Accreditation 24 July 2014

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of four higher education courses of study offered by Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd

TEQSA has determined, under section 49 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), to grant accreditation of the following higher education courses of study offered by Asia Pacific International Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 24 July 2018:

• Bachelor of Business
• Bachelor of Business Information Systems
• Diploma of Business
• Diploma of Business Information Systems

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed seven conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study:

Condition 1:

By 30 October 2014 APIC:

a) must not make reference to professional bodies or accreditation from CPA Australia for the Bachelor of Business and/or Diploma of Business until this has been granted and evidence of this has been provided to TEQSA; and

b) is required to provide evidence to TEQSA prior to marketing the Bachelor of Business Information Systems and/or Diploma of Business Information Systems, that information to prospective students clearly balances claims about securing Australian Computer Society accreditation with a clear warning of the consequences in the event this is not secured.

Condition 2:

APIC must not commence online delivery of the Bachelor of Business, Diploma of Business, Bachelor of Business Information Systems and Diploma of Business Information Systems.

Condition 3:

By 30 October 2014, APIC is required to enter into a binding agreement with an equivalent provider to teach-out the Bachelor of Business Information Systems in the event that it is required.

Condition 4:

APIC is required to provide the following to TEQSA by 30 October 2014:

a) Evidence of formal credit and recognition of prior learning agreements with higher education providers publically listed on its website; and

b) The removal of any references to education partnerships on the APIC website, which are no longer current or are not supported by formal agreements.

Condition 5:

By 30 October 2014, APIC is required to revise and provide evidence of Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfer Policy in line with the AQF Pathways Policy, specifying maximum levels of credit available for each AQF level, using the descriptors of the AQF and specifying circumstances where RPL is available, such as 33 per cent credit for a diploma linked to a three year bachelor degree.

Condition 6:

By 30 October 2014 APIC is required to provide evidence of revised certification which:

a) Removes all references to functions of the AQF and TEQSA

b) Removes all references to the Department of Immigration and the Higher Education Support Act 2003

c) Removes all references to equivalency under the AQF and AQF descriptors, including references regarding onward mobility to PhD and Masters by Research programs.

Condition 7:

APIC is required to:

a) By 30 December 2014, provide a planning framework to collect student data;

b) By 31 March 2016 and 31 March 2017 provide a report for the previous academic year for each course, with student data that includes:

- Enrolments

- Attrition

- Progression

- Completion

(i) The data must be presented in a way that compares cohorts in Sydney and Melbourne, mode of study (face-to-face or online delivery), as well as comparing those international students admitted using IELTS testing with 'other forms of testing'

(ii) The 2016 and 2017 reports must be accompanied by a review of the data and any management response which may be required.

Background to Decision

Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd submitted an application for accreditation of four courses of study under Part 4 of the TEQSA Act. Subsection 45(4) of the TEQSA Act requires a registered higher education provider who is not authorised to self-accredit the course of study to apply to TEQSA for accreditation. Subsection 49(6) enables TEQSA to grant accreditation of a course of study for a period not exceeding seven years.

Main Reasons for the Decision

TEQSA has determined that the four higher education courses of study submitted by Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd for accreditation comply with the Provider Course Accreditation Standards. The course accreditation covers delivery at all Australian sites.

TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's application for accreditation of four courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd 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 Asia Pacific International College Pty Ltd's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Business Information Systems, Diploma of Business and Diploma of Business Information Systems include:

  a) Information and advice provided to prospective and current students about the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Business Information Systems, including information about formal recognition by professional bodies, may not be accurate and current.

  b) Students studying on-line may not have access to adequate library and information resources or adequate IT resources.

  c) The courses may not be designed to ensure equivalent student learning outcomes for students studying on-line and students studying face-to-face.

  d) There may not be effective teach out plans for all students enrolled in the Bachelor of Business Information Systems.

  e) Information and advice provided to prospective and current students about credit and RPL arrangements may not be clear, accurate or accessible.

  f) Credit and RPL arrangements may not preserve the integrity of the higher education awards.

  g) Certification documentation may include misleading information.

  h) Collection, comparison and analysis of student data may not be adequate.

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 of study, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.