Re-registration 14 August 2013 updated 30 January 2014

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Kaplan Business School Pty Limited

On 14 August 2013, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) determined, under section 36(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards 2011 (TEQSA Act), that registration of Kaplan Business School Pty Limited as a higher education provider be renewed for a period of seven years to 14 August 2020 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

On 14 August 2013, TEQSA imposed, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, two conditions on the registration of Kaplan Business School Pty Limited as a higher education provider.

Refer to the Addendum of this report for information relating to the revocation of the two conditions.

Background to Decision

Kaplan Business School Pty Limited submitted an application for provider renewal of registration to the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology on 1 August 2011. The application subsequently transitioned to TEQSA.

Main Reasons for Decision

Kaplan Business School Pty Limited has demonstrated to TEQSA that it continues to meet the Threshold Standards.

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Kaplan Business School Pty Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to the registration of Kaplan Business School as a higher education provider is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act as TEQSA requires further evidence to demonstrate Kaplan Business School Pty Limited is able to ensure ongoing compliance with the Threshold Standards identified below:

• Kaplan Business School Pty Limited has demonstrated it has a framework in place to facilitate compliance with Provider Category Standard 1.4; however, further evidence is required to ensure this framework is effectively implemented. Noting the framework that includes the establishment of a scholarship working party, TEQSA considers it reasonable to provide KBS with the opportunity to demonstrate the implementation of this framework by imposing a condition on its registration with regard to scholarship
• TEQSA also notes that matters relevant to the operations of KBS are considered by the members of the KBS Board of Directors in their capacity as members of the KHE Board of Directors and in this way have broad oversight of the higher education operations of KBS. However as they are acting in their capacity as members of the KHE Board of Directors when considering matters relevant to the operations of KBS, it is unclear that in practice, this oversight is being exercised appropriately in accordance with the requirements of Provider Registration Standard 3.1. TEQSA considers it reasonable to provide KBS with the opportunity to demonstrate the implementation of this framework by imposing a condition on its registration with regard to its corporate governing body.

Addendum to Public Report on 30 January 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 registration of a provider, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

On 14 August 2013, TEQSA imposed two conditions on the registration of Kaplan Business School Pty Ltd. TEQSA made a decision on 30 January 2014 to revoke both conditions:

Condition 1: Kaplan Business School Pty Limited (KBS) demonstrates to TEQSA by 30 September 2013 the nature of the arrangements by which the KBS Board of Directors exercises its responsibility for oversight of all of the higher education provider's higher education operations, including:

a) how the KBS Board members distinguish between their responsibilities as Directors of Kaplan Higher Education Pty Ltd (KHE) and their responsibilities to KBS and the nature of any delegations in place to other persons or bodies to exercise aspects of the responsibilities of the KBS Board

b) how KBS maintains consistency between the KBS Board Charter and membership of the KBS Board of Directors

c) undertaking a review of delegations.

Condition 2: Kaplan Business School Pty Limited (KBS) demonstrates to TEQSA by 30 September 2013 that all its academic staff are active in scholarship that informs their teaching, including:

a) mapping the teaching activities of individual staff to the scholarship of those staff

b) evidence that scholarship is conducted by all KBS academic staff within their role at KBS

c) evidence that a community of scholarship exists within the organisation.

TEQSA's decision to revoke the two conditions imposed on the registration of Kaplan Business School Pty Limited was on the basis that Kaplan Business School Pty Limited had met the requirements of each of the conditions.