Registration and accreditation 28 April 2016

Initial registration

Report on initial registration of North 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 North 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 North Metropolitan TAFE as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

North 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; and
• business plan, showing adequate funding and resources for higher education.

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

• Associate Degree of Design
• Associate Degree of Visual Arts
• Diploma of Commerce
• Associate Degree of Education (Early Childhood)

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed three conditions on the accreditation of the Associate Degree of Education (Early Childhood). North Metropolitan TAFE must:

Condition 1:

Within 3 months of the Notice of Decision, North Metropolitan TAFE provides its approved policy and procedure for course termination for enrolled students.

Condition 2:

North Metropolitan TAFE notifies TEQSA prior to any changes to the teach -out plans for all students enrolled in the course to ensure that these students are not disadvantaged.

Condition 3:

North Metropolitan TAFE must not enroll students in the in the Associate Degree in Education (Early Childhood) who were not enrolled in this course of study at West Coast Institute immediately prior to 11 April 2016. The course accreditation covers 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 North Metropolitan TAFE against the Threshold Standards for Provider Registration and Course Accreditation.

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

• The broad issues which relate to the North 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 conditions which relate to the Associate Degree of Education (Early Childhood) are imposed to reflect that the course is currently in teach-out.