Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Kent Institute Australia Pty Ltd

TEQSA has agreed to orders made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal under which:

• the registration of Kent Institute Pty Ltd is renewed, under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), in the category of Higher Education Provider, for a period of four years until 31 March 2022.
• the accreditation of Kent Institute Pty Ltd's Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Accounting courses is renewed, under section 56 of the TEQSA Act for a period of four years until 31 March 2022.

TEQSA has also agreed that six conditions be imposed on the registration of Kent Institute Pty Ltd under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act.

A copy of the conditions is at Attachment 1.

Main reasons for the decision

The conditions have been imposed in light of risks identified in relation to the following aspects of Kent Institute Australia Pty Ltd's higher education operations:

1. corporate and academic governance;
2. academic quality assurance in relation to course design, benchmarking, course assessment and moderation, and the use of comparative student performance data; and
3. the adequacy of Kent Institute Australia Pty Ltd's staffing arrangements, including its approach to staff scholarship and professional development.

TEQSA's assessment considered Kent Institute Australia Pty Ltd's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.

Attachment 1

Condition 1

Within 6 months after the date on which this condition is imposed, the Applicant must provide evidence to the Respondent of the appointment of a suitably qualified person to the position of Executive Dean, based in Melbourne. The appointment must be made in accordance with the Applicant's position description dated 19 February 2018 and must be made with the agreement of the Respondent as to the identity of the appointee (which agreement is not to be unreasonably withheld).

Condition 2

The Applicant must:

1. within 2 months after the date on which this condition is imposed, provide the Respondent with a plan for the enhancement of scholarly activity of the staff of the applicant. The plan must:
1. be approved by the Applicant's Academic Board;
2. include only activities or memberships which have scholarly or professional relevance to the individual's role with the Applicant;
3. include a framework for collating, and reporting on, information about the scholarly activities of its staff. The framework must include a description of the steps taken by the Applicant to ensure that this information is consistently and appropriately categorised, having regard to the relevant guidance published by the Respondent in relation to scholarship.
4. specify the resources to be made available to support staff scholarly activity and the basis on which the application of these resources is reported;
5. specify the basis on which the policy will be reviewed by the Applicant.
2. no later than 4 weeks prior to the commencement of each of trimester 1 and 2(i.e. excluding trimester 3) in the Applicant's courses, provide the Respondent with a report on its academic staff and the scholarly activities of those staff, which must include:
1. the steps taken to implement the plan at (a), including the scholarly activities undertaken in the previous 6 months by each staff member with academic leadership or teaching responsibilities, and (where relevant)the amount spent by the applicant to support each of those activities; and
2. the academic leadership and teaching responsibilities of each staff member of the applicant, whether the staff member is engaged on a full-time, part-time or casual basis, the units to be taught by each staff member in the subsequent teaching period, the location at which those units will be taught, and the relevant qualifications or professional experience of the staff member in relation to those units;

Condition 3

The Applicant must, every 2 years for the period in which the applicant is registered with the Respondent:

1. engage a suitably qualified independent expert (with the agreement of the Respondent to the identity and terms of reference of the expert, which agreement is not to be unreasonably withheld) to prepare a report which contains an independent external review of the Applicant's Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Accounting courses. The independent expert must:
1. be suitably qualified to undertake the independent review;
2. not be a past or present member of the Applicant's staff;
3. not have been engaged as a consultant to the Applicant (and for the avoidance of doubt, this exclusion of 'consultants' is not to exclude any expert witnesses relied upon by the Applicant); and
4. not have any conflict of interest.
2. submit the independent expert's report to the Applicant's Academic Board, Board of Directors and the Respondent no later than one month after the independent expert provides their report (which must not be later than three months after the independent expert was engaged).
3. provide the Respondent with a copy of the independent expert's report, together with a plan for the implementation of the recommendations in the report which has been approved by the Applicant's Board of Directors and its Academic Board, within six weeks after the independent expert provides their report to the Applicant.

