Under the Compliance Monitoring Framework, we set compliance priorities within agreed risk tolerance parameters approved by TEQSA’s Commission.
These priorities guide our compliance monitoring activities for the greatest regulatory impact to protect students and the quality, integrity and reputation of the sector.
Our compliance priorities are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure they remain relevant and reflective of risk in the sector and are published in the annual compliance report.
Compliance priorities for 2024
Upholding wellbeing and safety
Issues relating to the wellbeing and safety of students (including those who are vulnerable or under 18) with particular focus on systemic failures to:
- provide adequate assistance and support mechanisms for students, including academic advice, learning support and mental health support
- address barriers for students with a disability
- adequately inform staff and students about grievance mechanisms.
Ensuring academic quality
Issues affecting academic quality, focusing on:
- monitoring students at (academic) risk
- systemic deterioration or failure of academic quality (including quality of online delivery)
- admission of students who are ill-equipped to succeed
- inadequate oversight of third-party delivery.
Protecting sector integrity
Issues that put the integrity of the sector at risk, with a focus on fraud and criminality, including:
- not implementing policies and procedures relating to academic integrity
- creating incentives for non-genuine students
- poor oversight and management of overseas education agents
- commercial academic cheating services.
Strengthening corporate governance
Issues that impede the delivery of quality higher education including:
- changes in ownership and cross ownership
- insufficient expertise in higher education
- inadequate risk management
- underpayment of staff.
Maintaining information security
Issues with information security, including those related to:
- poor identification and management of cyber security risks
- inadequate protection of staff and student data, research data technology development and use
- intellectual property.
Monitoring financial standing
Issues that affect a provider’s present and projected financial sustainability and viability, with a particular focus on:
- significant financial mismanagement
- lack of resilience to shifts in revenue sources.
Compliance in focus
As part of our annual compliance report, TEQSA publishes advice to support providers in meeting their HES Framework obligations.
Compliance monitoring approach