TEQSA's Annual Report for 2013-14 was tabled in Parliament on 23 October 2014.

Overview

This report informs The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Education, the Parliament of Australia; the Australian higher education community; and the general public about the performance of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA or the Agency) during the financial year ending 30 June 2014.

Prepared according to parliamentary reporting requirements, the report describes TEQSA’s achievements against the goals set out in TEQSA’s 2013–14 Portfolio Budget Statements and Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements. It provides information on TEQSA’s performance in relation to its stated outcome:

[To] contribute to a high-quality higher education sector through streamlined and nationally consistent higher education regulatory arrangements; registration of higher education providers; accreditation of higher education courses; and investigation, quality assurance, and dissemination of higher education standards and performance.

Section 1

Review by the Acting Chief Commissioner – highlights significant issues and initiatives TEQSA has managed over the past year, as well as the Acting Chief Commissioner’s perspective on current and future challenges.

Section 2

Agency Overview – provides information about TEQSA and its Commissioners, its roles and functions, and organisational structure.

Section 3

Performance Review – reports on how TEQSA performed during the reporting period against its stated outcome (above) and the program framework contained in the 2013–14 Portfolio Budget Statements for the (then) Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education portfolio.

Section 4

Management and Accountability – provides information on corporate governance, external and internal accountability, human resource management, financial management, purchasing, consultants and contract management, legal services, and other activities relevant to the administration of the Agency.

Section 5

Financial Report – presents audited financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2014.

Section 6

Appendices – includes information relating to TEQSA’s quality assurance and regulatory approach and its international activities, as well as reporting on TEQSA’s staffing, and its performance in relation to Australian Government environmental, disability, freedom of information, and financial management outcomes.

Section 7

Indices and References – assists readers to locate and understand information in the annual report (includes compliance index, acronyms, glossary of terms, and alphabetical index).

Overview

This document contains the activities and evidence metrics proposed to assess TEQSA’s performance as a regulator, per the Australian Government’s Regulator Performance Framework (RPF).

The Regulator Performance Framework consists of the following six Key Performance Indicators:

1. Regulators do not unnecessarily impede the efficient operation of regulated entities
2. Communication with regulated entities is clear, targeted and effective
3. Actions undertaken by regulators are proportionate to the regulatory risks being managed
4. Compliance and monitoring approaches are streamlined and coordinated
5. Regulators are open and transparent in their dealings with regulated entities
6. Regulators actively contribute to the continuous improvement of regulatory frameworks

This version of the TEQSA Regulator Performance Framework model reflects TEQSA’s work to enhance the RPF to more clearly illustrate the benefits of the multiple initiatives to enhance TEQSA’s quality assurance and regulatory performance. As part of this work, the RPF framework has been more explicitly aligned to the key strategies and metrics in the TEQSA Corporate Plan 2015-19. The Corporate Plan sets out TEQSA’s priorities, underpinning strategies and associated high-level performance indicators for the period. As described in the Corporate Plan, TEQSA strives to maintain, streamline and improve its regulatory performance and its regulatory frameworks through engagement with the providers it regulates, effective communication with the sector and, in particular, having regard to the Australian Government Regulator Performance Framework (RPF). TEQSA will continue to enhance the detail of its Regulator Performance Framework model to ensure that the agency demonstrates as clearly as possible its compliance with the RPF KPIs.

Section 1 describes TEQSA’s proposed Regulator Performance Framework. For each Key Performance Indicator, TEQSA has identified a range of performance indicators and related possible evidence metrics that would be considered during self-assessment and external review.

Section 2 shows how this framework aligns to the key Strategies and overall Key Performance Indicators of the TEQSA Corporate Plan 2015-19.

To the extent that it is practicable, TEQSA proposes to streamline the measures of its performance to address reporting against both the priorities of the Corporate Plan and the KPIs of the RPF, ideally using data/metrics that have already been collected by the Agency in the course of risk analyses and regulatory activities, rather than imposing additional burdens on the sector.

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 2017 until 31 March 2017. 

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

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 2016 until 31 September 2017.

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

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 October 2016 until 31 December 2016. 

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

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 April 2017 until 30 June 2017. 

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 paper explains how our risk-based approach to assuring higher education standards is applied in broad terms to a diverse sector. This explanation is consistent with the revised processes developed by TEQSA in close consultation with the sector over 2013-14. The paper has been developed based on a dialogue between TEQSA and registered higher education providers through their peak bodies. It depicts how TEQSA’s risk-based approach to assurance of quality standards is applied in practice to the sector and aims to facilitate a shared understanding of how TEQSA takes into account relevant organisational characteristics. We apply a consistent and fair approach that treats like providers in the same manner, regardless of provider category under the TEQSA Act.

A copy of the paper is available above in PDF format.

TEQSA has cancelled the registration of Australian School of Management Pty Ltd (ASM) under section 101 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) with the decision to take effect on 7 July 2017.

Main reasons for decision

In March 2017 TEQSA initiated a compliance assessment of ASM’s higher education operations under section 59 of the TEQSA Act.

On 25 May 2017, Mr David McEvoy and Mr Martin Ford of PPB Advisory were appointed joint and several Administrators of Australian School of Management Pty Ltd.

After conducting the compliance assessment, TEQSA considers that the decision to cancel the registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Australian School of Management Pty Ltd has failed to meet the following Threshold Standards:

• Sections 1.1, 7.1 and 7.2 of Part A, in relation to ASM’s admissions policies, requirements and procedures for its higher education courses and the provision of information to current and prospective students in those courses; and
• Paragraph 6.2.1.c of Part A, in relation to ASM’s financial viability and sustainability.

TEQSA also considers that ASM has failed to comply with the following conditions imposed on its registration:

• the condition in section 29 of the TEQSA Act that a registered higher education provider notify TEQSA of an event that will significantly affect the provider’s ability to meet the Threshold Standards no later than 14 days after the day the provider would reasonably be expected to have become aware of the event;
• the condition in section 31 of the TEQSA Act that a registered higher education provider cooperate with TEQSA to facilitate TEQSA’s performance of its functions

Further information

• View information on TEQSA’s regulatory approach and public reporting