Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the University of Newcastle

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of the University of Newcastle a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 21 January 2022 in the provider category of Australian University.

Background to Decision

The University of Newcastle submitted an application for renewal of registration in the category of Australian University 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 University of Newcastle against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites and site in Singapore.

The University of Newcastle has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards on a continuing basis.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Top Education Group Pty Ltd

On 23 April 2015 TEQSA made a decision, under Section 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, to revoke all conditions previously imposed on the registration of Top Education Group Pty Ltd (trading as Top Education Institute). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that Top Education Group Pty Ltd had provided new evidence to satisfy TEQSA that the issues which led to the conditions being imposed are being addressed. Top Education Group Pty Ltd is now registered for a period of seven years without conditions.

TEQSA had previously renewed the registration of Top Education Group Pty Ltd, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, for a period of seven years to 5 March 2022 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider with two conditions imposed on the registration.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Top Education Group Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites. The submission of additional information in response to TEQSA's decision of 5 March 2015 led the Commission to review the conditions placed on the registration and to remove them. The assessment found that Top Education Group Pty Ltd meets the Threshold Standards for provider registration.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of University of Technology, Sydney

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of University of Technology, Sydney as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 18 April 2020 in the provider category of 'Australian University'.

Background to Decision

University of Technology, Sydney submitted an application for renewal of registration in the category of 'Australian University' 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 University of Technology, Sydney against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites and sites in Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai.

University of Technology, Sydney has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

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

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of Wentworth Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd for a period of four years to 10 November 2020 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Wentworth Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

Wentworth Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

TEQSA considers that the decision to renew Wentworth's registration for a period of four years is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act.

Wentworth has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards. In particular it has:

• demonstrated sound corporate and academic governance arrangements through effective oversight of Wentworth's strategic direction, administration and academic standards
• has and applies financial resources to sustain quality in its higher education operations, and
• strategies to monitor potential risks and to mitigate risks that may eventuate.

There remains a risk that Wentworth may not be able to demonstrate appropriate student performance consistent with PRS 5.6. The shortened registration period will provide an appropriate timeframe for the provider to demonstrate sound student performance across all its accredited courses.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Wesley Institute

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Wesley Institute as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 17 July 2020 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

Background to Decision

Wesley Institute 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

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

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 20 February 2021 in the provider category of 'higher education provider'.

Background to Decision

Whitehouse Institute 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 Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

Whitehouse Institute Pty Ltd has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of ACPE Limited

TEQSA has renewed the registration of ACPE Limited, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, for a period of seven years to 17 September 2022, in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed one condition on the registration of ACPE Limited as a higher education provider.

Condition 1

ACPE Limited, by 30 June 2016, and then annually by 30 June each year or until further notice, must provide TEQSA each preceding academic year's Quality Teaching and Learning Report (or equivalent) demonstrating:

• implementation of effective quality assurance arrangements, monitoring and review, leading to significant improvement in student attrition rates
  • the report must include analysis of yearly trend data on student attrition, student progress, course completions and grade distributions at the course and institution level.
• improvements in the level of scholarly activity per staff member
• active consideration by the Academic Board

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA assessed the application submitted by ACPE Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites. TEQSA considers that the decision to apply one condition to ACPE Limited's registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as ACPE Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

The broad issues which relate to the ACPE Limited's registration included:

• a delay in the reporting of the Quality Teaching and Learning Report with information regarding student performance data, benchmarking and academic scholarship, required to enable ACPE Limited's governing bodies to carry out their functions
• the trend data provided for the period within scope indicated decreasing student enrolments and increasing attrition rates. In the absence of reporting, it was unclear what the outcomes were of ACPE Limited's strategies to address these issues

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

On 29 August 2013, TEQSA determined, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of three years to 29 August 2016 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

On 29 August 2013, TEQSA imposed, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, five conditions on the registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider.

TEQSA made subsequent decisions on 27 February 2014 and 12 March 2015 to revoke conditions two, three, four and five.

The main reasons for these decisions are outlined in the Addendum of this report.

Conditions currently imposed:

Under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, one condition is currently imposed on the registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education as a higher education provider:

Condition 1: Batchelor Institute's self-accrediting authority is limited to its current courses at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels 8, 9 and 10, as currently focused on Indigenous knowledges.

Main Reasons for Decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to register Batchelor Institute for a period of three years and to apply conditions to the renewal of registration as a higher education provider is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act for the following reasons:

• Batchelor Institute is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards. In particular, a number of aspects of Batchelor Institute's higher education operations give rise to concerns of future non-compliance with Sections 3 and 4 of the Provider Registration Standards. Of most immediate concern is the performance of Batchelor Institute's current Higher Degree by Research courses.
• Batchelor Institute has been through a period of review and significant reorganisation. It has demonstrated that it is putting in place arrangements to support its corporate and academic governance and a framework to protect academic integrity and quality, including initiatives to improve the performance of its Higher Degree by Research courses.
• The decision will allow Batchelor Institute a reasonable period of time to implement both its new governance arrangements and the measures to improve academic quality and performance. It will give Batchelor Institute an opportunity to demonstrate the effectiveness of these arrangements and measures.
• The decision ensures that TEQSA will be able to review their effectiveness and ensure that Batchelor Institute has in place the highly effective academic governance processes needed to self-accredit its courses.

Addendum to Public Report on 27 February 2014: Conditions Revoked

On 27 February 2014, TEQSA made a decision to revoke conditions two, three and four, followed by a decision to revoke condition five on 12 March 2015. The decisions to revoke the conditions were made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied the conditions had been met.

The conditions previously imposed on 29 August 2013 were that:

Condition 2: By no later than 31 March 2014, Batchelor Institute must provide TEQSA with a report on the major review of the Master of Indigenous Knowledges (by Research) and an implementation plan for the outcomes of the review.

Condition 3: Batchelor Institute must not accept any new enrolments in the Master of Indigenous Knowledges (by Research) until two months after the date TEQSA receives the report and the implementation plan referred to above.

Condition 4: By no later than 31 December 2013, Batchelor Institute must provide TEQSA with up-to-date individual learning plans for each current Higher Degree by Research student. These plans are to include:

1. an evaluation of the student's progress to date
2. timelines and mapping of a path to completion of or exit from the relevant course
3. details of academic and other support to be provided to the student.

Condition 5: By no later than 30 September 2014, Batchelor Institute must complete a review of its corporate and academic governance documents, including by-laws, charters, policies, procedures, terms of reference and delegations, and report to TEQSA on the outcome of the review.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education

On 13 April 2017, TEQSA determined, under subsection 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education be renewed for a period of seven years to 13 April 2024 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider', with self-accrediting authority.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

TEQSA found that the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education continues to meet the Threshold Standards. The Institute's capability to continue exercising its self-accrediting authority for AQF levels 8 -10 has been clearly demonstrated.

In particular, TEQSA found that the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education has demonstrated:

• improved corporate governance and the necessary expertise to drive the strategic direction of the Institute as an indigenous higher education provider
• significant improvements to its policy framework
• a commitment to building its research capacity, consistent with its strategic objectives
• robust internal academic quality assurance processes
• strong benchmarking activities
• well-targeted support, appropriate to the varying needs of its students.