Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Top Education Group Pty Ltd

On 30 June 2017 a delegate of TEQSA:

• renewed, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the accreditation of the following courses offered by Top Education Group Pty Ltd, for a period of four years until 30 June 2021:

  - Master of Professional Accounting

  - Master of Professional Accounting Services (formerly known as Master of Professional Accounting and Business).

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made the decisions in light of risks that Top Education Group Pty Ltd may not continue to meet the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011:

1. Provider Course Accreditation Standards (PCAS) 5.1, in relation to assessment tasks for the courses of study providing opportunities for students to demonstrate achievement of the expected student learning outcomes.

TEQSA's assessment considered Top Education Group Party's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty. Limited

On 16 March 2018 a delegate of TEQSA renewed, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the accreditation of the following course offered by Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty. Limited, until 11 October 2020:

• Bachelor of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the course submitted by Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty. Limited for renewal of accreditation continues to meet the Provider Course Accreditation Standards of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011 and it was appropriate to align the period for accreditation of the course with the registration period.

TEQSA's assessment considered Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty. Limited's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Registration

Report on registration of Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty Limited

TEQSA has agreed to orders made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal under which Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty Limited registration is renewed from 11 October 2017 for the period of three years pursuant to section 36 of the Tertiary Educational Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act). The orders also provide for six conditions to be imposed on the registration of Sydney Institute of Health Sciences Pty Limited pursuant to section 32 of the TEQSA Act.

Condition 1:

Not later than 4 weeks prior to the commencement of each semester for its higher education course, the Applicant must provide TEQSA with a report in relation to each staff member proposed to teach one or more units in a Sydney Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS) higher education course, describing:

1. the highest qualification in the discipline of the course being taught;
2. the units proposed to be taught;
3. the professional experience held; and
4. where a staff member does not have a qualification in the discipline of the course taught which is one AQF level higher than the course being taught (or equivalent having regard to the country education profiles published by the Department of Education and Training), the basis on which the experience of the staff member has been assessed as being equivalent to a qualification which is one AQF level higher than the course being taught.

Condition 2:

By 1 February 2018, the Applicant will provide TEQSA with evidence of:

1. the engagement of personnel with risk management experience or qualifications; and
2. the development of a Risk Management Policy and Plan.

Condition 3:

1. The Applicant must engage a suitably qualified independent expert (with the agreement of TEQSA to the identity and terms of reference of the expert, which agreement is not to be unreasonably withheld) to undertake an independent external review of the Applicant's corporate and academic governance arrangements. The review will focus on the implementation of key documentation, including the Applicant's Governance Charter, Quality Assurance Framework and Terms of Reference of governing bodies.
2. The independent expert must:
   
   1. be suitably qualified to undertake the review;
   2. not be a past or present member of the Applicant's staff or governing bodies;
   3. not have been engaged as a consultant to SIHS; and
   4. not have any other conflict of interest.
3. By 1 November 2018, and prior to engaging the independent expert, the Applicant must provide to TEQSA for TEQSA's approval:
   
   1. proposed terms of reference for the review, focussing on the implementation of key documentation, including the Applicant's Governance Charter, Quality Assurance Framework and Terms of Reference of governing bodies; and
   2. the name and resume of the proposed independent expert.
4. By 1 February 2019, the Applicant must report the outcomes of the review to SIHS's Academic Board, Board of Directors and TEQSA.
5. The Applicant must report to TEQSA on the implementation of the outcomes of the independent review on 1 August 2019.

Condition 4:

The Applicant must provide TEQSA with:

1. the Terms of Reference of its planned review of the CEO's performance one month in advance of each teaching year; and
2. the outcomes of that review on its completion, no later than 31 March in each year.

Condition Five:

1. By 1 February 2018, the Applicant must prepare a schedule for a comprehensive review of SIHS' policies and procedures relevant to its higher education operations, including a gap analysis against the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015.
2. The Applicant must provide to TEQSA:
   
   1. by 1 December and 1 June each year (commencing in 2018) with a report which specifies the documents which have been reviewed in the six months prior to the date of the report;
   2. by 1 February and 1 August each year with evidence of the implementation of the policies contained in the Applicant's policy register.

Condition Six:

By 1 February and 1 August each year, the Applicant must provide to TEQSA copies of the following for the previous six month period:

1. minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of the Academic Board which demonstrate a process consistent with the TEQSA Guidance Notes for the relevant bodies on the matters the subject of discussion and specify the extent to which the discussion took account of external advice or input; and
2. each report to the Board of Directors on risk management and review.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education)

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 Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education) for a period of seven years until 22 February 2025:

• Diploma of Creative Practice
• Bachelor of Creative Practice

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA has determined that the two higher education courses of study submitted by Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education) for accreditation comply with the Provider Course Accreditation Standards.

TEQSA's assessment considered Technical and Further Education Commission's (TAFE NSW Higher Education) arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education)

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 Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education) for a period of seven years until 22 February 2025:

• Diploma of Creative Practice
• Bachelor of Creative Practice

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA has determined that the two higher education courses of study submitted by Technical and Further Education Commission (TAFE NSW Higher Education) for accreditation comply with the Provider Course Accreditation Standards.

