Registration

Report on registration of Apex Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd

TEQSA has agreed to orders made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) under which Apex Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd (Apex) is registered in the provider category of Higher Education Provider pursuant to section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act) for a period until 30 November 2025.

The AAT orders also provide for the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business course of study to be offered by Apex, pursuant to section 49 of the TEQSA Act, for a period until 30 November 2025.

Background

Apex applied to TEQSA for registration in the category of Higher Education Provider under Part 3 of the TEQSA Act.

An assessment team considered Apex's application and provided a draft assessment report with details of the assessment of the application to TEQSA's Commission. TEQSA's Commission considered Apex's response to the draft report and made a decision to reject Apex's application for registration on 6 November 2019, on the basis that it was not satisfied that Apex met the Threshold Standards.

Apex applied for review of TEQSA's decision in the AAT. In the course of the proceedings, Apex made submissions and provided further information and evidence about the matters raised in TEQSA's decision.

It is well established that absent a specific legislative provision to the contrary, the AAT is generally required to make a decision on review based on the evidence available at the time of the AAT's decision on review, and that the AAT is not confined to the evidence available at the time of the primary decision. Accordingly, TEQSA accepted that the AAT was required to take account of the further material submitted to TEQSA after TEQSA had rejected Apex's application.

Main reasons for the decision

After reviewing the further material submitted by Apex, TEQSA was satisfied that Apex meets the Threshold Standards.

Registration

Report on registration of Apex Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd

TEQSA has agreed to orders made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) under which Apex Institute of Higher Education Pty Ltd (Apex) is registered in the provider category of Higher Education Provider pursuant to section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act) for a period until 30 November 2025.

The AAT orders also provide for the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business course of study to be offered by Apex, pursuant to section 49 of the TEQSA Act, for a period until 30 November 2025.

Background

Apex applied to TEQSA for registration in the category of Higher Education Provider under Part 3 of the TEQSA Act.

An assessment team considered Apex's application and provided a draft assessment report with details of the assessment of the application to TEQSA's Commission. TEQSA's Commission considered Apex's response to the draft report and made a decision to reject Apex's application for registration on 6 November 2019, on the basis that it was not satisfied that Apex met the Threshold Standards.

Apex applied for review of TEQSA's decision in the AAT. In the course of the proceedings, Apex made submissions and provided further information and evidence about the matters raised in TEQSA's decision.

It is well established that absent a specific legislative provision to the contrary, the AAT is generally required to make a decision on review based on the evidence available at the time of the AAT's decision on review, and that the AAT is not confined to the evidence available at the time of the primary decision. Accordingly, TEQSA accepted that the AAT was required to take account of the further material submitted to TEQSA after TEQSA had rejected Apex's application.

Main reasons for the decision

After reviewing the further material submitted by Apex, TEQSA was satisfied that Apex meets the Threshold Standards.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-accrediting authority

Report on authority of Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit nominated courses of study

On 28 January 2016, TEQSA authorised, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Alphacrucis College Limited to self-accredit its courses of study, at AQF level 5-10, in the narrow fields of Business and Management, Teacher Education, and Philosophy and Religious Studies.

Due to this decision, the following courses previously accredited by TEQSA do not need to be re-accredited by TEQSA. Please visit the provider website for information on the courses it offers.

• Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Theology
• Bachelor of Business/Bachelor of Ministry
• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Ministry
• Master of Theology

Main reasons for the decision

Alphacrucis College Limited has:

• had no serious complaint made against any part of its higher education operations in the last five years, and no significant compliance problems in any assessment by any regulator
• well-structured and effective academic governance arrangements, and robust course design and approval, review and improvement mechanisms which include rigorous external review
• an active scholarly community and a demonstrated history of sustained scholarship and research outputs
• a history of successful operation as a higher education provider including systematic, mature internal processes to assure and maintain the quality of its courses, academic standards and academic integrity
• a proven history of successful graduate outcomes and a range of strategies and resources to support students at all its locations, and
• has or is seeking professional accreditation and/or recognition within all the fields of education in which it offers courses.

Alphacrucis College Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards for self-accrediting authority in relation to courses of study at AQF levels 5-10 in the following narrow fields of study:

• 0803 Business and Management
• 0701 Education, and
• 0917 Philosophy and Religious Studies.

The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.

Self-Accrediting Authority

Report on Excelsia College

TEQSA has, under subsection 41(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), authorised Excelsia College to self-accredit courses of study up to Level 9 of the AQF, in the following broad and narrow fields of education.

• Education (ASCED 07)
• Society and Culture (ASCED 09)
• Performing Arts (ASCED 1001)

Main Reasons for Decision

Excelsia College demonstrated to TEQSA that it meets the Threshold Standards, including the criteria for authorising 'self-accrediting authority', in relation to courses of study up to Level 9 of the AQF in the above broad and narrow fields of education. The scope of the assessment included all Australian sites.