Course accreditation

Report on revocation of condition of accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Photography Holdings Pty Ltd

On 21 December 2017 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under subsections 53(2) and 53(3) of the TEQSA Act, the condition imposed on the accreditation of the following course offered by Photography Holdings Pty Ltd (refer public report of 23 June 2017):

• Master of Arts (Photography)

The decision to revoke the condition was made on the basis that the delegate was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Initial registration

Report on initial registration of Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd

TEQSA has registered, under section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 23 November 2021 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the registration of Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd (HELI).

Condition 1:

HELI must not enrol students in, or commence delivery of, the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Academic Practice until TEQSA notifies HELI that it is satisfied with evidence provided by HELI that:

1. the Course Coordinator, Learning Designer and Student Support Officer engaged by HELI are appropriately qualified and experienced to achieve its higher education objectives, which include the achievement of expected student learning outcomes. The evidence must include their position descriptions and detailed resumes.
2. the 'Letter of Offer and Participant Agreement' includes any contractual arrangements with the student, HELI's obligations and the rights and obligations of the student.
3. HELI has an orientation course and transition support for commencing students.
4. HELI has a library plan that sets out the electronic library databases and resources that students will be able to access.
5. HELI has a website with phone numbers for students to contact.

Condition 2:

On 1 July of each year for the period of registration, HELI must provide to TEQSA agenda papers and minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and Academic Board which demonstrate consideration of and any actions taken for:

1. performance against the strategic plan;
2. benchmarking activities;
3. risk management, incorporating a review of the risk ratings;
4. workforce planning and management; and
5. monitoring and analysis of student performance.

TEQSA has accredited, under section 49 of the TEQSA Act, the following higher education course of study offered by Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 23 November 2021:

• Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Academic Practice

Main reasons for the decision

The issues which led TEQSA to shorten the period of registration and course accreditation and to impose conditions on the registration are:

a) risks that HELI will not have sufficient appropriately qualified personnel

b) risks that HELI's students will not be adequately informed about their contractual relationship with HELI

c) risks that HELI's orientation and transition support arrangements will not meet the varying learning needs of HELI's students

d) risks that HELI will not have sufficient learning resources

e) risks that HELI will not adequately maintain contact with online students or ensure that students will have access to contact people in a timely way

f) HELI has no history in the delivery of higher education and, therefore, has limited capacity at this stage to demonstrate its internal governance and quality assurance mechanisms in higher education delivery.

TEQSA's assessment considered HELI's arrangements for online delivery.

Initial registration

Report on initial registration of Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd

TEQSA has registered, under section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 23 November 2021 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the registration of Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd (HELI).

Condition 1:

HELI must not enrol students in, or commence delivery of, the Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Academic Practice until TEQSA notifies HELI that it is satisfied with evidence provided by HELI that:

1. the Course Coordinator, Learning Designer and Student Support Officer engaged by HELI are appropriately qualified and experienced to achieve its higher education objectives, which include the achievement of expected student learning outcomes. The evidence must include their position descriptions and detailed resumes.
2. the 'Letter of Offer and Participant Agreement' includes any contractual arrangements with the student, HELI's obligations and the rights and obligations of the student.
3. HELI has an orientation course and transition support for commencing students.
4. HELI has a library plan that sets out the electronic library databases and resources that students will be able to access.
5. HELI has a website with phone numbers for students to contact.

Condition 2:

On 1 July of each year for the period of registration, HELI must provide to TEQSA agenda papers and minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors and Academic Board which demonstrate consideration of and any actions taken for:

1. performance against the strategic plan;
2. benchmarking activities;
3. risk management, incorporating a review of the risk ratings;
4. workforce planning and management; and
5. monitoring and analysis of student performance.

TEQSA has accredited, under section 49 of the TEQSA Act, the following higher education course of study offered by Higher Education Leadership Institute Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 23 November 2021:

• Graduate Certificate in Higher Education Academic Practice

Main reasons for the decision

The issues which led TEQSA to shorten the period of registration and course accreditation and to impose conditions on the registration are:

a) risks that HELI will not have sufficient appropriately qualified personnel

b) risks that HELI's students will not be adequately informed about their contractual relationship with HELI

c) risks that HELI's orientation and transition support arrangements will not meet the varying learning needs of HELI's students

d) risks that HELI will not have sufficient learning resources

e) risks that HELI will not adequately maintain contact with online students or ensure that students will have access to contact people in a timely way

f) HELI has no history in the delivery of higher education and, therefore, has limited capacity at this stage to demonstrate its internal governance and quality assurance mechanisms in higher education delivery.

TEQSA's assessment considered HELI's arrangements for online delivery.

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Polytechnic

A delegate of TEQSA has renewed, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), the accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Polytechnic for a period of four years until 12 December 2021:

• Associate Degree of Hospitality Management
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management

TEQSA has imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, one condition on the accreditation of both courses:

Condition 1:

By 30 November 2018, Melbourne Polytechnic must provide to TEQSA, evidence that demonstrates it benchmarks the academic standards intended to be achieved by students and the standards actually achieved by students in the course(s) of study 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. The decision covers course delivery at all Australian sites.

