Revoke-Vary Conditions 20 May 2015

Revoke/Vary Conditions

Report on revocation and variation of conditions on registration of Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd

On 7 May 2015 TEQSA made a decision, under subsection 32(3) of the TEQSA Act, to revoke four (4) conditions imposed on the registration of Victorian Institute of Technology. The conditions are: Condition 1, 7, 9 and 11 (refer public report of 22 October 2014).

On 7 May 2015 TEQSA made a decision, under subsection 32(3) of the TEQSA Act, to vary two (2) conditions imposed on the registration of Victorian Institute of Technology. The conditions are: Condition 4 and Condition 6 (refer public report of 22 October 2014).

On 20 May 2015 a delegate of TEQSA made a decision, under subsection 32(2) of the TEQSA Act, to vary one (1) condition imposed on the registration of Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd. The condition is condition number 4 (refer public report of 22 October 2014).

A copy of the seven (7) conditions that remain in force is available at Attachment 1.

Main Reasons for Decision

The decision to revoke the four conditions was made on the basis that TEQSA was satisfied that the conditions had been met.

The decision to vary the two conditions was made on the basis that after consideration of the provider's response there remained a number of risks related to VIT's capacity to meet the Threshold Standards in the future relevant to the two conditions. On this basis, TEQSA considered that it was appropriate to vary the original condition.

Attachment 1

Conditions imposed on the registration of Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd (VIT):

Condition 2

2) By 15 August 2015 and every 12 months thereafter, VIT must provide TEQSA with its most up to date interim management reports/accounts including, but not limited to, a detailed Income Statement, standard Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement for the current reporting year. This report must include the latest detailed Year-To Date actual performance (e.g. revenue and expenses, operating cash flow) compared to Year-To-Date budget. The budget must include all supporting assumptions (e.g. student numbers, fees, staff numbers/costs, overheads, other key revenue and cost items). This requirement is in addition to the annual reporting requirements in Section 27 of the TEQSA Act.

Condition 3

3) By 31 December 2015 the Institute Council must provide minutes of its meetings for the preceding 12 months to TEQSA which show:

a) that it maintains oversight of its financial position and financial performance;

b) that it monitors potential risks to its operations and has strategies to mitigate risks that may eventuate;

c) that it protects and maintains academic integrity and quality;

d) that it has effective development, approval, implementation and review of all policies; and

e) the nature of its considerations in relation to any of its policies or procedures, including any recommendations and changes to those policies and procedures.

Condition 4

4) By 30 June 2015, VIT must:

a) Provide TEQSA with a revised Student Academic Misconduct policy that provides for advocacy support consistent with the requirements of PRS 6.6. The policy must include a process whereby a student can make representations in response to alleged academic misconduct prior to a decision on a penalty

b) Provide TEQSA with clear information on the student advocacy arrangements of VIT including advocacy in relation to academic misconduct matters and how students can access advocacy support, and

c) Provide TEQSA with evidence that information on student advocacy support has been provided to all higher education students along with the revised Student Academic Misconduct policy.

Condition 5

5) By 31 December 2015, VIT must provide TEQSA with evidence of its benchmarking agreements and by 31 December 2017, VIT must provide TEQSA with a report that provides evidence of the activities implemented under those agreements.

Condition 6

6) By 31 December 2015, VIT must provide TEQSA with evidence of how it has developed its current operations to address the academic learning needs of higher education students consistent with its Teaching and Learning Plan (Higher Education) 2014-2018. This evidence must be presented as a report of progress against the teaching and learning plan objectives, with evidence of consideration by the academic governing body.

Condition 8

8) By 31 December 2015, VIT must review its Teach Out Plan and develop either a formalised teach out and transition agreement with another registered higher education provider or a detailed implementation plan to support its Teach Out Plan. VIT must provide the formalised agreement or the implementation plan to TEQSA within one week of the document being agreed or finalised.

Condition 10

10) By 31 March 2016, VIT must provide TEQSA with a report on the analysis of and its actions taken in response to the data collected and/or reviews undertaken for the first full year of delivery of its higher education course. The report should encompass the data sources, specified as paragraphs a-i of Victorian Institute of Technology Pty Ltd's Continuous Improvement of the Higher Education Program(s) Policy, in its activities.