The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 January 2017 until 31 March 2017. 

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 July 2016 until 31 September 2017.

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 October 2016 until 31 December 2016. 

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is responsible for regulating Australia’s higher education providers to protect and enhance Australia’s reputation for high quality higher education. TEQSA has published a summary of its regulatory decisions from 1 April 2017 until 30 June 2017. 

What are TEQSA decisions?

Each week, TEQSA makes regulatory decisions. These may be on the registration of new providers or the reregistration of existing providers. For the providers that do not have the power to accredit their own courses, TEQSA also makes decisions whether to accredit or re-accredit their courses. There are many legal, compliance and quality assurance measures which a higher education provider must demonstrate in order for TEQSA to allow a provider entry to Australia’s higher education sector.

In order to make these decisions, TEQSA must be satisfied that a provider complies with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) and the Higher Education Standards Framework, the standards framework underpinning the TEQSA Act.

TEQSA’s regulatory approach is standards and principles-based. It is guided by three regulatory principles: regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation, when exercising its powers. TEQSA’s regulatory decisions are taken by its Commission, or by senior members of TEQSA staff under delegation from the Commission.

More information about TEQSA’s approach is available at Our regulatory approach page.

Where do I find more information about TEQSA’s decisions?

Detailed public reports on individual decisions are available on the National Register of higher education providers. 

For media interviews

Please contact comms@teqsa.gov.au

This paper explains how our risk-based approach to assuring higher education standards is applied in broad terms to a diverse sector. This explanation is consistent with the revised processes developed by TEQSA in close consultation with the sector over 2013-14. The paper has been developed based on a dialogue between TEQSA and registered higher education providers through their peak bodies. It depicts how TEQSA’s risk-based approach to assurance of quality standards is applied in practice to the sector and aims to facilitate a shared understanding of how TEQSA takes into account relevant organisational characteristics. We apply a consistent and fair approach that treats like providers in the same manner, regardless of provider category under the TEQSA Act.

A copy of the paper is available above in PDF format.

TEQSA has cancelled the registration of Australian School of Management Pty Ltd (ASM) under section 101 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) with the decision to take effect on 7 July 2017.

Main reasons for decision

In March 2017 TEQSA initiated a compliance assessment of ASM’s higher education operations under section 59 of the TEQSA Act.

On 25 May 2017, Mr David McEvoy and Mr Martin Ford of PPB Advisory were appointed joint and several Administrators of Australian School of Management Pty Ltd.

After conducting the compliance assessment, TEQSA considers that the decision to cancel the registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Australian School of Management Pty Ltd has failed to meet the following Threshold Standards:

• Sections 1.1, 7.1 and 7.2 of Part A, in relation to ASM’s admissions policies, requirements and procedures for its higher education courses and the provision of information to current and prospective students in those courses; and
• Paragraph 6.2.1.c of Part A, in relation to ASM’s financial viability and sustainability.

TEQSA also considers that ASM has failed to comply with the following conditions imposed on its registration:

• the condition in section 29 of the TEQSA Act that a registered higher education provider notify TEQSA of an event that will significantly affect the provider’s ability to meet the Threshold Standards no later than 14 days after the day the provider would reasonably be expected to have become aware of the event;
• the condition in section 31 of the TEQSA Act that a registered higher education provider cooperate with TEQSA to facilitate TEQSA’s performance of its functions

Further information

• View information on TEQSA’s regulatory approach and public reporting

1. Overview

Since the inception of TEQSA in January 2012, 122 organisations have submitted or indicated their intention to submit applications for initial registration to TEQSA.

Applicants for registration as higher education providers are subject to a two-stage process: preliminary assessment and, if the requirements of section 19 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 have been met, substantive assessment. Registration applications must include applications for accreditation of one or more course(s) of study, and are therefore assessed against the full Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards), as opposed to the reduced requirements for renewal of registration applications under TEQSA’s Core+ model of assessment.

