Shortened period of registration

Report on shortening of period of registration of Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd (APIC)

TEQSA has shortened the period of APIC's registration as a higher education provider under section 100 of the TEQSA Act by a period of six months to 24 January 2018, on the basis that APIC has failed to meet a number of provisions of the Threshold Standards.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA undertook a compliance assessment of APIC in accordance with section 59 of the TEQSA Act. After undertaking the compliance assessment, and after considering APIC's response to the compliance assessment, TEQSA concluded that APIC has failed to meet the following Threshold Standards:

1. Provider Registration Standards 3.5, 3.8 and 5.6 in relation to APIC's governance and internal quality assurance mechanisms for its higher education operations;
2. Provider Registration Standards 6.5 and 6.6 in relation to APIC's responsibilities to its students and provision of effective student support mechanisms; and
3. Provider Registration Standards 7.1 and 7.4 in relation to APIC's physical and electronic resources and infrastructure

TEQSA also considered that there is still a significant risk that APIC will not continue to meet the above Threshold Standards over the remaining period of its registration, despite APIC taking action to address TEQSA's concerns about these aspects of its higher education operations.

TEQSA will also continue to monitor APIC's compliance with the Threshold Standards during the period prior to the date on which APIC's application for renewal of registration is due to be submitted. This will include further visits to APIC's premises, monitoring APIC's overseas students on the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS) as well as reviewing APIC's higher education courses.

TEQSA notes that existing conditions on APIC's registration and accreditation of courses are not impacted by this decision and remain unchanged.

Renewal of registration

Report on revocation of conditions of registration of Asia Pacific International College

On 26 February 2015 TEQSA made a decision, under Section 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, to revoke conditions 2, 3(a), 5(a) and 6(a) imposed on the registration of Asia Pacific International College (refer public report of 24 July 2014). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Renewal of registration

Report on revocation of conditions of registration of Asia Pacific International College

On 30 October 2014 TEQSA made a decision, under Section 32(3) of the TEQSA Act, to revoke condition 7 imposed on the registration of Asia Pacific International College (refer public report of 24 July 2014). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Asia Pacific International Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of four years to 24 July 2018 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed seven conditions on the registration of Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

APIC is required to:

a) Engage an External Expert and provide a report by the External Expert to TEQSA which provides a review of methodology for assessment at APIC and a response on whether there is sufficient assurance about the rigour of assessment at APIC, and whether there is appropriate separation between the initial marker and the Examiners Board, by 30 October 2014;

b) Commence a program of external moderation of assessment conducted at APIC, commencing in 2015 and continuing for the period of registration, that includes samples of assessment undertaken at all AQF levels offered by APIC and all years of delivery with reports provided to TEQSA by 31 March 2015, 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2017; and

c) Provide a management response to the initial review of the methodology for assessment at APIC as provided to TEQSA under Condition 1(a), by 31 March 2015.

Condition 2:

APIC is required by 30 October 2014 to develop and supply evidence to TEQSA of a specific human resource policy that deals with: workload management; staff availability to students (both face-to-face and online); merit-based selection and promotion; performance management, travel and staff grievance. This must encompass non-academic staff as well as academic staff.

Condition 3:

APIC is required to:

a) Provide a workforce plan for all academic and non-academic staff for 2015 until the end of the current registration period, which also demonstrates a sound understanding of the requirements for appropriate support for students at the Melbourne campus, by 30 October 2014; and

b) Submit reports to TEQSA to demonstrate progress against the workforce plan. The reports must include the name, highest qualification, nature of engagement, the campus on which any newly employed staff are based and their number of teaching hours, by 30 June 2015, 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2017.

Condition 4:

APIC is required to:

a) Provide TEQSA with a strategy and implementation plan for comparing its performance with other higher education providers by 30 September 2014; and

b) Provide a progress report on this strategy and implementation plan by 30 June 2015.

Condition 5:

APIC is required to:

a) By 30 October 2014 commission an external review of library, information resources and online learning by a higher education specialist, with the shortlist of External Experts to be approved by TEQSA. The review should include:

• an assessment of library and online learning software and hardware requirements
• physical and electronic resourcing; and reciprocal borrowing arrangements
• an assessment of copyright licencing arrangements which allows for appropriate academic referencing. The review must include how APIC has managed the copyright of its external course materials and project management database to date.
• personnel planning to ensure requirements are sufficient for the projected number of students across all courses of study and disciplines offered, including equivalence for distance/online.

b) By 30 June 2015 provide TEQSA with a management response to the external review, with evidence of consideration by the Academic Board; and if appropriate, a resourcing and implementation plan to address the review's recommendations.

