Extension of accreditation periods

Report on extension of accreditation of 14 higher education courses of study offered by the Australian College of Nursing

On 19 June 2019 TEQSA extended, under section 57A of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the period of accreditation for the following courses offered by the Australian College of Nursing, from 24 April 2020 until 24 April 2021:

• Graduate Certificate in Acute Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Aged Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Breast Cancer Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Cancer Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Child and Family Health Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Community and Primary Health Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Critical Care Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Drug and Alcohol Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Leadership and Management
• Graduate Certificate in Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Neonatal Care
• Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Nursing Studies
• Graduate Certificate in Perioperative Nursing
• Graduate Certificate in Stomal Therapy Nursing.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made the decision to extend the period of course accreditations to reflect the Australian College of Nursing's record of high quality delivery of higher education across the 14 courses and to harmonise evidence requirements of proposed future applications.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Sheridan College Inc

On 6 June 2019, TEQSA:

• renewed, under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011(TEQSA Act), the registration of Sheridan College Inc in the category of Higher Education Provider, for a period of three years until 6 June 2022.
• renewed, under section 56 of the TEQSA Act, the accreditation of the following courses offered by Sheridan College Inc, for a period of three years until 6 June 2022:
  • Graduate Certificate of Business Administration
  • Graduate Diploma of Business Administration.

On 19 June 2019, TEQSA:

• imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, four conditions on the registration of Sheridan College Inc.

Condition 1: Independent Review of Governance

1. By 31 October 2019, the College must engage suitably qualified independent academic and corporate governance expert/s with experience in the higher education sector to do the following:
   
   1. complete an evaluation of the Board's and Academic Council's performance and effectiveness, with the aim of identifying opportunities for the College to improve its governance capabilities and ensure it continues to meet its requirements under the TEQSA Act as well as its broader compliance obligations
   2. report on the areas of governance requiring improvement and deliver a detailed action plan to support the College to address any deficiencies identified
   3. improve the College's risk register and risk management framework
   4. develop and implement a compliance register to ensure the College understands, monitors and continues to meet its compliance obligations.
2. The College must propose the suitably qualified governance expert/s to TEQSA at least 30 days prior to any appointment of the independent governance expert/s for approval by TEQSA. Once approved and appointed, the College must grant TEQSA opportunity to engage with the appointed governance expert/s, to seek any clarification or update considered necessary by TEQSA.
3. The report and action plan specified at paragraph a(ii) is to be reported to the College's Academic Council, Board of Directors and TEQSA by 20 December 2019.
4. The College is to report to TEQSA on the implementation of the Action Plan (specified at para a(ii)) by no later than 30 June 2020 in the first instance and then every six months until all actions are complete.
5. The College is to provide TEQSA with its improved risk register and risk management framework by 20 December 2019.
6. The College is to provide TEQSA with its compliance register and compliance framework by 20 December 2019.

Condition 2: Develop a strategy to improve retention, progress and completion

1. The College must establish an ongoing process for analysis of its student attrition, progression, completion and absent failure rates for all of its higher education courses. The analysis must rely on accurate data and attempt to identify the drivers behind each of these rates.
2. Based on the data analysis specified at paragraph (a) the College must develop a practical strategy with the aim of improving student retention, progression and completion rates, including use of the data to inform admission criteria and approaches to course design, teaching, learning and academic support. As part of this process the College must consider the Higher Education Standards Panel Report "Final Report - Improving retention, completion and success in higher education" https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/final_report_for_publishing.pdf
3. The following must be provided to TEQSA by 18 December 2019:
   
   1. the detailed analysis specified at paragraph (a)
   2. the strategy specified at paragraph (b)
   3. an explanation of the systems and processes put in place to ensure this analysis is on-going and the strategy is implemented with adequate oversight of the Academic Council and Board of Directors.

