This discussion paper and toolkit have been prepared to stimulate new conversations about the quality assurance of online higher education in APEC economies.

Higher education is a global, mobile and growing sector, making higher education quality a priority area for policy makers, accreditation agencies, regulators and institutions. As online education increasingly becomes an integrated feature of educational delivery, it is important to ensure that it meets the same quality standards as other modes of education.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 July 2019 until 30 September 2019. 

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au

* This decision was made by agreement of the provider. Please see the public report on the National Register for further information.

Purpose

This guide is for registered higher education providers. It provides information about and explains the processes for making the following applications to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA):

• new course accreditation, and
• renewal of course accreditation.

Applications for course accreditation are considered under Part 4 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).

TEQSA may renew a provider’s course accreditation or accredit a new course if it is satisfied that the provider meets the relevant Standards in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HES Framework).

TEQSA will use a range of information to reach its decision, including information submitted by the provider with its application. The minimum evidence for each application type is outlined in the tables in Appendix A of this guide.

In determining the scope of the information required, TEQSA will use the differentiated model (known as the ‘core+’ model) explained in Section B of this Guide. All applicants will be required to submit minimum evidence relating to a set of core Standards. The minimum evidence for each application type is outlined in general in the tables in Appendix A. Some providers will be asked to submit evidence against other selected Standards on a case-by-case basis, according to risk and regulatory track record. The specific evidence required for your individual case will be documented by TEQSA in the form of the Confirmed Evidence Table for the application (i.e. course accreditation or renewal of course accreditation), and sent to you.

For assistance in understanding the requirements of the HES Framework, new providers should refer to the guidance in TEQSA’s Higher Education Standards Framework 2021 section in the first instance, which includes an overview of each Domain of the HES Framework.

Detailed guidance notes can be found on the Guidance notes page.

Our annual report is also available on the Transparency Portal, the new central repository of publicly available corporate information for all Commonwealth bodies.

TEQSA's Annual Report for 2018-19 was tabled in Parliament on Monday 21 October 2019.

Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to establish a set of principles to inform TEQSA’s treatment of providers identified as high risk in relation to students or financial position—at the point of identification, and also in the course of accreditation, re-accreditation and re-registration assessments. It elaborates upon and further specifies the principle, published in TEQSA’s Risk Assessment Framework, that TEQSA may take various forms of action in relation to providers being identified as high risk. The principles that comprise this policy are intended to ensure that identified provider risk-levels drive differential treatment of providers, in line with established good practice in risk-based regulation, and consistent with the basic principles for regulation included in TEQSA’s establishing legislation.

Scope

This policy relates to providers identified as high risk through TEQSA’s annual risk assessment process. It does not relate to providers identified as low or moderate risk. Although the policy may to some extent describe TEQSA’s treatment of providers not identified as high risk, this is intended only to enhance clarity through contrast.

Principles

In-cycle monitoring

1. Where a provider is identified as high risk, the following activities are immediately triggered:
   
   1. a request for information to enable greater differentiation of risk type and extent, with the information requested to be determined on the basis of identified risk factors and other information available to TEQSA
   2. analysis of existing data, supplemented by additional information requested of high risk providers, to more precisely identify any potential areas of concern with the provider
   3. formulation of an action plan that will include consideration of the full range of available and appropriate regulatory options, including in relation to CRICOS applications, consistent with the principles for regulation described in the TEQSA Act
   4. TEQSA will provide advice to the relevant Australian Government department and portfolio Minister to support decision making under the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

Cyclical renewal of accreditation and renewal of registration assessments, and new accreditation assessments

2. In general, TEQSA differentiates the scope (of Threshold Standards tested), and the depth (of evidence required) of accreditation- and registration-related assessments on the basis of assessed risk.
3. For a provider that is not identified as high risk, an assessment will focus on a subset of standards and associated evidentiary requirements considered applicable to each case, and will expand this subset to cover areas of concern as appropriate to each case on the basis of available evidence.
4. Where a provider is identified as presenting a high risk to financial position, in registration- and accreditation-related assessments subsequent to the risk assessment, the starting point for the scope of assessment will include all financial- and resourcing-related standards, any standards related to planning and mitigation in case a provider ceases to operate, and any other standards that may be identified as relevant to the particular case given the financial risks identified, with this scope potentially reduced as appropriate in the context of the particular assessment.
5. Where a provider is identified as presenting a high risk to students, in registration- and accreditation-related assessments subsequent to the risk assessment, the baseline scope and evidence assumption will be reversed so that the starting point includes all standards appropriate to the application type, with standards subsequently excluded where not relevant to the provider or case in question, or where an assessment has recently determined the provider’s compliance, or otherwise where appropriate in the context of the particular assessment.

Contact

Any enquiries about TEQSA’s approach to high risk providers can be directed to: enquiries@teqsa.gov.au

What is it?

A hub for use by External Experts to streamline the exchange of work assignments between TEQSA and the Expert.

Getting started

To access the Portal:

1. You will receive the URL, username and password via email from TEQSA
2. Following this URL, you will be directed to the portal log in screen:

Type in the provided username and password.

For security purposes, you will be prompted to change this password after your first login. If your password is ever reset, you will be prompted to change it again at first login post password reset.

How do I use it?

Once logged in, your homepage will appear as follows:

The information displayed includes:

1. Name of expert logged in
2. Homepage
3. Displays all mutually signed Contracts (or Deeds of Standing Offer/Agreements as they are also called)
4. Displays your contact details. If you require any changes, please open this tab, enter the correct information and click ‘Submit Profile’. Any difficulties or change in email contact information, contact engaging.experts@teqsa.gov.au 
5. Displays links to key reference documents such as Australian Qualifications Framework, Threshold Standards etc and other useful websites
6. Displays TEQSA’s general enquiry details

How do I action a work assignment via the Portal?

When you receive an offer of a work assignment, it will appear on your homepage when you log on. You can access the assignment by clicking the ellipses and then clicking the ‘Respond to work assignment’ link.

A work assignment window looks as follows. TEQSA’s work offer/assignment brief/evidentiary documents will all appear under the ‘TEQSA Provided Documents’ section. You can click and download these. To insert your signed offer/completed assignment brief/invoice, upload into the ‘Expert Uploaded Documents’ section. Don’t forget to click the ‘Submit’ button to save your work.

NOTE: There is a 30 minute session timeout if the window is inactive.

Once you click ‘Submit’ you will no longer be able to access the work assignment so please ensure that you upload the final version of any documentation along with your invoice. 

If you submit your materials prematurely, please contact engaging.experts@teqsa.gov.au to request the work assignment be re-opened.

How do I update my details? 

To update your basic information, open the 'My Profile' tab and enter in the new information. Click 'Submit Profile' when complete. 

Please note that to update an email address, an email will need to be sent to engaging.experts@teqsa.gov.au with the correct information. 

Eligible browsers and operating systems

Please also note you need to use one of the following browsers to access the portal:

• For a PC: Chrome for Windows 35 or higher OR Internet Explorer 10 or higher
• For a MAC: Chrome for MAC 35 or higher

If you are uncertain what version and type of browser you are using, check at: www.whatismybrowser.com 

NOTE: If using Windows 8 and IE11, selected functions may not work. Use Chrome instead.

Having trouble?

Email engaging.experts@teqsa.gov.au

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 January 2019 until 31 March 2019. 

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au