,000 international student visa holders outside of Australia, it may take some time for students to gradually return to Australia.
• ASQA and TEQSA will continue to apply regulatory flexibility until conditions allow for the return of a substantial proportion of international students who are currently not in Australia. ASQA and TEQSA will review this approach in mid-2022.
• Providers should assure themselves that current and ongoing arrangements for students maintain assessment and quality standards and are appropriately documented as previously published.  
• If providers have questions about their specific circumstances, including how they may resume delivery, they should contact their relevant regulator.

TEQSA has welcomed the appointment of Stephen Somogyi as TEQSA Commissioner.

The Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, confirmed Mr Somogyi’s appointment earlier today.

TEQSA’s Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake AO welcomed Mr Somogyi to the national regulatory and quality assurance agency for higher education, noting his extensive global experience in the financial services, health care, higher education and prudential regulation sectors would benefit the TEQSA Commission.

“Mr Somogyi brings extensive experience in relation to regulatory matters, the higher education and commercial sectors to the TEQSA Commission,” Professor Coaldrake said. 

“His financial background will strengthen our ability to protect student interests and the reputation of Australian higher education as Australia’s higher education sector recovers from the impact of the pandemic.”

Prior to joining TEQSA, Mr Somogyi worked as a Strategic Adviser to Monash University, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne, University of Adelaide, Siemens, Queensland Investment Corporation and the Australian Council of Education Research. He is a member of the Expert Review Group for ACER with respect to Financial Adviser exams.

A Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the Financial Services Institute of Australia, he formerly served 10 years as Chief Operating Officer at RMIT University. 

Mr Somogyi has also held a range of senior roles in government and industry including the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Trowbridge Consulting, Mayne Nickless and CGU Insurance. His work on boards includes service as Member of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, Chair of Guild Group and as Director of UniSuper.

Mr Somogyi’s five-year-term as TEQSA Commissioner commences from 1 November. This returns the TEQSA Commission to four members – the other members are Chief Commissioner Professor Coaldrake, TEQSA Commissioner Emeritus Professor Joan Cooper and TEQSA Commissioner Ms Adrienne Nieuwenhuis.

• Further information about the role of the TEQSA Commission

Media contact

Bryan Allchin, TEQSA - 0437 103 012 or comms@teqsa.gov.au.

To mark today’s International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating, TEQSA has published a new resource to help academics identify and respond to cases of contract cheating in symbol dense assessments.

The new Substantiating contract cheating for symbol-dense, logical responses in any discipline, particularly mathematics: a guide for investigators contains advice to complement existing TEQSA resources.

Developed for TEQSA by La Trobe University’s Dr Katherine Seaton, the new resource outlines how academics can identify contract cheating in symbol dense fields, and includes an investigations checklist and questions for investigators.

International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating is a global event organised by the International Center for Academic Integrity (ICAI) to promote the importance of academic integrity and the risks posed by contract cheating.

Further information

• Substantiating contract cheating for symbol-dense, logical responses in any discipline, particularly mathematics: a guide for investigators (PDF, 315 KB)
• International Day of Action Against Contract Cheating 2021 events

TEQSA has obtained a Federal Court order that requires carriage service providers to block access to the website Assignmenthelp4you.com.

TEQSA lodged the application in July 2021, seeking an injunction requiring 51 carriage service providers to take such steps as the Court considers reasonable to disable access to the website.

The Federal Court yesterday determined the website facilitated a contravention of section 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act). The court also ordered that the 51 carriage service providers block access to this website within 15 business days.

This is the first time TEQSA has exercised its power to apply for an injunction under the amendments made by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Act 2020. TEQSA filed the injunction application under Section 127A of the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA Chief Executive Officer Alistair Maclean welcomed the court’s decision.

“TEQSA selected this website because we believed we were able to demonstrate its operators were in breach of Australian law,” Mr Maclean said.

“This decision supports TEQSA’s ongoing work to reduce the risk posed by commercial academic cheating services to student interests and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education.”

Further information

• Protect yourself from illegal commercial cheating services
• Resources for providers and academics
• Resources for students

TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake AO has welcomed the appointment of Adrienne Nieuwenhuis as TEQSA Commissioner.

The Minister for Education and Youth, the Hon Alan Tudge MP, today confirmed Ms Nieuwenhuis’ appointment for a five-year term.

In welcoming Ms Nieuwenhuis, Professor Coaldrake noted her extensive higher education regulation and quality assurance experience would support TEQSA’s work to protect the interests of students and the reputation and standing of Australian higher education.

“Ms Nieuwenhuis brings more than three decades of experience across the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors to the TEQSA Commission,” Professor Coaldrake said. 

“Her comprehensive understanding of quality assurance, regulatory standards and contemporary best practice will greatly support TEQSA’s work as the higher education sector emerges from the pandemic.”

