• COVID-19 response continues with first Undergraduate Certificate courses accredited

    TEQSA has completed the first accreditations of new Undergraduate Certificate courses.

    Professor Nick Saunders, TEQSA Chief Commissioner and Acting CEO, said the agency has implemented a streamlined approach for the assessment of new Graduate and Undergraduate Certificate courses, which form part of the Australian Government’s recently announced Higher Education Support Package.

    “We’re working closely with the sector during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure Australian higher education courses continue to be world-class,” Professor Saunders said.

    “Through our streamlined approvals process, TEQSA is supporting providers to get these new courses to students as soon as possible.”

    TEQSA’s other work to support the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic includes:

    • Reducing the administrative burden of regulation on higher education providers during the COVID-19 pandemic, including deferring cyclical assessments, waiving fees and refunding fees already paid.
    • Publishing good practice resources to support higher education providers transitioning to online delivery.
    • Updating our webpages for students.
    • Working with RMIT University to develop a series of webinars for higher education professionals to support good online learning practice.

    The Undergraduate Certificate is a formal qualification recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. All higher education providers (with the appropriate accreditation), can issue Undergraduate Certificates until at least December 2021.

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  • National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic

    The Department of Health, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Health Professions Accreditation Collaborative Forum (HPACF) have issued a joint statement setting out national principles to guide the decisions of professions, accreditation authorities, education providers and health services about student clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic response.

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  • Quality of Research Determination 2021

    On 12 July 2021, the Minister for Education and Youth approved the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (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 that is registered in, or is seeking registration for, the ‘Australian University’ category.

    The determination is not intended to be prescriptive or exhaustive, and TEQSA may consider other relevant evidence of research quality not listed in the determination.

    Consultation

    In April 2021, TEQSA published a consultation paper on the TEQSA website, including a list of matters proposed to be included in the determination, asking for submissions by 28 April 2021. A total of 42 submissions were received and considered when drafting the final determination.

    Frequently asked questions

    Why has TEQSA made this determination?

    This determination provides clarity around the research quality indicators, as outlined in Part B of the Higher Educations Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021, that TEQSA will have regard to in relation to an entity or provider that is registered in, or is seeking registration for, the Australian University category.

    Will TEQSA be proposing a legislative instrument for the University College category?

    No. TEQSA’s power to make the legislative instrument is specifically tied to assessing the quality of research undertaken by a provider which is registered, or applies to be registered, in the Australian University category. As such, TEQSA can not and will not be proposing a legislative instrument for the University College category.

    Why has TEQSA not defined several terms in the determination? 

    While TEQSA also considered the inclusion of definitions for other terms in the determination, TEQSA concluded that the relevant terms have a generally accepted plain language meaning and do not require specific definitions.

    Why does this determination not include TEQSA’s broader approach to assessing research?

    During the consultation, several submissions raised broader issues about TEQSA’s approach to assessing research. These included questions about how TEQSA will map fields of research and fields of education, whether the determination would lead to the duplication of existing data collections, whether TEQSA would provide a pathway for prospective entrants to the Australian University category to undertake an ERA-like assessment, and TEQSA’s approach to collecting information about the matters in the determination.

    These broader issues go beyond the purpose of the determination, which is to describe matters which TEQSA must consider when assessing the quality of research at a regulated entity. However, TEQSA will continue to work closely with the higher education sector to ensure that its approach to assessments covered by the determination is clear and avoids duplication. TEQSA will place particular emphasis on existing assessments (including ERA) and data collections, and will calibrate its approach to each regulated entity by reference to the entity’s maturity and risk profile.

    See also:

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  • Provider accounts payable contact details

    Providers are asked to submit their Accounts Payable contact details to TEQSA in preparation for the agency’s transition to cost recovery for its regulatory activities from 1 January 2023.

    * indicates required fields

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  • Reporting a suspected academic cheating service form

    NOTE: You must answer all questions marked with an asterisk (*)

    webform instance
    What do you want to report?
    Maximum 3 files.
    Allowed types: jpg png pdf doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx.
    10 MB limit per file. The accumulated size of all files in this form cannot exceed 30 MB.
    Do you live in Australia?
    Contact options
    Please provide your name and contact details (email address and/or mobile number)

    Privacy information and disclaimer

    The information in this form is collected for the purpose of administering sections 114A and 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011. We can only collect personal information if it is directly related to what we do, or when permitted or required by law. We may want to contact you for more information about your complaint or ask for help with our review into whether a blocking or a website was appropriate. Further details about how TEQSA handles personal information. 

    By providing your personal information you are consenting to TEQSA contacting you with further questions throughout our investigation.

