Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Governance Institute of Australia Ltd

TEQSA has renewed the registration of the Governance Institute of Australia as a higher education provider, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, for a period of seven years to 26 May 2023 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

On 26 May 2016, TEQSA imposed a registration condition, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act. On 25 January 2017 TEQSA varied the reporting date and condition requirements on its own initiative, under subsection 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, to the wording below:

Condition 1:

By 31 August 2017, the Governance Institute of Australia must provide to TEQSA the report approved by the Board of Directors and Education Committee on how the Governance Institute of Australia supports the varying learning needs of its students in terms of computer literacy, academic skills and exam preparation. The report should include an update on implementation against each of the strategies, and address how these improvements were resourced, in terms of the student to staff ratio and availability of support staff.

Main Reasons for Decision

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

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply a condition to the Governance Institute of Australia's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as the Governance Institute of Australia is in the process of implementing a number initiatives to address its risk of not complying with Threshold Standards relating to:

a) Academic workforce planning

b) Attrition and student support.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of The College of Nursing

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of The College of Nursing as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 24 April 2020 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

Background to Decision

The College of Nursing 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 the College of Nursing against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

The College of Nursing has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Revocation of a condition on registration

Report on the revocation of a condition imposed on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

In accordance with Subsections 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the registration of a higher education provider, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

TEQSA made a decision on 6 September 2015 to revoke condition iv (imposed on Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd's registration on 2 April 2015) on the basis that Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd had met the requirements of this condition.

Revocation of conditions on registration

Report on the revocation of conditions imposed on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

In accordance with Subsections 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the registration of a higher education provider, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

TEQSA made a decision on 23 July 2015 to revoke conditions i-iii (imposed on Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd's registration on 2 April 2015) on the basis that Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd had met the requirements of these conditions.

Report on registration

Shorten registration period, vary conditions and impose additional conditions on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 100 of the TEQSA Act, to shorten the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider by six months. The shortened registration will expire on 6 August 2016.

TEQSA has, under section 53(2) of the TEQSA Act, varied the second due date in the three conditions imposed on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider. The varied conditions are as follows (with the variations in bold text):

a) GCA must by 6 February 2016 provide TEQSA with evidence from the previous year which demonstrates that GCA's Board:

1. oversees the accountability systems for GCA's higher education operations
2. provides input into and final approval of management's development of corporate strategy, including the strategic plan, and performance objectives, for GCA's higher education operations
3. reviews, ratifies and monitors systems of risk management and legal compliance, including compliance with the Threshold Standards in respect of GCA's higher education operations
4. ensures appropriate resources are available to ensure the achievement of GCA's higher education objectives and to sustain the quality of its higher education operations, including the Board's consideration of the Academic Board's recommendations in this regard
5. accesses and uses appropriate internal and external expertise to meet Provider Registration Standards 3.2 and 3.8
6. develops, implements, considers and regularly reviews financial, academic and managerial delegations and documents
7. ensures the academic board and course advisory committees are properly constituted and able to fulfil their functions as stated in their Terms of Reference
8. ensures Board members and senior management of GCA are familiar with the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011 (Threshold Standards) and of the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code) and GCA's obligations under them.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

• minutes of meetings of the Board and any relevant committees
• reports to the Board
• any internal or external reviews of GCA's higher education operations conducted in the 12 months prior to the relevant reporting date, along with the Board's consideration of the review(s).

b) GCA must by 6 February 2016 provide TEQSA with a report, in relation to the previous year, on GCA's progress in reviewing risks to GCA's higher education operations and addressing those risks (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.4) and in considering GCA's performance against its strategic plan (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.6).

c) GCA must by 6 February 2016 provide TEQSA with evidence which demonstrates that GCA's Academic Board:

1. has implemented systems to protect academic quality and integrity to meet the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 4
2. provides academic leadership, develops and oversees progress in implementation of a culture of scholarship at GCA, and on staff professional development
3. ensures GCA has appropriate numbers of suitably qualified and experience staff for management and delivery of its higher education courses of study, in light of actual and projected enrolments in the courses
4. ensures quality assurance is implemented effectively to drive improvement of GCA's higher education operations
5. undertakes systematic monitoring, review and improvement of GCA's higher education operations, including through the collection and analysis of relevant data.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

• minutes of meetings of the Academic Board and any relevant committees
• reports to the Academic Board
• external reviews, reports or assessments of GCA's higher education operations including course reviews
• reports on the implementation and actions taken as outlined in the following initiatives described in the documentation provided to TEQSA:
  
  • GCA's Teaching and Learning Plan
  • the GCA 'Community of Practice'
  • the GCA Research Foundation
  • GCA's Teaching Staff Development Plan
  • Strategies to develop academic leadership and scholarship
  • Academic staff profile.