Condition 3: Reporting obligations

By 31 July 2020, the College must provide to TEQSA copies of the following for the previous six-month period:

1. each report to the Academic Council and the Board of Directors on student performance, including progress, attrition and completion rates and the implementation of the College's strategy to improve retention, progress and completion
2. each report to the Board of Directors on review of the risk register and risk framework
3. each report to the Board of Directors on review of the College's Compliance Register and Compliance Framework
4. all minutes relating to the Board's consideration and endorsement (or otherwise) of the reports specified in (a), (b) and (c).

Condition 4: English language and student support

1. The College must immediately delete the following condition from the student agreement: 'If Sheridan College determines, on the basis of your academic performance, that further academic English language support is necessary, you will be required to enrol in English support classes in addition to your normal coursework and at your personal expense.'
2. By 31 July 2019, the College must revise (to TEQSA's satisfaction) all of its marketing material and student information (including both printed and online material) to clearly and accessibly provide prospective and current students with advice about:
   
   1. the English language requirements for admission to its courses
   2. the potential need for additional study in English and any additional costs associated with this further study
   3. the counselling and personal support services available to students. This information on counselling and personal support services must include at a minimum: service contact details; whether or not these services are outsourced to third parties or provided in-house; and any additional costs involved in accessing these services.

Main reasons for the decision

The decisions were made on the basis that TEQSA was not satisfied that Sheridan meets the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015 ('the Threshold Standards'):

1. Standards 6.1.3, 6.3.1 and 6.2.1 in relation to corporate and academic governance; and
2. Standards 1.1.1, 2.3.2 and 7.2.1 in relation to risks to students, and provision of appropriate support and information to students.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Sheridan College Inc

On 6 June 2019, TEQSA:

• renewed, under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011(TEQSA Act), the registration of Sheridan College Inc in the category of Higher Education Provider, for a period of three years until 6 June 2022.
• renewed, under section 56 of the TEQSA Act, the accreditation of the following courses offered by Sheridan College Inc, for a period of three years until 6 June 2022:
  • Graduate Certificate of Business Administration
  • Graduate Diploma of Business Administration.

On 19 June 2019, TEQSA:

• imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, four conditions on the registration of Sheridan College Inc.

Condition 1: Independent Review of Governance

1. By 31 October 2019, the College must engage suitably qualified independent academic and corporate governance expert/s with experience in the higher education sector to do the following:
   
   1. complete an evaluation of the Board's and Academic Council's performance and effectiveness, with the aim of identifying opportunities for the College to improve its governance capabilities and ensure it continues to meet its requirements under the TEQSA Act as well as its broader compliance obligations
   2. report on the areas of governance requiring improvement and deliver a detailed action plan to support the College to address any deficiencies identified
   3. improve the College's risk register and risk management framework
   4. develop and implement a compliance register to ensure the College understands, monitors and continues to meet its compliance obligations.
2. The College must propose the suitably qualified governance expert/s to TEQSA at least 30 days prior to any appointment of the independent governance expert/s for approval by TEQSA. Once approved and appointed, the College must grant TEQSA opportunity to engage with the appointed governance expert/s, to seek any clarification or update considered necessary by TEQSA.
3. The report and action plan specified at paragraph a(ii) is to be reported to the College's Academic Council, Board of Directors and TEQSA by 20 December 2019.
4. The College is to report to TEQSA on the implementation of the Action Plan (specified at para a(ii)) by no later than 30 June 2020 in the first instance and then every six months until all actions are complete.
5. The College is to provide TEQSA with its improved risk register and risk management framework by 20 December 2019.
6. The College is to provide TEQSA with its compliance register and compliance framework by 20 December 2019.

Condition 2: Develop a strategy to improve retention, progress and completion

1. The College must establish an ongoing process for analysis of its student attrition, progression, completion and absent failure rates for all of its higher education courses. The analysis must rely on accurate data and attempt to identify the drivers behind each of these rates.
2. Based on the data analysis specified at paragraph (a) the College must develop a practical strategy with the aim of improving student retention, progression and completion rates, including use of the data to inform admission criteria and approaches to course design, teaching, learning and academic support. As part of this process the College must consider the Higher Education Standards Panel Report "Final Report - Improving retention, completion and success in higher education" https://docs.education.gov.au/system/files/doc/other/final_report_for_publishing.pdf
3. The following must be provided to TEQSA by 18 December 2019:
   
   1. the detailed analysis specified at paragraph (a)
   2. the strategy specified at paragraph (b)
   3. an explanation of the systems and processes put in place to ensure this analysis is on-going and the strategy is implemented with adequate oversight of the Academic Council and Board of Directors.