2. Prospective higher education providers

This report, drawn from data captured on 31 December 2016, provides summary statistics of the status of applications and prospective Higher Education Providers (HEPs), organised by:

• pre-submission applicants (pre-sub) – those who have indicated an intention to submit an application for registration but are yet to do so; and
• post-submission applicants (post-sub) – those who have submitted registration applications, the assessment of which has not yet been finalised.

It is intended that this report be published quarterly.

Note: withdrawals of applications can occur at any stage of the assessment process.

3. Statistics of note

• As of 31 December 2016 there were 86 prospective providers to the higher education (HE) sector which currently consists of 168 registered providers.
• Of the 86 prospective providers, 50 are registered training organisations (RTO).
• During Q2 2016/2017, 10 new organisations applied, or advised of their intention to apply, to enter the HE sector. Of these 10 organisations, 80% identified as an RTO – an increase from 30% in Q1 2016/2017.
• The number of applications under assessment grew from 24 in Q1 2016/2017 to 35 in Q2 2016/2017, an increase of 45%.

4. Quarter overview

The following statistics in the ‘Quarter overview’ represent the numbers of providers in each status/decision category during the relevant quarter. Note: these figures are not cumulative (e.g. From 3 October – 31 December 2016 (Q2) 10 new providers were recorded with TEQSA).

5. Prospective provider breakdown

The following statistics in the ‘Prospective provider breakdown’ represent the number of providers in each status/category as at the relevant quarter end date. Note: these figures are cumulative (e.g. as at 31 December 2016 (end Q2) a total of 51 prospective providers were recorded at pre-submission stage with TEQSA).

Overall they provide an indication of some of the characteristics of entities that are intending to apply or have applied to TEQSA to be registered as HEPs in the 2016/2017 financial year thus far.

5.1  Prospective providers assessment status

The following table represents the number of prospective providers that have indicated an intention to submit an application for registration but are yet to do so (pre-submission), as well as those providers that have submitted an application for registration (post-submission). The table includes a breakdown of the current stage their application is at within TEQSA’s assessment process.

5.2   Prospective providers that are RTOs[1] by State[2]

The following table represents the number of prospective providers in each category (pre-submission and post-submission) that have identified the entity that is applying for registration as a Higher Education provider is already registered as an RTO. These numbers are further broken down to indicate the location of each prospective provider that is already registered as an RTO by state.

5.3   Prospective providers that are RTOs with current CRICOS registration

The following table represents the number of prospective providers in each category (pre-submission and post-submission) that have identified the entity that is applying for registration as a Higher Education provider is already registered as an RTO and is currently registered on CRICOS to deliver courses to international students.

5.4 Most prevalent Broad FoE[4] course applications

The following table represents the type of courses, identified by Broad Field of Education (FoE), that are most common in the proposed/submitted course accreditation applications from prospective providers in each category that accompany a proposed/submitted application for registration.

This FAQ sheet has been developed to answer questions that are commonly asked by providers of ELICOS and Foundation Programs about aspects of regulation that apply to them. They also capture questions raised during the 2013 NEAS Annual Conference.

What areas of regulation is TEQSA responsible for?

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) has regulatory responsibility for the higher education sector, Foundation Programs and ELICOS courses delivered by a registered higher education provider, or by a provider that has an entry arrangement with at least one registered higher education provider.

TEQSA regulates under the TEQSA Act and ESOS Act for registered higher education providers, and the ESOS Act for Foundation Program providers and courses, and ELICOS and ELICOS providers.

Establishing the two national regulators, the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and TEQSA was a major step in streamlining and strengthening the regulation and quality assurance of international education.

What expertise does TEQSA bring to the assessment of ELICOS applications?

TEQSA has a number of staff with specific experience in regulating ELICOS and working in the ELICOS field. When it is necessary to involve specialised expertise, TEQSA engages external experts. These experts are drawn from TEQSA’s Register of Experts (Register) which was established to enable TEQSA to draw on specialist knowledge and advice as part of the assessment process. Experts are engaged to assess relevant aspects of a CRICOS application.