Prior to her appointment at TEQSA, Ms Nieuwenhuis was Director of the Office of Vice Chancellor at the University of South Australia. Previously, she was Director of Quality, Tertiary Education, Science and Research in the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology, where she worked closely with the Commonwealth Government in the establishment of the national regulatory systems for both higher education and VET.  

In addition to this, Ms Nieuwenhuis was an inaugural member of both the Higher Education Standards Panel (2011-2014) and the National Skills Standards Council (2011-2013). Ms Nieuwenhuis was reappointed to the Higher Education Standards Panel for a further 3-year term in 2018, resigning from the panel prior to her appointment at TEQSA. She has been a member of the South Australian Skills Commission since 2013 and is also a member of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee.

• Further information about the role of the TEQSA Commission

We're delighted to announce that registrations for the 5th TEQSA Conference are now open.

This year's conference theme is Hard lessons, valuable learnings, heightened expectations and we have identified a range of speakers who will explore how the higher education sector can apply the learnings from the past year to rise above the challenges facing students, academics and institutions to forge an exceptional, vibrant brand for Australian higher education.

After careful consideration, for 2021 we will be delivering a one-day virtual conference to be held on Thursday 25 November. The decision to switch to 100 per cent virtual was taken in response to the COVID-19 pandemic to minimise any potential disruptions due to public health restrictions.

The program will feature panels and keynotes and will provide opportunities for questions and interaction via our virtual platform.

We have made every effort to put attendance within the reach of as many providers as possible and we encourage you to register now.

TEQSA looks forward to having you join us at this year’s conference, which promises to be an event which will stimulate discussion and generate new ideas.

• Details: teqsaconference.org.au

TEQSA has commenced Federal Court proceedings to block access to the website Assignmenthelp4you.com.

TEQSA is seeking an injunction requiring 51 carriage service providers to take such steps as the Court considers reasonable to disable access to the website.

This is the first time TEQSA has exercised its power to apply for an injunction under the amendments made by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Act 2020.

The application for an injunction has been made on the basis that the website facilitates a contravention of section 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).

TEQSA has filed the injunction application under Section 127A of the TEQSA Act.

The Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) is acting for TEQSA in this matter.

As this matter is presently before the Court, TEQSA is unable to comment further at this time.

Media enquiries 

Bryan Allchin, Assistant Director, Communications: comms@teqsa.gov.au, 0437 143 012

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency was saddened to learn of the death of Commissioner Cliff Walsh earlier today.

Emeritus Professor Walsh was appointed as a TEQSA Commissioner in February 2014, with his appointment renewed in 2018.

Prior to his appointment at TEQSA, Professor Walsh held professorial appointments at the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University and visiting appointments at universities in Canada, the USA and the UK.

During his career, Professor Walsh was also an advisor to a Prime Minister and State Premiers; an Associate Commissioner for several Productivity Commission Inquiries; an expert advisor to the European Commission and the World Bank; a member of the board of headspace; numerous committees of inquiry into public sector policies and programs; and a member of the Australian Competition Tribunal, which reviews appeals on decisions of Australia’s competition regulator, the ACCC.

Cliff Walsh made an important contribution to TEQSA over a sustained period. On behalf of past and present Commissioners and staff, TEQSA extends its sympathies to Professor Walsh’s family.

TEQSA, Australia’s independent higher education regulatory and quality assurance agency, has completed the transition of Australia's 186 higher education providers to new category standards.

Following TEQSA’s assessment, Avondale University College has been registered as an Australian University. TEQSA has also registered the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA), Moore Theological College, and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS) in the new University College category.

The changes follow today’s commencement of the revised Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021. The revised framework incorporates the recommendations of the 2019 review of Provider Category Standards.

TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake said the revised framework would simplify and enhance the categorisation of higher education providers, ensuring the category standards remain fit for purpose.

“Australia has a strong higher education sector and these reforms will support greater provider diversity, with a focus on embedding excellence across Australia’s evolving higher education landscape”, said Professor Coaldrake.

“The reforms include the new University College category, which recognises high-quality institutions and provides them with new opportunities to develop course offerings that meet the future needs of students, employers, industry and communities. The updated standards also include augmented research requirements for universities.”

In congratulating the four providers changing category, Professor Coaldrake noted TEQSA had undertaken a comprehensive and thorough approach to ensuring the revised category standards were fairly and consistently applied.

“TEQSA congratulates Avondale for achieving the requirements for registration as an Australian University under the Higher Education Standards Framework,” Professor Coaldrake said.

“Our decision recognises Avondale’s commitment to student outcomes, its significant research progress and Avondale’s contributions to the communities it serves.

“TEQSA also congratulates NIDA, AFTRS and Moore Theological College for being the first three providers to be registered in the new University College category.

“Each of these providers demonstrated to TEQSA that they offer high-quality higher education and meet the standards for registration as University Colleges.”

TEQSA’s national register is being updated to incorporate the new provider categories.

TEQSA’s website also contains further information about the 2021 Threshold Standards.

Media enquiries 

Bryan Allchin, Assistant Director, Communications: comms@teqsa.gov.au, 0437 143 012