Registration and accreditation 12 June 2014 updated 24 July 2014

Registration as a higher education provider

Report on Registration of Elite Education Institute Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, in accordance with Part 3 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), that registration of Elite Education Institute Pty Ltd be granted to 12 June 2018 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has determined, under Section 49(6) of the TEQSA Act, to grant accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Elite Education Institute Pty Ltd until 12 June 2018:

• Diploma of Business
• Bachelor of Business (Business Management)
• Bachelor of Business (Communication and Public Relations)
• Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting)

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed one condition on the registration of Elite Education Institute Pty Ltd (Elite) as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

In light of TEQSA's concerns regarding the risks to the capacity of Elite to apply sufficient financial resources to ensure the achievement of higher education objectives and sustain the quality of its higher education operations, Elite must:

a) at all times throughout the period of registration, maintain within Elite controlled bank accounts minimum cash reserves of $250,000; this amount is in addition to the protected amount required to be maintained under section 29 of the ESOS Act;

b) notify TEQSA in writing as soon as Elite becomes aware that the minimum cash reserve referred to in (a) is not being maintained, or may not be maintained;

c) by 31 January 2016, provide to TEQSA a report which covers the period from commencement of delivery to 31 December 2015 and includes the following data and information:

• enrolments (both EFTSL and headcount), by cohort and course of study
• attrition rates (calculated in accordance with Department of Education definitions) by cohort and course of study
• progression rates (calculated in accordance with Department of Education definitions) by cohort and course of study
• completion rates (calculated in accordance with Department of Education definitions) by cohort and course of study
• a list of staff that have taught in the period covered by the report
• a Full Time Equivalent calculation for those staff
• any issues identified by the data or analysis that may affect the ability of Elite to achieve and sustain the quality of its higher education objectives, and actions taken to address these issues.

On 12 June 2014, TEQSA imposed, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, one condition on the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting):

Condition 1:

Prior to any promotion of the course and enrolment of students, Elite must provide to TEQSA confirmation in writing of professional accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) from at least one professional association.

This condition was revoked on 24 July 2014. Refer to the Addendum of this report for information relating to the revocation of the condition.

Background to Decision

Elite submitted an application for registration in the category of 'Higher Education Provider' under Part 3 of the TEQSA Act. Section 25 of the TEQSA Act requires a registered higher education provider to offer at least one accredited course. The application process included consideration of an application for accreditation of higher education courses of study, under Part 4 of the TEQSA Act.

Main Reasons for the Decision

As part of the registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Elite against the Threshold Standards.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Elite's registration and the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Elite is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to Elite's registration include:

  a) Elite may not have the capacity to sustain quality in its current and planned higher education operations, having regard to the nature of Elite's projections of student demand, in accordance with PRS 2.1;

  b) Elite may not apply, or have the capacity to continue to apply, sufficient financial resources to ensure the achievement of its higher education objectives, in accordance with PRS 2.2;

  c) Elite may not have the financial capacity to fill the necessary staff positions to achieve its higher education objectives, in accordance with PRS 5.2;

  d) Elite may not have the capacity to ensure that resourcing its courses of study is adequate for students to achieve the expected learning outcomes, in accordance with PCAS 2.1.

• The issue relating to the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) is that until Elite obtains professional accreditation from at least one of the ICAA and the CPA, the course would not achieve its stated objective of allowing entry to the accounting profession, as those associations require that a course be accredited in order to recognise the course for professional entry. Accordingly, TEQSA considers that there is a risk that the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) may not adequately take account of relevant standards for professional accreditation, in accordance with PCAS 2.1.

Addendum to Public Report - 24 July 2014: Condition Revoked

In accordance with subsections 53(2) and 53(3) of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the accreditation of a course, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.

On 12 June 2014, TEQSA imposed one condition on the accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting):

Condition 1: Prior to any promotion of the course and enrolment of students, Elite must provide to TEQSA confirmation in writing of professional accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) from at least one professional association.

Subsequently, TEQSA made a decision on 24 July 2014 to revoke that condition. TEQSA's decision to revoke the above condition was on the basis that Elite had met the requirements of the condition; Elite provided to TEQSA confirmation in writing of professional accreditation of the Bachelor of Business (Professional Accounting) from both the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, and Certified Practising Accountants in Australia.