Condition 4

The Applicant must provide the Respondent with reports on its moderation and benchmarking activities, including benchmarking of student performance data undertaken by the Applicant, in the preceding 12 month period. The Applicant must provide its first report by 15 May 2018 and a report by 15 May in each subsequent year.

Condition 5

The Applicant must complete its appointment of 3 new external members (consisting of 2 replacement members and 1 additional member) to its Academic Board within 6 months of the date of the decision by the Tribunal and report on those appointments within 1 month of the appointments being finalised.

Condition 6

The Applicant must:

1. within 3 months after the date on which this condition is imposed, provide the Respondent with a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of the probable causes for observed rates and trends for student attrition, progression, grade distribution and minimum time completion rates, for each accredited higher education course it offers and each year, for the period from 2012 to 2016 inclusive. The analysis must include accurate data on student attrition, completion, progression and grade distribution rates 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. basis for assessment of the student's English language proficiencies) country of origin;
4. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs); and
5. student achievement in similar courses at other higher education providers.
2. develop and provide to the Respondent within 6 months after the date on which this condition is imposed, a detailed strategy, having regard to the comprehensive diagnostic analysis required under paragraph (a) above, which:
1. includes specific targets for improvement of student attrition, completion and progression rates for each course and each year over the forward registration period;
2. gives consideration to admission practices and standards, study load of students, the identification of students at risk of not progressing academically and the adequacy and effectiveness of student support;
3. has been considered and approved by the Applicant's Corporate Board and Academic Board.
3. revise the targets determined in accordance with paragraph (b) above if and as directed by the Respondent.
4. demonstrate improvement, with reference to the targets to be established under paragraphs (b) and (c), overall and for each accredited higher education course of study, through annually reporting to the Respondent on these rates by 15 March each year (for the rates in the previous year)throughout the period of registration, with these reports to commence on 15 March 2019. The reports must be considered and approved by the Applicant's Corporate Board and Academic Board and be accompanied by evidence of this approval.

Registration

Report on compliance assessment of Polytechnic Institute Australia Pty Ltd

On 8 June 2017 TEQSA:

• Commenced, under section 59 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), a compliance assessment of Polytechnic Institute Australia Pty Ltd (PIA).

On 9 May 2018, TEQSA:

• imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, six conditions on the registration of Polytechnic Institute Australia Pty Ltd.

Condition 1:

By 31 March 2019, PIA must provide TEQSA with evidence demonstrating consideration and approval of the following documents by the Board of Directors:

1. revised strategic plan, and reports monitoring progress against targets, including actions taken to correct any underperformance.
2. risk management framework, including reports monitoring risks to PIA's higher education operations.

Condition 2:

By 31 August 2018 PIA must provide TEQSA with:

1. a report from the Academic Board to the Board of Directors which addresses reasons for high failure rates and includes recommendations to improve student outcomes.
2. Board of Directors meeting minutes demonstrating consideration of the report at (a) and action taken in response to recommendations in the report.

Condition 3:

By 31 March each year from 2019 until further notice, PIA must provide TEQSA with a copy of:

1. a comprehensive diagnostic analysis of the probable causes for observed rates and trends for student attrition, progression, minimum time completion rates and absent failure rates, for each accredited higher education course it offers. The analysis must include accurate data on student attrition, completion, progression, grade distribution and absent failure rates 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. education agent;
4. basis for assessment of the student's English language proficiency;
5. country of origin;
6. referral to and uptake of student support (including participation in formal study support programs); and
7. student achievement in similar courses at other higher education providers.
2. evidence of the Academic Board's report to the Board of Directors on student outcomes and the quality of teaching and learning, which addresses issues identified in the diagnostic analysis at (a), and includes recommendations for improvement.
3. Board of Directors meeting minutes demonstrating consideration of the report at (b) and action taken in response to recommendations in the report.