The most common reason for engaging an expert in the ELICOS area is to assess an ELICOS curriculum. TEQSA ensures that an expert’s professional experience and qualifications match the particular task required. Experts are briefed before an assignment and given the specifications of the task. They are also required to sign a confidentiality agreement with TEQSA.

As of June 2013, there are 16 people with ELICOS experience on the Register. We expect to add to this list when the next round of invitations to join the Register opens later this year. TEQSA is also able to call on other ELICOS professionals who are not on the Register, if needed.

More information about TEQSA’s Register is available from out Information for TEQSA experts page.

Does TEQSA conduct audits?

No – TEQSA does not use the term audit. TEQSA assesses providers using the information submitted by providers during the application or notification process. In some cases TEQSA may decide to undertake site visits. Further details on site visits are below.

What is the division of responsibility between TEQSA and NEAS?

TEQSA is required by law to assess ELICOS providers against the ESOS Act, the National Code and the ELICOS National Standards. NEAS Accreditation, on the other hand, is an assessment against the NEAS Standards.

TEQSA is not able to delegate its regulatory responsibilities to third parties, such as NEAS. TEQSA’s assessment of providers against the ELICOS National Standards is an important part of its role in maintaining standards.

Providers can, however, submit evidence to TEQSA that may have formed part of their NEAS accreditation application, where relevant.

If TEQSA can accept a statement to prove compliance with the National Code, why doesn’t this principle apply to the ELICOS National Standards?

TEQSA’s Application Guide for CRICOS Re-registration states that: “In some cases TEQSA may choose to accept from a provider a statement that it satisfies all of the requirements of the National Code without conducting a site inspection, as long as the course or courses of study are provided entirely by the provider (that is, not under any arrangement with another provider)”, p.4. Some providers have asked why this principle does not apply to the ELICOS National Standards.

A site visit is normally conducted by TEQSA in the following circumstances:

• if the evidence provided in the provider’s CRICOS re-registration application is insufficient
• if the evidence provided raises additional questions about possible non-compliance
• if the provider is new; or
• if a TEQSA risk assessment warrants a visit.

A site visit is not a substitute, however, for a full CRICOS re-registration application through which a provider demonstrates its compliance with the ESOS Act and the National Code. A site visit is supplementary to the re-registration process and only looks at part of a provider’s operations.

While regular site visits were the practice of some former state regulators, the National Code does not require the regulator to do this. TEQSA takes a risk-based approach to regulation, which means that in each case, it considers whether a site visit is necessary.

How does TEQSA minimise the costs of regulation for providers?

TEQSA is mindful of the impact of compliance costs on small providers. TEQSA does not operate on a full cost-recovery basis which means that it does not charge the actual cost of the regulatory activity. There are also many regulatory activities for which TEQSA does not charge, for example, changes to course costs, course duration, changes to PEO, intention to relocate, and adding a course on CRICOS at a site where a course is already delivered.

Providers are required under the ESOS Act to keep the data recorded on PRISMS up-to-date. Providers can request their regulator to update their course costs on PRISMS. TEQSA does not charge a fee to providers advising of changes to course costs, and providers can advise TEQSA by sending an email to their Case Manager.

What attention does TEQSA give to the financial position of colleges?

In assessing risk within the ESOS regulatory framework, TEQSA has a clear focus on providers’ financial status.

The overarching (and universally accepted) ESOS risk factor is the likelihood that a provider’s behaviour will adversely affect Australia’s international education reputation. The three key aspects of risk underpinning this concern are the likelihood that a provider:

• does not delivery quality/education outcomes for students
• will fail/close; and
• will not meet obligations under the ESOS legislative framework.

TEQSA’s own risk framework, which encompasses ELICOS providers, focuses on financial sustainability, and has financial viability and safeguards as important risk indicators. The focus on financial sustainability is reflected in certain sections of the CRICOS re-registration application form.

More information about TEQSA’s overall approach to assessing risk can be found at our Risk Assessment Framework page.