Re-registration 06 February 2014

Provider: Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, that registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of three years to 6 February 2017 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the registration of Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd as a higher education provider.

a) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with evidence from the previous year which demonstrates that GCA's Board:

  1. oversees the accountability systems for GCA's higher education operations
  2. provides input into and final approval of management's development of corporate strategy, including the strategic plan, and performance objectives, for GCA's higher education operations
  3. reviews, ratifies and monitors systems of risk management and legal compliance, including compliance with the Threshold Standards in respect of GCA's higher education operations
  4. ensures appropriate resources are available to ensure the achievement of GCA's higher education objectives and to sustain the quality of its higher education operations, including the Board's consideration of the Academic Board's recommendations in this regard
  5. accesses and uses appropriate internal and external expertise to meet Provider Registration Standards 3.2 and 3.8
  6. develops, implements, considers and regularly reviews financial, academic and managerial delegations and documents
  7. ensures the academic board and course advisory committees are properly constituted and able to fulfil their functions as stated in their Terms of Reference
  8. ensures Board members and senior management of GCA are familiar with the requirements of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2011 (Threshold Standards) and of the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code) and GCA's obligations under them.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

  • minutes of meetings of the Board and any relevant committees
  • reports to the Board
  • any internal or external reviews of GCA's higher education operations conducted in the 12 months prior to the relevant reporting date, along with the Board's consideration of the review(s).

b) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with a report, in relation to the previous year, on GCA's progress in reviewing risks to GCA's higher education operations and addressing those risks (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.4) and in considering GCA's performance against its strategic plan (in accordance with Provider Registration Standard 3.6).

c) GCA must by 1 December 2014 and 1 December 2015 provide TEQSA with evidence which demonstrates that GCA's Academic Board:

  1. has implemented systems to protect academic quality and integrity to meet the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 4
  2. provides academic leadership, develops and oversees progress in implementation of a culture of scholarship at GCA, and on staff professional development
  3. ensures GCA has appropriate numbers of suitably qualified and experience staff for management and delivery of its higher education courses of study, in light of actual and projected enrolments in the courses
  4. ensures quality assurance is implemented effectively to drive improvement of GCA's higher education operations
  5. undertakes systematic monitoring, review and improvement of GCA's higher education operations, including through the collection and analysis of relevant data.

Evidence to demonstrate the above which GCA is required to provide includes:

  • minutes of meetings of the Academic Board and any relevant committees
  • reports to the Academic Board
  • external reviews, reports or assessments of GCA's higher education operations including course reviews
  • reports on the implementation and actions taken as outlined in the following initiatives described in the documentation provided to TEQSA:
    • GCA's Teaching and Learning Plan
    • the GCA 'Community of Practice'
    • the GCA Research Foundation
    • GCA's Teaching Staff Development Plan
    • Strategies to develop academic leadership and scholarship
    • Academic staff profile.

Background to Decision

Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd submitted an application for renewal of registration in the category of Higher Education Provider under Section 35 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act). Subsection 36(4) of the TEQSA Act enables TEQSA to renew a provider's registration for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s registration 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.

  • The broad issues which relate to the Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s registration are the absence of evidence of implementation of policies and procedures with regard to their higher education operations.

TEQSA considers that the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards involve a number of matters that may affect Group Colleges Australia Pty Ltd.'s capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.