Accreditation 28 February 2014

Course accreditation

Report on accreditation of 2 higher education courses of study offered by Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE

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 Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE for a period of seven years until 28 February 2021:

• Master of Professional and Practicing Accounting
• Graduate Diploma of Professional and Practicing Accounting

TEQSA has, under subsection 53(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed two conditions on the accreditation of the above courses of study. Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE must:

Condition 1:

Prior to commencement of delivery of the above courses of study, and by no later than 11 April 2014, NMIT will provide TEQSA with a policy setting out NMIT's approach to determining the "equivalent" professional experience of academic staff teaching at the Masters level who do not possess Australian Qualification Framework level 10 qualifications.

Condition 2:

Prior to commencement of delivery of the above courses of study, and by no later than 11 April 2014, NMIT will provide TEQSA with a plan for the development of approaches to teaching and learning, scholarship and academic leadership to demonstrate support for professional development for any staff teaching an award which leads to an award at level 8 or 9 of the Australian Qualification Framework.

Background to Decision

Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE submitted an application for accreditation of two 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 two higher education courses of study submitted by Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE 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 Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE's application for accreditation of three courses of study is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act. TEQSA considers the risks of non-compliance with the Threshold Standards may affect Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE's capacity to manage and deliver its higher education awards.

• The broad issue relating to the Master of Professional and Practicing Accounting and the Graduate Diploma of Professional and Practicing Accounting is to ensure academic staff:

  a) who do not have a qualification one AQF level above the level of the course they are teaching have equivalent experience to teach the courses

  b) who will teach the courses receive appropriate teaching and learning, scholarship and professional development support

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