Condition 4:

1. By 31 January 2019, PIA must provide TEQSA with a scholarship development plan, approved by the Board of Directors, which includes targets for scholarly output for categories of scholarship recognised in TEQSA's Guidance Note on scholarship, to ensure academic staff are active in scholarship that informs their teaching.
2. By 31 January each year from 2020 until further notice PIA must provide TEQSA with an annual scholarship report to the Board of Directors which reports against the scholarship development plan and evidence of the Board of Directors' consideration of, and response to, the report.

Condition 5:

Not later than four weeks prior to the commencement of each teaching period, PIA must provide TEQSA with:

1. the schedule of units of study to be delivered in the relevant teaching period.
2. the name of each staff member proposed to teach and assess each unit of study.
3. each staff member's qualifications in the discipline of the unit being taught.

Condition 6:

The following restrictions apply to PIA's delivery of its accredited courses:

1. PIA may deliver its accredited courses of study only from its Sydney campus.
2. PIA may not exceed total student numbers of 300.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made the decision to impose conditions on PIA's registration in light of risks that PIA may not continue to meet the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015:

1. Section 6.2 of Part A, in relation to further development and implementation by PIA of its corporate governance monitoring and accountability framework, specifically its risk management and strategy for determining its future directions in higher education with realistic performance targets.
2. Section 6.3 of Part A, in relation to further development and implementation by PIA of academic governance and quality assurance mechanisms relating to monitoring and reporting of student performance.
3. Section 3.2 of Part A and Criterion B1.1.4 of Part B in relation to academic leadership and development and implementation by PIA of a scholarship framework to ensure academic staff are active in scholarship that informs their teaching

TEQSA's assessment considered PIA's arrangements for delivery at the Sydney campus.

Review status of decision

PIA has applied to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision to impose the conditions on PIA's registration.

Revocation of accreditation conditions

Report on revocation of conditions imposed on accreditation of six higher education courses of study offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

On 17 August 2021 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act):

• Conditions (a), (c) and (d) imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd (refer Public Report of 6 February 2014):
  • Diploma of Accounting
  • Associate Degree of Accounting
  • Bachelor of Accounting
• Conditions 1 and 2 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd (refer Public Report of 10 November 2014):
• Diploma of Business
• Associate Degree of Business
• Bachelor of Business

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the conditions are no longer necessary.

Review status of decision

Revocation of accreditation conditions

Report on revocation of conditions imposed on accreditation of six higher education courses of study offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

On 17 August 2021 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act):

• Conditions (a), (c) and (d) imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd (refer Public Report of 6 February 2014):
  • Diploma of Accounting
  • Associate Degree of Accounting
  • Bachelor of Accounting
• Conditions 1 and 2 imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd (refer Public Report of 10 November 2014):
• Diploma of Business
• Associate Degree of Business
• Bachelor of Business

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the conditions are no longer necessary.

PIA has applied to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of the decision to impose the conditions on PIA's registration.

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of five higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd

On 17 May 2018, a delegate of TEQSA accredited, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the following courses offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd, for a period of seven years until 17 May 2025:

• Diploma of Information Technology
• Diploma of Construction Management
• Diploma of Communication
• Diploma of Film, Television and Animation
• Diploma of Design.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the five courses submitted by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd for accreditation meet the Provider Course Accreditation Standards of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015.

• TEQSA's assessment considered Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites and delivery of the Diploma of Information Technology and Diploma of Communication in Jakarta, Indonesia.

Revocation of accreditation condition

Report on revocation of condition imposed on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd

On 31 May 2018 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition One imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd (refer public report of 20 June 2017):

• Diploma of Health Sciences
• Diploma of Media Communication

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the condition has been met.

Revocation of accreditation condition

Report on revocation of condition imposed on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd

On 31 May 2018 a delegate of TEQSA revoked, under section 53 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Condition One imposed on the accreditation of the following courses offered by Melbourne Institute of Business and Technology Pty Ltd (refer public report of 20 June 2017):

• Diploma of Health Sciences
• Diploma of Media Communication

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made this decision on the basis that it was satisfied that the condition has been met.