In addition, TEQSA has determined, under section 53(1) to impose the following additional conditions on the registration of GCA. By 1 May 2015, GCA is to:

1. confirm the 2014 academic staff data previously submitted to TEQSA (including total headcount and Full Time Equivalence (FTE), by work contract and teaching function), and if necessary submit corrected data.
2. submit aggregate academic staff data for 2015 (as at April 2015) using the template provided by TEQSA (Table A*).
3. submit aggregate student data for 2014 (full year) and 2015 (as at April 2015), using the template provided by TEQSA (Table B*) and
4. provide details of the 'Other Form of Testing which Satisfies the Institution' used to admit 284 students to higher education courses at GCA and an explanation for the 392 students who appeared to have been admitted with no English language testing (as at 3 March 2015).

*The Tables are provided in the Notice of Decision letter

Background to Decision

TEQSA has determined that Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd has not yet met the conditions imposed on its registration in 2014.

Main Reasons for Decision

TEQSA has assessed the evidence submitted by GCA against the conditions imposed on its registration in 2014.

TEQSA considers that the decision to shorten the registration, vary the existing conditions and apply further conditions to GCA's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as GCA is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to GCA's registration include:

  a) Corporate and academic governance and GCA's ability to develop and implement effective policies and measures to protect academic quality and integrity

  b) Risk management

  c) Staff development

  d) Benchmarking, and

  e) Student learning support.

TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of three years to 6 February 2017 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider.

a) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with evidence from the previous year which demonstrates that GCA's Board:

1. oversees the accountability systems for GCA's higher education operations
2. provides input into and final approval of management's development of corporate strategy, including the strategic plan, and performance objectives, for GCA's higher education operations
3. reviews, ratifies and monitors systems of risk management and legal compliance, including compliance with the Threshold Standards in respect of GCA's higher education operations
4. ensures appropriate resources are available to ensure the achievement of GCA's higher education objectives and to sustain the quality of its higher education operations, including the Board's consideration of the Academic Board's recommendations in this regard
5. accesses and uses appropriate internal and external expertise to meet Provider Registration Standards 3.2 and 3.8
6. develops, implements, considers and regularly reviews financial, academic and managerial delegations and documents
7. ensures the academic board and course advisory committees are properly constituted and able to fulfil their functions as stated in their Terms of Reference
8. ensures Board members and senior management of GCA are familiar with the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011 (Threshold Standards) and of the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code) and GCA's obligations under them.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

• minutes of meetings of the Board and any relevant committees
• reports to the Board
• any internal or external reviews of GCA's higher education operations conducted in the 12 months prior to the relevant reporting date, along with the Board's consideration of the review(s).

b) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with a report, in relation to the previous year, on GCA's progress in reviewing risks to GCA's higher education operations and addressing those risks (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.4) and in considering GCA's performance against its strategic plan (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.6).

c) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with evidence which demonstrates that GCA's Academic Board:

1. has implemented systems to protect academic quality and integrity to meet the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 4
2. provides academic leadership, develops and oversees progress in implementation of a culture of scholarship at GCA, and on staff professional development
3. ensures GCA has appropriate numbers of suitably qualified and experience staff for management and delivery of its higher education courses of study, in light of actual and projected enrolments in the courses
4. ensures quality assurance is implemented effectively to drive improvement of GCA's higher education operations
5. undertakes systematic monitoring, review and improvement of GCA's higher education operations, including through the collection and analysis of relevant data.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

• minutes of meetings of the Academic Board and any relevant committees
• reports to the Academic Board
• external reviews, reports or assessments of GCA's higher education operations including course reviews
• reports on the implementation and actions taken as outlined in the following initiatives described in the documentation provided to TEQSA:
  
  • GCA's Teaching and Learning Plan
  • the GCA 'Community of Practice'
  • the GCA Research Foundation
  • GCA's Teaching Staff Development Plan
  • Strategies to develop academic leadership and scholarship
  • Academic staff profile.

Background to Decision

Group Colleges Australia 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 Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s registration are the absence of evidence of implementation of policies and procedures with regard to their higher education operations.

TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Insearch Limited

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Insearch Limited as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 29 January 2022 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

Background to Decision

Insearch Limited 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 Insearch Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites and the third party site in China.

