One of the most common areas of complaint with online teaching and learning during the pandemic was insufficient engagement with teaching and tutoring staff, and an expectation of greater interaction with individual students. Many students missed the informal interaction before or after lectures and tutorials that occurred when studying face-to-face.

Preparation and management

• Australian Skills Quality Authority guidance to the vocational education training (VET) sector on distance delivery (information hub)
• Curated resources for educators (information hub)
• Engineering Institute of Technology: Education and training using a synchronous (and asynchronous) online learning platform (information hub)
• National guidelines for improving student outcomes in online learning (guide)

Teaching approaches

• How to ensure success in online learning programs (webinar)
• Supporting students in an online environment
• Your content is online, what's next? (a series of tips from Dr Dawn Gilmore, Director of Teaching and Learning, RMIT Online):
  • Tip #1: Start by telling your students how you’ll be interacting with them
  • Tip #2: Tell students about their first webinar
  • Tip #3: Establish your discussion board presence
  • Tip #4: Facilitate an engaging webinar
  • Tip #5: Email students who aren’t logging into the LMS
  • Tip #6: Encourage your students to prepare for the first assessment
  • Tip #7: Build feedback loops into your online teaching practice
  • Tip #8: Challenge your assumptions about student participation
  • Tip #9: Don’t forget to have a bit of fun
  • Tip #10: It's ok to lean on Google and YouTube
  • Tip #11: Celebrate your students’ achievements
  • Tip #12: Show your students how to look beyond the classroom
  • Tip #13: At the end of the semester, say goodbye to your students
  • Tip #14: Reflect on your approach to teaching
• TEQSA and RMIT webinar series: Going online: R(e)imagining teaching and learning (webinar)
• The 10 fundamentals of teaching online for faculty and instructors (guide)

Providing effective online feedback

• ASCLITE Technology-Enhanced Learning Accreditation Standards (guide)
• Effective feedback in digital learning environments (discussion paper)

Hybrid learning

• A new pedagogy is emerging...and online learning is a key contributing factor (article)
• How to use the HyFlex method to teach online and in person at the same time (webinar) 
• UNSW guidelines for accessible blended and online courses (guide)

^{TEQSA makes the information on this webpage available to assist higher education providers, ELICOS providers and foundation program providers in building good practice. It has been obtained from a range of external sources and has not been generated by or on behalf of TEQSA unless otherwise noted. You should read, and carefully consider, the disclaimer before accessing any of the material.}

TEQSA's Service Charter sets out the commitments we make to everyone who deals with us. This includes higher education providers, members of the public, current and prospective students at higher education providers, TEQSA Experts and peak bodies. View our Service Charter.

You can contact us at any time to:

• provide feedback
• request more information
• lodge a formal complaint.

There is potential for those who deal with us to be unhappy with our practices and services, so we have established a policy and process to accept and investigate these issues.

In investigating these issues we will ensure impartiality, respond in a timely manner and use the findings to improve our practices. For more information regarding complaints about our practices or services, view our Complaints about TEQSA policy.

If you are dissatisfied with a regulatory decision we have made you can make an application to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for an external review. More information is available at the ART’s applying for a review page.

If you feel that we have not acted in accordance with our Service Charter, or if you have another complaint about how we have carried out our work, you can submit your complaint to us by emailing review@teqsa.gov.au, or write to us at:

Legal Group
TEQSA
GPO Box 1672
MELBOURNE VIC 3001

If our internal complaint handling processes do not provide a satisfactory resolution, you can take the matter further by contacting the Commonwealth Ombudsman. More information is available at the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s website.

To provide us with feedback – positive or negative – email feedback@teqsa.gov.au

To make an enquiry of a general nature you can contact our Enquiries line by email at enquiries@teqsa.gov.au or phone at 1300 739 585.

The Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Category Standards and Other Measures) Act 2021 gave effect to the Australian Government’s decision to implement all 10 recommendations arising from the 2019 review of Provider Category Standards.