Condition 6:

APIC is required to:

a) Enhance the delegation schedule that was provided to TEQSA on Friday 12 July 2014 to ensure appropriate audit arrangements with respect to delegations are in place; and to ensure that individuals are not reporting or delegating to themselves. APIC must provide evidence of approval and implementation through the provision of Board minutes, by 30 October 2014; and

b) Provide evidence of, ongoing review, strategies, approval and implementation of delegations through the provision of Board minutes by 30 October 2015.

Condition 7:

APIC must provide information to TEQSA to demonstrate its corporate governing body has access to independent financial expertise by 30 October 2014.

Background to Decision

Asia Pacific International 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 Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites. TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd registration include:

  a) Pacific International College Pty Ltd's policies and practices may not protect academic integrity in assessment.

  b) Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's human resource management policies and procedures may not be adequate and its workforce planning may not appropriately reflect the planned growth in student numbers.

  c) There is a deficiency in Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's comparison of its performance with other higher education providers.

  d) Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's electronic and physical information resources may not be adequate.

  e) Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's delegations may not be appropriate, observed and regularly reviewed.

  f) Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's governing body may not have access to independent financial expertise.

TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Australian Catholic University Limited

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of Australian Catholic University Limited for a period of seven years to 30 July 2022, in the provider category of 'Australian University'.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Australian Catholic University Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

Australian Catholic University Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Navitas Professional Institute Pty Ltd

Under Section 36(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), TEQSA has renewed the registration of Navitas Professional Institute Pty Ltd in the provider category of Higher Education Provider, for a period of seven years to 30 March 2024.

Main reasons for decision

TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Navitas Professional Institute Pty Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

Navitas Professional Institute Pty Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

Renewal of registration

Report on revocation of condition of registration of the Australian College of Theology Ltd

On 20 January 2016, TEQSA revoked, under Section 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, condition 1 imposed on the registration of Australian College of Theology Ltd (refer public report of 16 July 2015). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Renewal of registration

Report on revocation of conditions of registration of the Australian College of Theology Limited

On 12 October 2015, TEQSA revoked, under Section 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, conditions 2 and 3 imposed on the registration of Australian College of Theology Limited (refer public report of 16 July 2015). The decision to revoke the conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of the Australian College of Theology Limited

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of the Australian College of Theology Limited for a period of seven years to 16 July 2022 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the registration of the Australian College of Theology Limited as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

Within three months of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to:

a) amend its standard affiliation agreement and all related policy such that:

1. a student may lodge a complaint 'about any aspect of the higher education provider's higher education operations, including operations provided by other entities on behalf of the provider, without fear of reprisal';
2. it clearly sets obligations on an affiliated college to comply with the requirements of PRS 6.4 and sets out the potential consequences available to the ACT in circumstances where an affiliated college fails to meet those requirements; and
3. it establishes and demonstrates evidence of an arrangement with an appropriate independent third party to whom grievances may be referred if they are unable to be resolved internally.

b) amend the Dispute Resolution Policy for Domestic Students and the Dispute Resolution Policy for Overseas Students to ensure that affiliate colleges keep records of and report on all grievances and the resolution of all grievances.

Condition 2:

Within three months of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to:

a) develop and implement a specific Human Resources strategy and policy that ensures that academic staff either have an AQF qualification at the level specified in PCAS 4.2 or have professional experience equivalent to such a qualification, and specifies the criteria against which such professional experience is measured.

b) provide evidence that the Academic Board considered the ACT Human Resources strategy and policy in respect of each and every staff member involved in delivery of its higher education programs. The evidence must include a schedule identifying all higher education academic staff, what courses they teach, their highest relevant qualification and where that qualification is not at least one AQF qualification level higher than the course of study they teach, how compliance with the Threshold Standards, including Provider Registration Standard 5.1 and 5.2 and Provider Course Accreditation Standard 4.1 and 4.2 has been achieved.

c) provide evidence of the Academic Board's consideration of the schedule and its decision as to what action the ACT will take where no assessment of equivalent professional experience has been made or that assessment shows non-compliance with the Threshold Standards, in each case to ensure compliance with the Threshold Standards.

Condition 3:

Within 28 days of the date of notification of the decision, the ACT is required to identify any Head of Program or equivalent where relevant, who does not have a relevant qualification at least one AQF level above the level of the course taught and for whom no assessment of equivalent professional experience has been made and provide advice to TEQSA as to what action will be taken by the ACT to address the matter.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by the Australian College of Theology Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites and site in New Zealand.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to the Australian College of Theology Limited registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as the Australian College of Theology Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Australian College of Theology Limited registration include:

  a) The provider is at risk of not complying with the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 5.2 in relation to the qualifications of the academic staff teaching its Master of Divinity and its Master of Arts (Theology), Master of Arts (Ministry) and Master of Arts (Christian Studies).

  b) There is a risk that the provider may not provide its students with access to effective grievance processes to enable them to make complaints about any aspect of the providers operations without fear of reprisal as required by Provider Registration Standard 6.4.