Becoming a Higher Education Provider in South Australia
Higher Education Recognition is the formal process for assessing non-university courses and providers in the Higher Education sector. In South Australia this process is managed by the Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology in line with the National Protocols for Higher Education Processes.
Recognition process in South Australia
Flowchart of the Higher Education process in South Australia (216 KB)
Preparation
1 Download the relevant Application form
2 Read and understand the following documents:
Training and Skills Development Act, 2008
Australian Qualifications Framework Implementation Handbook
National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes (PDF 379KB)
Guidelines for awarding self-accrediting authority for higher education institutions other than universities (relating to National Protocols A and C) (PDF)
Guidelines for the registration of non self-accrediting higher education institutions and the accreditation of their course/s (relating to National Protocols A and B) (PDF)
Guidelines for overseas higher education institutions seeking to operate in Australia (relating to National Protocols A and E (PDF).
Guidelines for establishing Australian universities (relating to National Protocols A and D)
Accountants statement proforma for Financial Viability
Council approval for premises that will be used for educational purposes.
3 Contact the Higher Education Recognition Unit within Quality Directorate on (08) 8226 3015 to discuss your application.
Application
The application process requires you to submit:
Fees
Initial approval and Renewal of Accreditation/Registration
An application must be accompanied by an application fee; refer to Schedule of Fees.
An assessment fee; refer to Schedule of Fees, will be required once the assessment is complete. This fee covers the cost of a site assessment at one delivery site and for one discipline area. Additional site assessments and extra discipline areas incur an additional fee; refer to Schedule of Fees.
Assessment for accreditation of Higher Education qualifications will incur a cost; refer to Schedule of Fees, for a suite of qualifications in the same discipline field.
Travel costs incurred by the South Australian or an interstate State Training Authority for assessment purposes under the Training and Skills Development Act 2008 will be borne by the applicant.
Annual fee
A minimum fee; refer to
Schedule of Fees, is payable 12 months after approval and annually thereafter for the period of approval. The annual fee is calculated on the number of discipline areas on the institution’s approved scope. This fee covers costs associated with strategic audits, workshops, information updates and database maintenance.
All fees are inclusive of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), are non-refundable and are indexed each year in line with the Consumer Price Index.
Assessment of Applications
Applications are assessed by a Course Assessment Panel (CAP). Normally panels comprise three or more persons and applicants have the right to comment on the Panel’s composition.
The CAP is established by the Quality Directorate after comment by the applicant and approved by the Delegate, Training and Skills Commission.
Approval of Application
The CAP forwards a report of its findings to Quality Directorate, which prepares a recommendation to be forwarded to the delegate for consideration. The applicant has an opportunity to comment on accuracy and emphasis of the report before it is forwarded to the Delegate. The Delegate informs the organisation of the decision made. The organisation is provided with a summary of the findings indicating opportunities for improvement and areas of good practice.
Length of Registration and Accreditation
The Delegate normally grants the approval for a period of five years unless otherwise recommended by the Course Assessment Panel.
Assessment
Apart from the initial approval, an assessment takes place when:
- accreditation of courses and/or registration of the institution is due for renewal
- the institution applies for additional qualifications
- the Department receives a complaint against the institution
- strategic assessments are identified by the Department.
Post Approval process
Approval of a higher education institution is subject to continued compliance with:
- National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes and related Guidelines
- relevant Commonwealth and State laws.
Reporting requirements
Approved higher education institutions are required to report to the Government Accreditation Authority on:
- conditions imposed by the Training and Skills Commission
- annual reporting requirements
- changes to scope of registration
- issuance of AQF qualifications through the Client Qualifications Register (within 30 days).
Renewal
Higher education non self-accrediting institutions are required to apply for renewal of accredited courses and the registration of the institutions at least six months prior to the expiration date.
Mutual recognition
Under the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes, an institution that is registered in a state/territory can apply for approval in another Australian state/territory under the mutual recognition provisions. The mutual recognition process requires the applicant to provide a copy of the assessment report and the approval letter from their primary jurisdiction.
Legislation
The Training and Skills Development Act, 2008 governs the registration of providers in South Australia.
Failure to meet the standards
Failure to meet the approval conditions may result in:
- the imposition of conditions on the approval (for example monitoring audit)
- withdrawal of approved status
- withdrawal of courses from scope.