Re-accreditation 17 July 2014

Renewal of course accreditation

Report on renewal of accreditation of eight higher education courses of study offered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty. Limited

TEQSA has determined, under section 56 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), to renew accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty. Limited (LCBA) for a period of two years until 17 July 2016:

• Bachelor of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Bachelor of Business (International Restaurant Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Restaurant Management)
• Master of Business Administration (International Hotel and Restaurant Management)
• Graduate Diploma in International Hospitality Management
• Master of International Hospitality Management
• Graduate Certificate in International Hospitality Management

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the following courses of study:

• Bachelor of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Bachelor of Business (International Restaurant Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Restaurant Management)

Condition 1:

LCBA arrange for an independent academic expert to review and assess:

1. the consistency of the structure of the course documentation across all delivery partners and delivery methods;
2. the overall coherence of course documentation across all delivery partners and delivery methods;
3. the accuracy and consistency of assessment tasks and weightings across all delivery partners and delivery methods;
4. how the quality and outcomes of courses are monitored (including cohort based performance analysis, student satisfaction, progression and employment rates); and
5. the work-integrated learning requirement 'Professional Experience' 1 and 2 (stage 2 and 4) including:

   a) whether delivery partners scaffold student learning to develop reflective skills prior to undertaking the 'Professional Experience';

   b) whether the academic assessment tasks provide sufficient opportunities for students to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes of the courses of study; and

   c) whether there are effective mechanisms to oversee and manage work integrated learning that includes adequate academic supervision of students.

Condition 2:

LCBA provide to TEQSA as part of its application to renew accreditation:

1. a copy of the review report including the recommendations of the review;
2. a statement of whether the recommendations have been accepted or rejected by the LCBA Academic Board;
3. an explanation of why any recommendations have been rejected (if any have been rejected);
4. minutes of LCBA's Academic Committee/Joint and Supervisory Committees and Academic Board showing consideration of the recommendations; and
5. evidence of the implementation of the Academic Board approved recommendations and outcomes achieved.

Condition 3:

LCBA develop, and include in its application for renewal of accreditation of the courses:

1. moderation procedures that set out the purpose, scope, principles, roles and responsibilities of assessment moderation at LCBA. The processes must include the application of a range of moderation approaches that should include, but are not limited to, assignment-based moderation; blind marking; pre-assessment moderation; and post-assessment moderation; and
2. a report on LCBA's ongoing internal and external moderation processes. The report must describe how LCBA has expanded and strengthened its moderation processes, as well as where and how these moderation processes have led to specific improvements in assessment practices.

Background to Decision

LCBA submitted an application for renewal of accreditation of eight 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 56(4) enables TEQSA to renew accreditation of a course of study for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA has determined that the eight higher education courses of study submitted by Le Cordon Bleu Australia Pty. Limited 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 LCBA's application for accreditation of the following four courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as LCBA is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards:

• Bachelor of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Hotel Management)
• Bachelor of Business (International Restaurant Management)
• Advanced Diploma of Business (International Restaurant Management)

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

• The broad issues which relate to the courses include:

  a) consistency of the course structure and documentation across all delivery partners and delivery methods

  b) monitoring of student performance outcomes across all delivery partners to ensure equivalency of student learning outcomes

  c) effectiveness of mechanisms to oversee and manage work integrated learning that includes adequate academic supervision of students

  d) currency and consistency of course library and text resources across all delivery partners and sites

  e) effectiveness of internal and external moderation process.