  • Transnational education (TNE) toolkit

    Body

    TEQSA’s Transnational education (TNE) toolkit, authored by Dr Samantha Young, provides guidance to the sector on third-party offshore delivery of Australian higher education awards.

    A PDF version of the toolkit is available above.

    Stakeholder
    Publication type

    Documents

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  • Transnational education toolkit launched

    TEQSA’s Transnational education (TNE) toolkit, authored by Dr Samantha Young and launched at the 2022 TEQSA Conference, provides guidance to the sector on third-party offshore delivery of Australian higher education awards.

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  • Raising a complaint or concern - online form

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    Check the National Register for higher education providers regulated by TEQSA.

    What is your relationship to the higher education provider?

    Your contact details

    Providing your name and contact details is optional. 

    You may choose to remain anonymous. Please note that we determine how to proceed with concerns based on the quality of the information we have available. If you remain anonymous, we cannot contact you if we need more information. 

    Details of your concern

    We refer to complaints or allegations of non-compliance we receive about providers as concerns.

    TEQSA can only take action on concerns that relate to our regulatory responsibility.

    We recommend first checking that we are the most suitable organisation to assist. You can do this by reading further Raising a complaint or concern.

    If you are a student seeking to resolve a complaint with your higher education provider, the National Student Ombudsman (NSO) may be best placed to help you. The NSO works with students and higher education providers to resolve complaints. It is a free, independent service and does not take sides.

    If there is an immediate personal threat or an individual has been a victim of harm, you should first contact the police. You may then follow this process to raise a concern with TEQSA.

    Provide as much detail as possible. Useful information includes the nature of your concern and potential consequences; relevant events, dates, and names of people involved; documents, evidence and communications that relate to your concern.
    Do you wish to upload any files that relate to your concern?
    This may include documents, evidence and communications that relate to your concern; copies of relevant policies or procedures; evidence of the outcome of any complaint and appeal processes.
    If you experience technical issues uploading files, you may also email them to concerns@teqsa.gov.au
    Files may take about one minute to upload.
    Maximum 3 files.
    Allowed types: gif jpg png doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx pdf.
    10 MB limit per file. The accumulated size of all files in this form cannot exceed 30 MB.
    Have you raised the concern with the provider?
    Please refer to our Before you raise a concern page.
    If you have accessed the higher education provider’s formal complaints handling process, provide detail on the status and outcome.
    Have you sought an independent, third party review?
    If you have opted for an independent, third party review, provide detail, including the name of the third party, the status and outcome.
    For all other instances, provide detail on what steps you have taken to resolve your concern.
    Please refer to our Before you raise a concern page.

    Consent to disclose to another government agency (where applicable)

    Referring your concern to another agency will involve disclosing your personal information to that agency. By agreeing to TEQSA referring your concern to another agency, you consent to TEQSA disclosing the personal information in this form to that agency. If you do not agree to TEQSA referring your concern to another agency, TEQSA will not be able to send your information to another agency best placed to consider it.

    Do you consent to TEQSA referring your concern to another agency (where applicable)?
    Consent to disclose to the higher education provider (where applicable)

    Your information may be disclosed to the higher education provider in order to investigate the subject of your concern. Part G of TEQSA’s Complete APP Privacy Policy and Privacy Management Plan details how TEQSA deals with the personal information we receive in relation to concerns. If you do not consent to TEQSA disclosing your personal information to the higher education provider, TEQSA may not be able to investigate the subject of your concern.
    Do you consent to TEQSA disclosing your personal information to the higher education provider?
    Are you 18 years of age or over?
    The material in this form is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief. I understand that giving false or misleading information is a serious offence.

  • Blocked website complaint or concerns form

    Answers are required for all questions marked with an asterisk (*)

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    What is your relationship with this website?
    Why are you complaining about the blocked access?
    Please attach any supporting information such as photos, screenshots, SMS messages or emails.
    Maximum 3 files.
    10 MB limit.
    Allowed types: gif jpg png pdf doc docx ppt pptx xls xlsx.
    Contact options
    Please provide your name and contact details (email address and/or mobile number)

    Privacy information and warning

    We can only collect personal information if it is directly related to what we do, or when permitted or required by law. We may want to contact you for more information about your complaint or ask for help with our review into whether blocking this website was appropriate.

    By providing your personal information you are consenting to TEQSA contacting you with further questions throughout our investigation.

    TEQSA may use any information it receives from any person who contacts it about the disruption of access to an online location in taking enforcement action (including in the pursuit of civil penalty or criminal penalty proceedings pursuant to sections 114A and 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011), either independently or in conjunction with other agencies.