Re-accreditation 10 November 2014

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of three higher education courses of study offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Limited

TEQSA has determined, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), to renew accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 10 November 2018:

• Bachelor of Business
• Associate Degree in Business
• Diploma of Business

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed two conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study. Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd must:

Condition 1:

Within 28 days of the date on the Notice of Decision, GCA must provide TEQSA with evidence demonstrating the implementation of its Credit Transfer Policy. GCA's response should show the number of students who have been awarded credit into its higher education degrees, the subjects for which credit has been given and the institution at which the student previously studied, and the credit points allocated. Data covering a period of two years should be provided.

Condition 2:

In order to demonstrate that it is implementing its annual review of courses in accordance with its Course Review Policy, on 1 December 2015 and 1 December 2016 GCA is to provide TEQSA with copies of the Annual Course Reports provided for the Academic Board as part of the Annual Performance Reports. In addition, GCA is to provide the relevant minutes of the meetings of the Academic Board in which the Reports are considered.

Background to Decision

Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd submitted an application for renewal of accreditation of three courses of study under Part 4 of the TEQSA Act. Subsection 45(4) of the TEQSA Act requires a registered higher education provider who is not authorised to self-accredit the course of study to apply to TEQSA for accreditation. Subsection 56(4) enables TEQSA to renew accreditation of a course of study for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA has determined that the three higher education courses of study submitted by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd for accreditation comply with the Provider Course Accreditation Standards. The course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd's application for accreditation of three courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards. TEQSA considers that the risks of non - compliance with the Threshold Standards involve matters that may affect Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards in accordance with the Provider Category Standards (PCS):

a) PCS 3.3. TEQSA is concerned that Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd has not been able to provide evidence that it is implementing its credit transfer policy.

b) PCS 6.1. Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd has not adequately demonstrated the implementation of its course review policy.

In accordance with subsections 53(2) and 53(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the registration of a higher education provider, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.