TEQSA's assessment considered Technical and Further Education Commission's (TAFE NSW Higher Education) arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Renewal of registration

Report on revocation of conditions of registration of the Australian College of Theology Limited

On 12 October 2015, TEQSA revoked, under Section 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, conditions 2 and 3 imposed on the registration of Australian College of Theology Limited (refer public report of 16 July 2015). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Australian College of Theology Limited

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of the Australian College of Theology Limited for a period of seven years to 16 July 2022 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 the Australian College of Theology Limited as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

Within three months of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to:

a) amend its standard affiliation agreement and all related policy such that:

1. a student may lodge a complaint 'about any aspect of the higher education provider's higher education operations, including operations provided by other entities on behalf of the provider, without fear of reprisal';
2. it clearly sets obligations on an affiliated college to comply with the requirements of PRS 6.4 and sets out the potential consequences available to the ACT in circumstances where an affiliated college fails to meet those requirements; and
3. it establishes and demonstrates evidence of an arrangement with an appropriate independent third party to whom grievances may be referred if they are unable to be resolved internally.

b) amend the Dispute Resolution Policy for Domestic Students and the Dispute Resolution Policy for Overseas Students to ensure that affiliate colleges keep records of and report on all grievances and the resolution of all grievances.

Condition 2:

Within three months of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to:

a) develop and implement a specific Human Resources strategy and policy that ensures that academic staff either have an AQF qualification at the level specified in PCAS 4.2 or have professional experience equivalent to such a qualification, and specifies the criteria against which such professional experience is measured.

b) provide evidence that the Academic Board considered the ACT Human Resources strategy and policy in respect of each and every staff member involved in delivery of its higher education programs. The evidence must include a schedule identifying all higher education academic staff, what courses they teach, their highest relevant qualification and where that qualification is not at least one AQF qualification level higher than the course of study they teach, how compliance with the Threshold Standards, including Provider Registration Standard 5.1 and 5.2 and Provider Course Accreditation Standard 4.1 and 4.2 has been achieved.

c) provide evidence of the Academic Board's consideration of the schedule and its decision as to what action the ACT will take where no assessment of equivalent professional experience has been made or that assessment shows non-compliance with the Threshold Standards, in each case to ensure compliance with the Threshold Standards.

Condition 3:

Within 28 days of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to identify any Head of Program or equivalent where relevant, who does not have a relevant qualification at least one AQF level above the level of the course taught and for whom no assessment of equivalent professional experience has been made and provide advice to TEQSA as to what action will be taken by the ACT to address the matter.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by the Australian College of Theology Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites and site in New Zealand.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to the Australian College of Theology Limited registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as the Australian College of Theology Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Australian College of Theology Limited registration include:

  a) The provider is at risk of not complying with the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 5.2 in relation to the qualifications of the academic staff teaching its Master of Divinity and its Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Arts (Ministry) and Master of Arts (Christian Studies).

  b) There is a risk that the provider may not provide its students with access to effective grievance processes to enable them to make complaints about any aspect of the providers operations without fear of reprisal as required by Provider Registration Standard 6.4.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd for a period of four years to 14 December 2020 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed two (2) conditions on the registration of Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd as a higher education provider.

On 5 January 2017, TEQSA varied, under subsection 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, the Condition 2 imposed on Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd on 14 December 2016. The revised conditions are set out below:

Condition 1:

a) Commencing from Trimester 1 2017, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must endeavour to maintain a maximum student to academic staff ratio of no more than 30:1, calculated based on the methodology set out on page 18 of the TEQSA Risk Assessment Framework (Version 2.1) document.

b) Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must notify TEQSA if its student to academic staff ratio increases above 30:1 for a period longer than 10 business days.

Condition 2:

Within 3 months of the conclusion of each Academic Year, Australian Institute of Business and Management must provide to TEQSA:

a) A report on the implementation of its Retention Strategy that details its performance against each of the four priority areas within the strategy including relevant student performance data that details attrition, progression, completion and grade distributions. Calculations must be based on the methodology set out on pages 15 and 16 of the TEQSA Risk Assessment Framework (Version 2.1).

b) Evidence by way of meeting minutes that the report has been considered by the AIBM Academic Board and Council which includes any action in response to the report.

The first report is due to TEQSA within 3 months of the conclusion of the 2017 academic year.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Australian Institute of Business and Management 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 Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's registration include:

  a) Provider Registration Standard (PRS) 5.2, in relation to KOI's staffing and the extent to which staffing levels ensure the achievement of student learning outcomes; and

  b) PRS 3.4 and 3.8, in relation to the consideration of, and action in response to student performance in KOI's risk management and quality assurance processes.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd (AIH) for a period of three years to 26 February 2018 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 Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd as a higher education provider.

Condition 1

Within three months of the date of notification of this decision, AIH is required to:

a) provide TEQSA with a workforce plan. At a minimum the workforce plan must identify recruitment strategies, discipline needs, academic and career development strategies incorporating scholarly activity, appropriate full-time to sessional staffing ratios and key implementation dates for the plan.

Condition 2

AIH 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 to 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 120 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 30 August 2015, 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 31 January each year (for the rates in the previous calendar year) throughout the period of registration, with these reports to commence on 31 January 2016.

Condition 3

AIH must provide to TEQSA:

a) By 30 June 2015, evidence to demonstrate to TEQSA that its governing Body has an effective risk management framework for all AIH's higher education operations. The evidence should include:

1. an updated risk management framework which accounts for academic risk; and
2. Minutes of meetings of the Academic Board that demonstrate that AIH has considered all conditions and requests for information imposed by TEQSA on the registration of AIH and the accreditation of its courses;

b) By 30 June 2016, minutes of the Academic Board meetings for the preceding 12 months which demonstrate:

1. that it has effective development, approval, implementation and review of all academic policies; and
2. the nature of its considerations in relation to any of its policies or procedures, including any recommendations and changes to those academic policies and procedures.

Main reasons for decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Australian Institute of Higher Education 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 Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Australian Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd registration include:

  a) AIH's management of human resources

  b) Student outcomes including attrition and progression

  c) Risk management

  d) academic policy development and review