Accreditation 9 December 2022

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of three higher education courses of study offered by Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd

On 09 December 2022, 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 Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd, for a period of seven years until 9 December 2029:
  • Master of Teaching
  • Graduate Diploma of Education
  • Graduate Certificate in Education
• imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, four conditions on the accreditation of the Master of Teaching, Graduate Diploma of Education and Graduate Certificate in Education.

Condition 1: Course resourcing

By 30 June 2024, the Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must provide to TEQSA evidence of:

1. Implementation of the business plan for course delivery during the initial period of accreditation. The report must include progress against the timeframes and budget allocations for provision of the specific learning resources required for delivery of a teacher education course of study.
2. Minutes of the relevant governance body reporting consideration and approval of the business plan implementation report.

Condition 2: Tuition safeguards for students

1. Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must submit to TEQSA at least one course agreement with a registered higher education provider for a replacement course equivalent to the Master of Teaching as a tuition safeguard for students.
2. The Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must not enrol students until TEQSA notifies ACCS that TEQSA has approved at least one course agreement with a registered higher education provider for a replacement course equivalent to the Master of Teaching, Graduate Diploma of Education and Graduate Certificate in Education as a tuition safeguard for students.

Condition 3: Staffing and scholarship

1. Prior to the commencement of course delivery, the Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must provide to TEQSA the staffing profile for delivery of the courses and units of study, including staff qualifications, experience and scholarship activities in the field of education relevant to teaching the course.
2. By 30 June 2024, the Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must provide to TEQSA evidence of a report on academic staff scholarship activities relating to teaching in the Master of Teaching, Graduate Diploma of Education and Graduate Certificate in Education, with minutes of the relevant governance body meeting which considered the scholarship report.

Condition 4: Representation - professional accreditation

1. The Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd must not enrol students until TEQSA notifies ACCS that TEQSA is satisfied that ACCS has obtained professional accreditation from the relevant state body.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made these decisions in light of risks that the courses submitted by Australian College of Christian Studies Ltd may not meet, or continue to meet, the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021:

1. Standard 5.1.3 of Part A, in relation to approval of resources for course delivery
2. Standard 3.3.1 of Part A in relation to learning resources and educational support
3. Standard 3.1.5 of Part A in relation to professional accreditation
4. Standards 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 of Part A in relation to staffing and scholarship
5. Standard 6.2.1 of Part A in relation to tuition safeguards for students
6. Standard 7.1.2 of Part A in relation to representation of the professional accreditation status of a course of study

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.