Condition 3: Reporting obligations

By 31 July 2020, the College must provide to TEQSA copies of the following for the previous six-month period:

1. each report to the Academic Council and the Board of Directors on student performance, including progress, attrition and completion rates and the implementation of the College's strategy to improve retention, progress and completion
2. each report to the Board of Directors on review of the risk register and risk framework
3. each report to the Board of Directors on review of the College's Compliance Register and Compliance Framework
4. all minutes relating to the Board's consideration and endorsement (or otherwise) of the reports specified in (a), (b) and (c).

Condition 4: English language and student support

1. The College must immediately delete the following condition from the student agreement: 'If Sheridan College determines, on the basis of your academic performance, that further academic English language support is necessary, you will be required to enrol in English support classes in addition to your normal coursework and at your personal expense.'
2. By 31 July 2019, the College must revise (to TEQSA's satisfaction) all of its marketing material and student information (including both printed and online material) to clearly and accessibly provide prospective and current students with advice about:
   
   1. the English language requirements for admission to its courses
   2. the potential need for additional study in English and any additional costs associated with this further study
   3. the counselling and personal support services available to students. This information on counselling and personal support services must include at a minimum: service contact details; whether or not these services are outsourced to third parties or provided in-house; and any additional costs involved in accessing these services.

Main reasons for the decision

The decisions were made on the basis that TEQSA was not satisfied that Sheridan meets the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015 ('the Threshold Standards'):

1. Standards 6.1.3, 6.3.1 and 6.2.1 in relation to corporate and academic governance; and
2. Standards 1.1.1, 2.3.2 and 7.2.1 in relation to risks to students, and provision of appropriate support and information to students.

Revocation of accreditation conditions

Report on the revocation of conditions imposed on the accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE)

On 4 December 2019 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition 2 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE) (refer public report of 20 March 2017):

• Associate Degree of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Information Technology

On 4 December 2019 a delegate of TEQSA also revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition 1 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE) (refer public report of 12 December 2017):

• Associate Degree of Hospitality Management
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management

Main reasons for the decisions

TEQSA made these decisions on the basis that it was satisfied that the conditions were no longer necessary.

Revocation of accreditation conditions

Report on the revocation of conditions imposed on the accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE)

On 4 December 2019 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition 2 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE) (refer public report of 20 March 2017):

• Associate Degree of Information Technology
• Bachelor of Information Technology

On 4 December 2019 a delegate of TEQSA also revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition 1 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Polytechnic (formerly North Melbourne Institute of TAFE) (refer public report of 12 December 2017):

• Associate Degree of Hospitality Management
• Bachelor of Hospitality Management

Main reasons for the decisions

TEQSA made these decisions on the basis that it was satisfied that the conditions were no longer necessary.

Renewal of course accreditation in teach out mode

Report on accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd

On 26 November 2019, a delegate of TEQSA accredited, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the following course in teach out mode offered by Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd, until 1 November 2021:

• Graduate Certificate of Mining Finance

No new enrolments are permitted in this course.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it considers it appropriate to permit Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd to teach out the above course over two years.

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd

A delegate of TEQSA has renewed the accreditation, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), of the following higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd for a period of five years until 25 November 2020:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study.

Condition 1

By 1 July 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide TEQSA:

1. 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 of the four accredited higher education courses 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 with students admitted with credit for up to a third of the course and between a third and two thirds of the course);
3. whether students are domestic or international students; and
4. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs).
2. a copy of the minutes of the Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the diagnostic analysis.

