Registration and accreditation 28 April 2016

Initial registration

Report on initial registration of South Metropolitan TAFE

TEQSA has determined, under subsection 21(1) of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), that registration of South Metropolitan TAFE as a higher education provider be granted from 11 April 2016 to 31 December 2017 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed one condition on the registration of South Metropolitan TAFE as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

South Metropolitan TAFE to provide quarterly progress reports on the redevelopment and authorisation of the corporate and academic governance framework and activities for higher education including:

• strategic plan
• business plan, showing adequate funding and resources for higher education
• recruitment of academic leaders
• achievement of scholarship activity targets

TEQSA has accredited, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), the following nine higher education course(s) of study offered by South Metropolitan TAFE from 11 April 2016 to 31 December 2017:

• Diploma of Network Technology
• Diploma of Programming (Applications)
• Associate Degree of Network Technology
• Associate Degree of Software Development (Mobile Applications)
• Associate Degree of Fashion Business
• Associate Degree of Business
• Associate Degree of Hospitality Management
• Associate Degree of Aviation (Operations Management)
• Associate Degree of Aviation (Aeronautics)

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the courses listed above. South Metropolitan TAFE must:

Condition 1:

South Metropolitan TAFE provide its approved policy and procedure for course termination and transition plans for enrolled students

Condition 2:

South Metropolitan TAFE provide revised documentation of its transition plan schedule aligning the timeframe for completion of all course termination and student transition processes.

Condition 3:

South Metropolitan TAFE notify TEQSA prior to any changes to the teach-out or course transition plans for all students enrolled in the courses of study to ensure that these students are not disadvantaged.

The course accreditations cover delivery at all Australian sites.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the initial registration process, TEQSA has assessed the registration and course accreditation for the course title submitted by South Metropolitan TAFE against the Threshold Standards for Provider Registration and Course Accreditation.

TEQSA has determined that the period of registration from 11 April 2016 to 31 December 2017 as a Higher Education Provider is to allow for transition arrangements to be implemented following the formation on 11 April 2016 of new State Government statutory authorities as part of the reorganisation of the Western Australian TAFE system. South Metropolitan TAFE is being formed from the merged operations of Polytechnic West and Challenger TAFE.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to South Metropolitan TAFE's applications for registration and accreditation is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as South Metropolitan TAFE (because of the transition) 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 South Metropolitan TAFE's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

• The broad issues which relate to the South Metropolitan TAFE's registration include:

  a) The newly established TAFE needs to redevelop its strategic plans and business plan to consolidate its commitment to Higher Education; and

  b) The TAFE needs to further establish its overall corporate and academic governance and its academic leadership for each field of education in which Higher Education Courses are offered.

• The broad issues which relate to the accreditation of the courses are relevant to their teach out status and include:

  a) Should the higher education provider discontinue the course of study, there are effective teach-out plans for all students enrolled in the course of study to ensure that these students are not disadvantaged.