The updated Threshold Standards, which incorporate the revised provider categories came into effect from 1 July 2021.

Between March and July 2021 TEQSA worked to implement the reforms, undertaking a comprehensive and thorough approach to ensuring the revised standards were fairly and consistently applied.

The transition was completed on 1 July 2021, and the National Register has been updated to reflect the revised categories for each provider.

Quality of Research Determination 2021

This legislative instrument complements new research quality criteria included in the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 for the ‘Australian University’ category. It provides clarity around the research quality indicators that TEQSA will have regard to in relation to an entity or provider seeking registration or re-registration as an Australian University.

• Further details

Frequently asked questions

When was the decision to update providers’ categories made?

The new standards took effect on 1 July 2021. TEQSA made a decision on this date to register providers in one of the four categories available under the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021. Following the decision, providers were notified and the National Register updated to reflect the revised category for each provider.

The notification followed previous communication from TEQSA to providers.

See:

• Chief Commissioner’s letter to all registered providers (12 March 2021)
• Chief Commissioner’s letter to registered providers without self-accrediting authority (8 June 2021)

Are TEQSA’s provider category decisions reviewable?

Yes, provider category decisions are reviewable. A provider can apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) for merits review. Merits review means that the ART considers the available evidence and determines whether TEQSA’s decision is the correct and preferable decision. For more information, visit the ART’s website.

21 November 2024

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) has cancelled the qualifications and/or statements of attainment of more than 6,400 past students of former Registered Training Organisation (RTO) Luvium Pty Ltd as part of its ongoing work to ensure the integrity of qualifications gained through Australia’s VET sector.

Background

Luvium Pty Ltd (trading as Australia Education & Career College 52865) was registered to deliver training and assessment to domestic students but an ASQA compliance investigation found it had issued qualifications without appropriate training or competency-based assessment by qualified assessors between 1 January 2023 and 19 October 2024.

ASQA sent notices of intent to cancel the qualifications and/or statements of attainment to 7,360 former students on 6 November 2024 after cancelling the registration of Luvium effective 19 October 2024 following an extensive compliance investigation.

Of the 7,360 former students who were sent notices, more than 6,400 provided no response and ASQA therefore cancelled their qualifications and/or statements of attainment on 15 November. ASQA received responses from more than 780 former students and is considering their responses and will advise them of an outcome as soon as possible.

All cancelled qualifications and statements of attainment were issued between 1 January 2023 and 19 October 2024. Information about impacted qualifications and statements of attainment is available from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

Further information, including fact sheets, about this regulatory action is available on the ASQA website.

TEQSA's role

TEQSA is concerned that former Luvium students enrolled in a higher education program may have used a cancelled qualification as part of their admissions process or have been awarded recognition of prior learning (RPL) for these now cancelled qualifications.

TEQSA notes:

• Luvium Pty Ltd (trading as Australia Education & Career College 52865) is not registered with TEQSA to award higher education programs.
• None of the issues ASQA has taken action on relate to delivery by any higher education provider.

Provider actions

TEQSA expects all higher education providers will review their records to identify where students may have used a cancelled qualification for the purpose of admission or RPL to a higher education course of study.

Where a provider identifies a student may have used a cancelled qualification, in accordance with the provider’s institutional policies and procedures it should address any issues arising from the cancellation of the qualification. For example, any credit a provider offered to the student that relied upon that student having undertaken a legitimate qualification with Luvium Pty Ltd should be reconsidered.

TEQSA also expects providers to implement appropriate safeguards to assure themselves that their institution will not be adversely impacted in the future.

Relevant standards

Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021

• Standard 1.1 Admission
• Standard 1.2 Credit and recognition of prior learning
• Standard 2.3 Wellbeing and safety

National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018

• Standard 2 - Recruitment of an overseas student
• Standard 9 - Deferring, suspending or cancelling the overseas student's enrolment

What is CRICOS?

