Re-registration 31 August 2017

Renewal of registration

Report on renewal of registration of Academy of Design Australia Limited (formerly Australian Academy of Design Inc)

TEQSA has renewed the registration as a higher education provider, under Section 36(1) of the TEQSA Act, of the Academy of Design Australia Ltd for a period of four years to 31 August 2021 in the provider category of Higher Education Provider.

TEQSA has, under subsection 32(1) of the TEQSA Act, imposed four conditions on the registration of the Academy of Design Australia Ltd as a higher education provider.

Condition 1:

ADA must provide to TEQSA, by 31 January 2018 and each subsequent year until further notice, evidence of the implementation of the Strategic Plan, with emphasis on the outcomes of KPI Actions. The report must include specific detailed reporting on:

a) student recruitment

b) development of formal entry and exit pathways

c) the implementation of an academic staff workplan that demonstrates:

1. an appropriate level of suitably qualified staff, including academic leaders, will be achieved and maintained
2. that staff are supported to undertake scholarship

d) evidence of sufficient scholarship activities carried out by academic staff through an Annual Scholarship Report.

Condition 2:

ADA must provide the following information to TEQSA, by 31 January 2018 and each subsequent year until further notice:

a) evidence of the implementation of the Teaching and Learning Plan with emphasis on Strategic Directions 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6, including specific reporting on:

1. student performance data, including attrition, progression and completion rates(this report must include ADA's own analysis of the causes and sources of attrition and plans to address them) with evidence of consideration by the Academic Board via the respective Academic Committees, and demonstrating improvement in attrition and completion rates
2. data on attrition rates must be calculated in accordance with the definition used in the TEQSA Risk Assessment Framework

b) evidence of how ADA compares its performance on teaching, student learning outcomes, graduate outcomes, and research with other higher education providers, including the use of regular, valid and reliable feedback from internal and external stakeholders to improve its higher education operations

c) evidence that the above is reported to, and considered by, the Corporate Board on a regular basis.

Condition 3:

By 31 January 2018, ADA is required to recruit a senior academic leader with experience in higher education teaching and learning within the field of the Creative Arts, who is active in scholarship in accordance with the description outlined in the TEQSA Guidance Note on Scholarship.

Condition 4:

By 31 January 2018, ADA is required to provide evidence that the Corporate Board has, or has access to, higher education management and academic governance expertise in the Creative Arts either through membership or through an external advisor or advisors. Evidence must demonstrate that this expertise is available to the Corporate Board on a regular basis and that the expertise is appropriate to the higher education operations of ADA.

Main Reasons for Decision

As part of the renewal of registration process, TEQSA has assessed the application submitted by Academy of Design Australia Limited against the Threshold Standards. The scope of the assessment included all its Australian sites. TEQSA considers that the decision to apply conditions to Academy of Design Australia Limited registration is consistent with the basic principles for regulation in Part 2 of the TEQSA Act, as Academy of Design Australia Limited is at risk of not complying with a number of the Threshold Standards.

• The broad issues which relate to the Academy of Design Australia Limited registration include:

  a) Academic staff scholarship

  b) Corporate governing body membership

  c) Approved and current strategic Plan

  d) Corporate and academic governance arrangements

  e) Academic leadership and management of human resources