Registration and accreditation 13 October 2017

Initial registration

Report on initial registration of The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) Pty Ltd

TEQSA has registered The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) Pty Ltd, under section 21 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), for a period of four years until 13 October 2021 in the provider category of 'Higher Education Provider'.

TEQSA has imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, six conditions on the registration of The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) Pty Ltd.

Condition 1.

TIIS must not enrol students in or commence delivery of the Master of Professional Accounting and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting until TEQSA notifies the provider that TEQSA is satisfied that the following issues have been resolved:

1. TIIS has a workforce plan which specifies:
   
   1. The names of academic leaders and unit coordinators for each unit in the Master of Professional Accounting and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting;
   2. the qualifications and relevant professional experience held by those staff members;
   3. whether those staff members teach at another higher education provider or registered training organisation; and
   4. if a staff member does not hold a qualification in a relevant discipline at least one AQF level above the course in which they are teaching, details of the basis on which TIIS determined that the staff member holds professional experience equivalent to such a qualification.
2. The Curriculum Consultant appointed by TIIS is appropriately qualified in the discipline to teach students. The evidence must include the Curriculum Consultant's position description and resume.

Condition 2.

On 1 July of each year for the period of registration, TIIS must provide to TEQSA, a report on the scholarly activities undertaken by each academic staff member in the preceding 12 months. Examples of scholarly activities are provided in the relevant Guidance Note available on the TEQSA website.

Condition 3.

TIIS must not enrol students in or commence delivery of the Master of Professional Accounting and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting until TEQSA notifies the provider that TEQSA is satisfied that TIIS has purchased the prescribed textbooks, reference books and the planned databases (ProQuest, Emerald, Accounting Research Network and DatAnalysis), in accordance with the Library Development Plan, revised June 2017.

Condition 4.

TIIS must not enrol students in or commence delivery of the Master of Professional Accounting and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting until TEQSA notifies the provider that TEQSA is satisfied that TIIS has adequate processes in place and documentation to govern its outsourcing arrangements with respect to the IT Manager and Support Services. The documentation must include:

1. How TIIS will monitor and ensure students have appropriate access to a range of personal support services;
2. How TIIS will ensure there are adequate IT infrastructure and software resources to support student learning;
3. How TIIS will ensure students and personnel have access to online information and resources; and
4. How TIIS will monitor and ensure students have access to one or more contact people who can respond to queries in a timely manner.

Condition 5.

TIIS must not enrol students in or commence delivery of the Master of Professional Accounting and the Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting until TEQSA notifies the provider that TEQSA is satisfied that TIIS has adequate processes in place and documentation to govern its outsourcing arrangements with respect to the Accounts and Finance Manager position. The documentation must include:

1. How the prevention of fraud and mismanagement policies will be effectively implemented;
2. How TIIS will monitor and ensure its finances will be well-managed in accordance with legal requirements and Australian accounting standards; and
3. How the governing board will discharge its monitoring and oversight responsibilities of the outsourced arrangements.

Condition 6.

On 1 July of each year for the period of registration, TIIS must provide to TEQSA:

1. the policies and procedures that have been reviewed and approved in the previous 12 months by the Board of Directors, the Academic Board and the Executive Management Committee consistent with the schedule in its Policy, Plans and Procedures Register; and
2. minutes of meetings of the Board of Directors, the Academic Board and the Executive Management Committee which demonstrate:
   
   1. a process consistent with the TEQSA Guidance Notes for the relevant bodies; and
   2. the extent to which discussion took account of external advice and input.

TEQSA has accredited, under section 49 of the TEQSA Act, the following higher education courses of study offered by The Institute of International Studies (TIIS) Pty Ltd for a period of four years until 13 October 2021:

• Master of Professional Accounting
• Graduate Certificate in Professional Accounting

Main reasons for the decision

The issues which led TEQSA to shorten the period of registration and course accreditation and to impose conditions on the registration are:

a) a lack of certainty about TIIS' ability to engage appropriately qualified and experienced academic staff to deliver its course

b) there is a lack of clarity about the scholarly activities of TIIS' academic staff

c) risks remain regarding the planned expenditure on library and information resources

d) there is also a lack of clarity about the means by which TIIS will provide student and information technology support

e) there remain risks regarding how TIIS will manage the financial aspects of its higher education operations and

f) concerns about the capacity of TIIS' corporate governing body and Academic Board to effectively oversee, and contribute to, the governance and quality assurance of TIIS' higher education operations.

TEQSA's assessment considered TIIS' arrangements for delivery at all Australian sites.