Insearch has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of the Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 12 June 2021 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

Background to Decision

The Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy 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 the Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards.

The Institute for Emotionally Focused Therapy Pty Ltd has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of International College of Management, Sydney Pty Ltd

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of International College of Management, Sydney Pty Ltd (ICMS) until 4 September 2019 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed five conditions on the registration of ICMS as a higher education provider.

Condition One

Within three months of being notified of this decision, ICMS is to formulate a revised Academic Board Charter. The revised Charter will prescribe:

a) the circumstances in which the Academic Board Chair may act on behalf of the Academic Board between meetings of the Board;

b) actions to be taken in the event that a quorum is not attained at any Academic Board meeting;

c) the process to be followed in the event that a member of the Academic Board does not, or is not able to attend an Academic Board meeting.

ICMS must provide TEQSA a copy of the revised Charter within 14 days of the ICMS Governing Body approving the Charter.

Condition Two

ICMS is required to:

A. provide TEQSA, within three months of the date of notification of this decision, with a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of the probable causes for observed rates and trends for student attrition, progression and minimum time completion rates and failure rates, for each accredited higher education course it offers and each year, for the period 2011 to 2014 inclusive. The analysis must include accurate data on student attrition, completion, progression and grade distribution and include analysis by:

1. entry path (comparing students admitted under each entry pathway);
2. credit awarded (comparing students admitted with no credit awarded with students admitted with credit for up to a third of the course and between a third and two thirds of the course);
3. study mode (comparing students who take less than a full-time study load, exactly a full-time study load and greater than a full-time study load, where full-time study load is equal to 36 ICMS credit points in a calendar year);
4. place of study;
5. whether students are domestic or international students;
6. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs); and
7. student achievement in similar courses at other higher education providers.

B. develop and provide to TEQSA by 1 May 2016, a detailed strategy, having regard to the comprehensive diagnostic analysis required under (A) above, which:

1. includes specific targets for improvement of student attrition, completion and progression rates and failure rates for each course and each year over the forward registration period; and
2. gives consideration to admission practices and standards, study load of students, the identification of students at risk of not progressing academically and the adequacy and effectiveness of student support.

C. revise the targets determined in accordance with (B) above if and as directed by TEQSA.

D. demonstrate improvement, with reference to the targets to be established under (B) and (C), overall and for each course of study, through annually reporting to TEQSA on these rates by 1 July each year (for the rates in the previous calendar year) throughout the period of registration, with these reports to commence on 1 July 2016.

Condition Three

Within three months of notification of this decision ICMS must provide TEQSA with:

A. details of how the policies which ensure staff are appropriately qualified and experienced to teach the course of study have been applied to each member of staff teaching the courses, including:

1. ICMS's assessment of whether each staff member without a qualification at least one AQF level above the course taught has professional experience which gives the staff member the knowledge, skills and capacity to apply knowledge and skills equivalent to a qualification at least one AQF level above the course taught, and
2. the support ICMS will provide to each staff member without a qualification at least one AQF level above the course taught to undertake further study or professional development and scholarship in the discipline they teach.

B. a workforce plan for the next three years. The plan will detail ICMS approach and rationale for the employment of casual staff and will also detail how ICMS ensures that it continues to maintain appropriate human resources to support student learning outcomes. The plan will identify how ICMS will mitigate the risk of casual or sessional staff not being appropriately supported and resourced to provide a continuity of support for students, anchor academic activities, engage in scholarly activities and be active contributing members in a community of scholarship.

Condition Four

ICMS is to review its policy on external moderation and the extent to which it has complied with this policy. Within three months of notification of this decision ICMS must provide TEQSA with a copy of the review which is to include findings of the review and an implementation plan, which includes key dates and outcomes of any required changes to the current policy.

Condition Five

ICMS must provide TEQSA by 30 June 2016, evidence that demonstrates ICMS benchmarks the academic standards intended to be achieved by students and the standards actually achieved by students in each of the courses of study offered by ICMS against similar accredited courses of study offered by other higher education providers. This evidence is to include details of the courses and institutions selected for comparison and examples of action taken as a result of analysis of the data.

Main Reasons for Decision

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

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to ICMS's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as ICMS is at risk of not complying with several the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the ICMS registration include:

  a) Academic quality assurance and governance

  b) ICMS's assessment of and action taken to mitigate student attrition

  c) Workforce management and staff qualifications

  d) assessment policies

  e) benchmarking of courses