Re-accreditation 17 December 2018

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of five higher education courses of study offered by Eastern College Australia Incorporated

On 17 December 2018, a delegate of TEQSA:

• renewed, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), the accreditation of the following courses offered by Eastern College Australia Incorporated, for a period of seven years until 17 December 2025:
  • Graduate Diploma in Arts
  • Graduate Certificate in Arts
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Associate Degree in Arts
  • Diploma in Arts
• imposed, under section 53 of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the accreditation of the Graduate Diploma in Arts, Graduate Certificate in Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate Degree in Arts and Diploma in Arts.

Condition 1: Work Integrated Learning (WIL)

The provider must:

1. provide TEQSA, no later than 21 January 2019, evidence that the WIL arrangements are quality assured, including assurance of the quality of supervision of student experiences. The information must also include:
1. detailed information on the role of the Professional Experience Coordinator and the resources available to support the position
2. information on how the WIL has been integrated into the degree
3. a WIL handbook that covers all associated risk procedures for both students and agencies including information on alternative arrangements if a student cannot source their own placement.

Condition 2: Tuition and Course Assurance

At least one month prior to commencing delivery of the Graduate Diploma in arts, Graduate Certificate in Arts, Bachelor of Arts, Associate Degree in Arts and Diploma in Arts, ECA must provide TEQSA with evidence that it has tuition and financial safeguards to mitigate disadvantage to students who are unable to progress in a course of study due to unexpected changes to the higher education provider's operations. This evidence must include:

1. the mechanism by which ECA will facilitate students to transfer to a comparable course of study, with full credit or (where this is not possible) with an explanation of why particular units are so specialised in nature that full credit is not possible; and
2. either:
1. the mechanism by which ECA will ensure that it has the capacity to provide refunds for any amounts paid by students in respect of units that the students have not completed; or
2. evidence that ECA has a "tuition fees in arrears" arrangement in place.

Main reasons for the decision

TEQSA made these decisions in light of risks that Eastern College Australia Incorporated may not meet, or continue to meet, the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015:

1. Section 5.4 of Part A, in relation to work integrated learning
2. Section 6.2 of Part A, in relation to corporate monitoring and accountability

TEQSA's assessment considered Eastern College Australia Incorporated's arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.