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is the official register of all Australian education providers that are permitted to offer courses to students studying in Australia on student visas. For more information visit the CRICOS website, which lists registered providers and registered courses.

Where can I find information about the ESOS transition to compliance?

In recognition of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, TEQSA approved regulatory flexibility in relation to delivery mode to allow providers to deliver courses online to overseas students. Based on a review of the current situation, TEQSA now expects the sector to transition to compliance with all requirements relating to delivery mode (under the National Code and ELICOS Standards) by 30 June 2023. TEQSA has now published answers to frequently asked questions on the ESOS return to compliance. For any further questions, please contact the CRICOS team at cricos@teqsa.gov.au. 

Who can submit CRICOS applications via the TEQSA Provider Portal?

Your organisation’s Principal Executive Officer can make a request for access to the Portal on behalf of other staff within the organisation. All requests for Portal access should be sent to cricos@teqsa.gov.au and include the names and email addresses of the users to be added. Once the request has been actioned by TEQSA, the new users will receive instructions on how to access the Portal. 

Providers can nominate more than one ESOS Application Contact to have access to the Portal but it is important that these contacts are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain current. Please notify cricos@teqsa.gov.au as soon as possible if Portal access needs to be cancelled, for example if the contact has left the organisation or access is no longer required.  

For further information on using the Portal, access our Provider Portal – Frequently Asked Questions.  

What should I do if I receive an error message or I am unable to upload documents to the TEQSA Provider Portal due to the file size exceeding the limit?

Check that the documents you are trying to upload do not:

• include a file name that exceeds 128 characters in length
• include a file name that contains any special characters 
• exceed the size limit for each file of 10MB.  

For further information on using the Portal, access our Provider Portal – Frequently Asked Questions. 

If you are still unable to upload documentation via the TEQSA Provider Portal please contact cricos@teqsa.gov.au or your assessment manager for assistance. Please do not provide links to drop boxes or other document sharing platforms.

Where can I get help in using PRISMS?

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has published a Provider User Guide for using the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS) which provides step by step instructions for performing various functions.

How do I register an ELICOS course on CRICOS?

In order to deliver an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) course, your organisation must be a registered higher education provider, or a provider that has an entry arrangement with at least one registered higher education provider. To add an ELICOS course to CRICOS, providers should submit an Add ELICOS on CRICOS application via the TEQSA Provider Portal. The application will be assessed against the requirements of the ESOS Act, the National Code and the ELICOS National Standards.

How do I register a Foundation course?

TEQSA has regulatory responsibility for all Foundation programs. Foundation programs for international students are nationally recognised courses that equip students with the skills for entry into Australian higher education programs. They provide an academic entry pathway to first year undergraduate study or its equivalent.

Please submit an Add Foundation Program/s on CRICOS application.

Foundation programs must comply with requirements set out in the:

• Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act)
• National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code 2018)
• National Standards for Foundation Programs.

Exemption - U17s in Foundation Programs

Providers seeking to apply for an exemption to enrol students under the age of 17 (minimum acceptable age is 16) in a Foundation program, must submit an Application for exemption to enrol students under the age of 17 in Foundation Programs application detailing arrangements in place to support younger students.

The application must meet the necessary requirements, include all information requested and be submitted through the Provider portal. No fees apply for seeking an exemption.

For international students

How do I find out about course availability, admission requirements and fees?

To find out about course availability, admission requirements, associated fees or any other course details or requirements, you should contact your higher education provider directly. TEQSA is not able to provide this information.   

Can TEQSA provide advice about my student visa?

No, TEQSA is not able to give advice on any visa queries nor comment on the impact that individual circumstances may have on particular visas. For all visa enquiries, you should contact the Department of Home Affairs, or seek assistance from a student advisor at your higher education provider.

Further information

For more information or assistance, please see TEQSA’s Application forms and support page, or contact the CRICOS team at cricos@teqsa.gov.au.