Condition 2

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide to TEQSA evidence of the outcomes of a review of the following four courses of study:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

The review must include external representation and consider at a minimum:

• course structure and coherency
• alignment between unit assessment, unit learning outcomes, course learning outcomes and the requirements of the AQF
• student performance data

The information provided to TEQSA must include:

1. a copy of the review reports
2. a copy of the minutes of an Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the reports
3. evidence of the implementation plan and/or action taken by the Academic Board in response to the review report.

Condition 3

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd 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 course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's application for accreditation of four courses of study 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. TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

The broad issues which relate to the four courses include:

1. Provider Course Accreditation Standards (PCAS) 1.7 in relation to course coherency and intellectual inquiry; and
2. PCAS 5.4 and 5.6 in relation to course performance data collection and use and the progression and completion rates of its students; and
3. PCAS 5.5 in relation to the benchmarking of academic standards.

Application to withdraw conditions

In accordance with Subsections 52(2) and 52(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a higher education course of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd

A delegate of TEQSA has renewed the accreditation, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), of the following higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd for a period of five years until 25 November 2020:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study.

Condition 1

By 1 July 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide TEQSA:

1. 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 of the four accredited higher education courses 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 with students admitted with credit for up to a third of the course and between a third and two thirds of the course);
3. whether students are domestic or international students; and
4. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs).
2. a copy of the minutes of the Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the diagnostic analysis.

Condition 2

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide to TEQSA evidence of the outcomes of a review of the following four courses of study:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

The review must include external representation and consider at a minimum:

• course structure and coherency
• alignment between unit assessment, unit learning outcomes, course learning outcomes and the requirements of the AQF
• student performance data

The information provided to TEQSA must include:

1. a copy of the review reports
2. a copy of the minutes of an Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the reports
3. evidence of the implementation plan and/or action taken by the Academic Board in response to the review report.

Condition 3

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd 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 course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's application for accreditation of four courses of study 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. TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

The broad issues which relate to the four courses include:

1. Provider Course Accreditation Standards (PCAS) 1.7 in relation to course coherency and intellectual inquiry; and
2. PCAS 5.4 and 5.6 in relation to course performance data collection and use and the progression and completion rates of its students; and
3. PCAS 5.5 in relation to the benchmarking of academic standards.

Application to withdraw conditions

In accordance with Subsections 52(2) and 52(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a higher education course of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd

A delegate of TEQSA has renewed the accreditation, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), of the following higher education courses of study offered by Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd for a period of five years until 25 November 2020:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study.

Condition 1

By 1 July 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide TEQSA:

1. 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 of the four accredited higher education courses 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 with students admitted with credit for up to a third of the course and between a third and two thirds of the course);
3. whether students are domestic or international students; and
4. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs).
2. a copy of the minutes of the Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the diagnostic analysis.

Condition 2

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd must provide to TEQSA evidence of the outcomes of a review of the following four courses of study:

• Bachelor of Business (Accounting)
• Diploma of Accounting
• Bachelor of Business (Management and Finance)
• Diploma of Management

The review must include external representation and consider at a minimum:

• course structure and coherency
• alignment between unit assessment, unit learning outcomes, course learning outcomes and the requirements of the AQF
• student performance data

The information provided to TEQSA must include:

1. a copy of the review reports
2. a copy of the minutes of an Academic Board meeting which record the Academic Board's response to the reports
3. evidence of the implementation plan and/or action taken by the Academic Board in response to the review report.

Condition 3

By 25 November 2016, Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd 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 course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's application for accreditation of four courses of study 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. TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Australian Institute of Business and Management Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

The broad issues which relate to the four courses include:

1. Provider Course Accreditation Standards (PCAS) 1.7 in relation to course coherency and intellectual inquiry; and
2. PCAS 5.4 and 5.6 in relation to course performance data collection and use and the progression and completion rates of its students; and
3. PCAS 5.5 in relation to the benchmarking of academic standards.

Application to withdraw conditions

In accordance with Subsections 52(2) and 52(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a higher education course of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.