Accreditation 07 March 2014 updated 07 August 2014

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of two higher education courses of study offered by Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts

TEQSA has determined, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), to grant accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts for a period of seven years until 7 March 2021:

• Bachelor of Dance
• Associate Degree of Dance

On 7 March 2014, TEQSA imposed, under Subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study. Refer to the Addendum of this report for information relating to the revocation of the conditions.

Background to Decision

Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts submitted an application for accreditation of two 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 49(6) enables TEQSA to grant accreditation of a course of study for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA has determined that the two higher education courses of study submitted by Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts 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 Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts application for accreditation of two courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts 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 a number of matters that may affect Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Bachelor of Dance and the Associate Degree of Dance include:

  a) lack of clarity in respect to demonstration of compliance of unit and course learning outcomes to the Qualification Standards; and

  b) risk that the courses' content will not provide appropriate engagement by students in intellectual inquiry consistent with the nature and level of the units being taught and the expected learning outcomes of the courses of study.

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.

Addendum to Public Report on 7 August 2014: Conditions Revoked

In accordance with subsections 32(2) and 32(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a course, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

On 7 March 2014, TEQSA imposed two conditions on the accreditation of the Bachelor of Dance and the Associate Degree of Dance. TEQSA made a decision on 7 August 2014 to revoke both of the conditions listed below.

Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts (formerly International Conservatorium of Music (Aust)) must, prior to marketing or delivery of the courses:

Condition 1: employ a Head of Dance appropriately qualified and experienced to the satisfaction of TEQSA.

Condition 2: direct the Head of Dance to perform a full review of the courses in respect of Provider Course Accreditation Standards 1 and 5, and provide a list of improvements made to the courses and copies of all new unit outlines as revised, to the satisfaction of TEQSA. In particular, the review should address the alignment of course content with AQF requirements and the alignment of assessment tasks with unit and course learning outcomes.

TEQSA's decision to revoke the above conditions imposed on the accreditation of Bachelor of Dance and the Associate Degree of Dance was on the basis that Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts had met the requirements of each of the conditions, as follows:

• Australian Academy of Music and Performing Arts has employed a Head of Dance qualified and experienced to the satisfaction of TEQSA.
• The Head of Dance has performed a full review of the courses to the satisfaction of TEQSA.