Accreditation 3 December 2021

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of one higher education course of study offered by National Institute of Organisation Dynamics Australia Ltd

TEQSA has agreed to orders made by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) that provide for the accreditation of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) course to be offered by the National Institute of Organisation Dynamics Australia Ltd (NIODA), pursuant to section 49 of the TEQSA Act. Five conditions have been imposed on the accreditation of NIODA's PhD course (as detailed below).

Background

NIODA applied to TEQSA for the accreditation of the PhD course pursuant to s49 of the TEQSA Act.

A delegate refused the course accreditation application. NIODA sought internal review of the delegate's decision and TEQSA decided to affirm the delegate's decision. TEQSA's decision to affirm the delegate's decision was made on the basis that TEQSA was not satisfied that the course met the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015, specifically Standards 4.2.2, 4.2.3 and 3.2.3.

NIODA sought review of TEQSA's decision at the AAT.

Main reasons for the decision

After reviewing the further material submitted by NIODA, TEQSA was satisfied that the course meets the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Threshold Standards). However, TEQSA considered that a number of risks remained in respect of the course which justified the imposition of conditions.

On this basis, TEQSA agreed that it was appropriate to substitute TEQSA's decision to affirm the delegate's decision to refuse the course accreditation application with a decision to register the PhD course for a period of 7 years with conditions.

The conditions are designed to address the following requirements of the Threshold Standards:

Regarding the need for NIODA to equip staff with responsibilities for academic oversight and those with teaching and supervisory roles in courses or units for their roles (Standard 3.2.3)

1. Regarding the need for NIODA to provide a supervisory and study environment of research activity (Standard 4.2.2)
2. Regarding the need for NIODA to support each research student by continuing supervisory arrangements (Standard 4.2.3)

Application to withdraw conditions

In accordance with section 53 of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a higher education course of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

ATTACHMENT 1

1. Condition 1 - Scholarship planning, monitoring, and reporting

1.1 NIODA must establish routine annual reporting to its Education Committee and Academic Board of Governance for the purpose of identifying the activities which will contribute to a supervisory and study environment of scholarship and research activity, and monitoring the nature of activities which have occurred to contribute to such an environment. The annual reports must be submitted to TEQSA by 28 February each year and must include:

1. A report for the previous year that states, for each activity identified in the previous year's Scholarship Plan:
   
   1. which activities were undertaken; or,
   2. for all activities that were not undertaken or not completed, the reasons why not, and the steps NIODA will take to ensure the scholarly or research activities are undertaken or completed, or how the intended contribution to the relevant scholarship plan will be secured by another activity or activities.
2. The Scholarship Plan for the forthcoming year that sets out the planned scholarly and research activities for the period until 28 February of the following year.

1.2 The first annual report must be submitted to TEQSA by 28 February 2022

2. Condition 2 - Reports regarding progress of students undertaking the course

2.1 NIODA must:

1. Provide to TEQSA annual reports about each enrolled student. The annual reports must provide the following information about each enrolled student:
   
   1. The student's progress against the plan for her or his completion of the course;
   2. The supervision which the student has received in the reporting period; and
   3. The student's views about the adequacy of the supervision she or he has received.
2. Provide evidence to TEQSA that the NIODA Education Committee and Academic Board of Governance have each considered the contents of each of the annual reports prepared pursuant to Condition 2.a. above.

2.2 The first annual reports must be submitted to TEQSA by 1 December 2022.

3.0 Condition 3 - Expert report regarding adequacy of supervision

3.1 Within 18 months of the day on which the course is accredited, NIODA must provide to TEQSA:

1. A report completed by a suitably qualified, independent expert engaged to review the adequacy of the supervision provided to existing students for the award of a PhD, which must include a review of the hours of supervision allocated to each student. NIODA must obtain TEQSA's approval regarding the identity and terms of reference of the expert before engaging the expert, and
2. Minutes and any supporting documentation from its Academic Board of Governance which demonstrate the Academic Board of Governance's consideration of the expert's report, actions arising to address the expert's findings and recommendations, and the implementation status of any action items developed in response to the expert's recommendations.

4.0 Condition 4 - PhD supervisors - Thresholds of Research Achievement

4.1 By 1 March 2022, NIODA must amend its Thresholds of Research Achievement - Register of Supervisors in its PhD Supervisor Registration Policy to remove the weighted points per output that supervisors accrue for a "Conference Paper with abstract peer-review" (1.4.2), and "Research Higher Degree supervision in the current year" (2.4).

5.0 Condition 5 - PhD supervisors - Register of Supervisors

5.1 By 1 March of each year of course accreditation, NIODA must provide evidence to TEQSA that NIODA's PhD subcommittee and Academic Board of Governance have assured themselves that all principal and associate supervisors on NIODA's Register of Supervisors continue to meet NIODA's Thresholds of Research Achievement and remain eligible to be on NIODA's Register of Supervisors.