Initial Registration and Accreditation 19 December 2023

Registration

Report on registration of Australia Institute of Future Education Pty Ltd

TEQSA has agreed to orders of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) which:

• register, under section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), Australia Institute of Future Education Pty Ltd (AIFE), in the category of Institute of Higher Education, for a period of five years until 20 December 2028.
• accredit, under section 49 of the TEQSA Act, the following courses offered by AIFE, for a period of 5 years until 20 December 2028:
  • Graduate Certificate in Research Practice in Science and Engineering
  • Graduate Certificate in Global Higher Education

Background

On 7 December 2023, AIFE's applications for registration and accreditation were rejected because TEQSA did not make a decision on the applications within 9 months of receiving them by operation of subsections 21(7) and 49(7) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).

AIFE applied for a review of TEQSA's decision in the AAT.

Main reasons for the decision

On the information available to it, TEQSA is satisfied that AIFE meets the applicable Standards of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 and therefore agreed with AIFE that the AAT should make an order to register AIFE and accredit two courses for a period of five years until 20 December 2028. On 19 December 2023, the AAT made the relevant order, in line with the parties' agreement.

The five-year period of registration and accreditation is consistent with the basic principles of regulation and reflects risks associated with an applicant for initial registration intending to offer a higher education course but having no history in the provision of higher education.