Main reasons for the decision

• The recommendation to impose a condition complies with the risk of proportionate regulation, and took account of the decision to cease delivery of both courses in Hong Kong. While there is ongoing concern about Melbourne Polytechnic's ability to demonstrate quality governance arrangements through its course development and review processes, the condition is focussed on the identified area at risk of non-compliance. The condition will give Melbourne Polytechnic an opportunity to provide evidence to demonstrate that it has satisfactorily addressed the risks discussed above. Accordingly, consideration was given that the condition is proportionate to the risks of failing to comply with the Threshold Standards.
• Similarly, the decision to accredit the courses for a period of four years is a response to the provider's history of risk associated with course development and review and a failure to adequately demonstrate implementation benchmarking arrangements. In particular, the four year accreditation period is intended to provide an opportunity for it to address the risks of non-compliance. On this basis, a four year accreditation period is both necessary and proportionate to the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards.

Course accreditation

Report on revocation of condition of accreditation of three higher education courses of study offered by Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd

On 24 November 2017 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under subsections 53(2) and 53(3) of the TEQSA Act, the condition imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Victorian Institute of Technology (refer public report of 5 September 2017):

• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
• Graduate Certificate of Business Administration

The decision to revoke the condition was made on the basis that the delegate was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Course accreditation

Report on revocation of condition of accreditation of three higher education courses of study offered by Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd

On 24 November 2017 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under subsections 53(2) and 53(3) of the TEQSA Act, the condition imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Victorian Institute of Technology (refer public report of 5 September 2017):

• Master of Business Administration
• Graduate Diploma of Business Administration
• Graduate Certificate of Business Administration

The decision to revoke the condition was made on the basis that the delegate was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Top Education Group Pty Ltd to self-accredit courses of study

On 9 May 2018 TEQSA authorised, under section 41 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Top Education Group Pty Ltd to self-accredit courses of study in the Broad Field of Education 08 Management and Commerce at Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) levels 5 - 9.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the application for self-accrediting authority of courses of study in the management and commerce field of education submitted by Top Education Group Pty Ltd meets the Criteria for Authorising 'Self-Accrediting Authority, of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of University of Southern Queensland (USQ)

On 26 April 2018, TEQSA:

• renewed, under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the registration of the University of Southern Queensland in the category of Australian University, for a period of seven years until 26 April 2025.
• imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, one condition on the registration of the University of Southern Queensland.

Condition 1: Governance and accountability reporting obligations

By 30 September in 2019, 2020 and 2021 USQ must provide TEQSA with a copy of the approved minutes of each meeting of its Council and Academic Board for the previous 12 months. These minutes must:

1. For the minutes of the Council, demonstrate that the governing Council has monitored and reviewed:
1. the effectiveness of its delegations, including regular reporting on the roles and effectiveness of delegations for academic governance (including the monitoring of teaching and research performance data) and consideration of the annual self-review of the Academic Board;
2. the effectiveness of risk management, including the consideration and approval of a risk register which specifically addresses risks associated with the delivery of educational services through external parties.
2. For the minutes of the Academic Board, demonstrate that:
1. the Academic Board regularly receives a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of rates and trends for student attrition, progression, and minimum time completion rates, for each higher education course USQ offers each semester. The analysis must include accurate data on student attrition, completion, progression, grade distribution and include analysis by:
1. entry path (comparing students admitted under each entry pathway, including by external partner);
2. study mode (online, on campus, supported external delivery)
3. education agent;
4. country of origin;
5. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs); and
6. student achievement in similar courses at other Australian universities.
2. the Academic Board develops comprehensive action plans to address any issues identified through the comprehensive diagnostic analysis in accordance with 1(b)(i), and undertakes periodic monitoring of the effectiveness of any interventions.
3. the Academic Board reviews its own performance and the effectiveness of its role in academic governance, including:
1. course accreditation, academic quality, and assurance of learning;
2. an annual self-review; and
3. consideration of these matters in light of teaching and research performance data.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made the decision to renew the provider's registration on the basis that it was satisfied that the University of Southern Queensland continues to meet the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011.

TEQSA made the decision to impose one condition in light of risks that the University of Southern Queensland may not continue to meet the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011:

1. Provider Registration Standard 3.8 in relation to corporate and academic governance, especially with regard to delivery with other parties.
2. Provider Registration Standard 4.5 in relation to effective systems for overseeing the education quality and academic outcomes of students enrolled through arrangements with other parties.
3. Provider Registration Standard 5.6 in relation to sufficiently detailed cohort analysis to enable appropriate comparison and benchmarking of performance on teaching and learning outcomes.

TEQSA considers that following the re-shaping of the governance structure in January 2018, the University of Southern Queensland is making good progress in developing a detailed analysis and reporting structure to enable the University to carry out detailed analysis of student performance and implement timely and appropriate support.

TEQSA's assessment considered the University of Southern Queensland's arrangements for delivery at its Australian and overseas sites.

Withdrawal of registration

Report on application to withdraw registration by Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Pty Limited

A delegate has determined, under subsection 43(2) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), to grant the application from Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Pty Limited to withdraw its registration as a Higher Education Provider, with effect from 27 October 2017.

Main Reasons for the Decision

The TEQSA delegate was satisfied that it is appropriate to allow the registration of Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Pty Limited to be withdrawn as the provider demonstrated that all higher education operations had ceased.