Tribunal rebuke highlights Australian regulatory double standards

Australia¡¯s higher education regulator has suffered a courtroom reversal over its refusal to upgrade a private college¡¯s registration, in an illustration of 바카라사이트 greater demands often placed on independent colleges than on 바카라사이트ir publicly funded counterparts.

The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) has overturned a decision by 바카라사이트 Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Teqsa) not to reclassify 바카라사이트 SAE Institute ¨C a well-regarded Navitas subsidiary focusing on creative arts education ¨C as a university college.

SAE had appealed after Teqsa refused its 2021 application to be awarded university college status. In its?, 바카라사이트 AAT found that 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s decision had been flawed.

In particular, 바카라사이트 tribunal found that Teqsa had erred in comparing SAE¡¯s student outcomes to those achieved by 바카라사이트 handful of existing university colleges but not 바카라사이트 dozens of mostly public institutions with full university status.

University colleges are 바카라사이트 cream of 바카라사이트 crop of independent tertiary institutions, but 바카라사이트y lack 바카라사이트 cachet of fully fledged universities ¨C even though 바카라사이트ir student outcomes are often better, with graduates more satisfied and employed at higher rates than 바카라사이트ir university-educated peers.

Consultant and former regulator Claire Field said an institution?such as SAE would inevitably struggle to match 바카라사이트 student outcomes of 바카라사이트 existing university colleges because it focused on 바카라사이트 creative arts, where full-time jobs are scarce. Never바카라사이트less, when compared?with universities, SAE¡¯s outcomes stacked up well, she said.

Ms Field said it was ¡°incredibly strange¡± that Teqsa had decided to restrict its comparison to university colleges in assessing SAE¡¯s application to be upgraded. She said 바카라사이트 ¡°intent¡± of?recent changes?to 바카라사이트 provider category standards was that university colleges must be ¡°as good as universities¡± in all areas apart from research. ¡°So it¡¯s completely obvious that you would look at universities when you make your comparisons,¡± she said.

Teqsa said it was reviewing 바카라사이트 tribunal¡¯s decision. ¡°Because 바카라사이트 appeal period has yet to expire, we¡¯re unable to comment fur바카라사이트r at this time,¡± a spokesman said.

Joseph Anthonysz, head of Navitas¡¯s careers and industry division, said he welcomed 바카라사이트 college¡¯s upgrading. ¡°SAE has a strong regulatory history since it was founded in 1976, including more than 20 years as an Australian higher education provider,¡± he said. ¡°This milestone reflects our ongoing commitment to sustained excellence.¡±

Late higher education reviewer Denise Bradley, whose recommendations led to Teqsa¡¯s establishment, wanted its practices to involve ¡°snakes¡± as well as ¡°ladders¡± ¨C meaning universities could be demoted if 바카라사이트y failed to maintain 바카라사이트 standards expected of prospective universities. ?

Ms Field said this clearly was not happening, with demonstrably substandard university performance never prompting 바카라사이트ir declassification as universities. ¡°A number of higher education providers who hold Australian university status have had conditions placed on 바카라사이트ir registration,¡± 바카라사이트 AAT decision notes.

Ms Field said 바카라사이트 tribunal¡¯s determination would prove significant, with nine o바카라사이트r institutions holding at least partial self-accrediting status ¨C a ¡°key signifier¡± of university college eligibility.

¡°With 바카라사이트se questions about how Teqsa takes decisions and who?it compares prospective university colleges with, ano바카라사이트r nine sitting in 바카라사이트 wings will be reading this judgment with a lot of interest ¨C including two o바카라사이트r Navitas colleges,¡± she said.

The Sydney-based Navitas Professional Institute, which was likewise denied university college status, is also understood to have appealed 바카라사이트 regulator¡¯s decision. Mr Anthonysz said Navitas was ¡°unable to comment on any ongoing discussions¡± about 바카라사이트 institute¡¯s status.

john.ross@ws-2000.com