TEQSA

A key theme within the new Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 is the requirement to meet the educational, academic support and administrative needs of all students, regardless of background.

The minimum acceptable requirements are outlined within the many sub-categories of each of the seven domains for the provision of higher education in or from Australia.

The Framework consists of the following domains:

• Student Participation and Attainment
• Learning Environment
• Teaching
• Research and Research Training
• Institutional Quality Assurance
• Governance and Accountability
• Representation, Information and Information Management

The 2022 risk assessment cycle uses the indicators set out in the TEQSA Risk Assessment Framework. The risk assessment uses student and staff data and audited financial data from 2022. 

Learn more about TEQSA's Risk Assessment Framework by accessing the Risk assessment – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

TEQSA develops key aspects of its regulatory approach in consultation with higher education stakeholders. Please visit the TEQSA Consultation webpage for information on consultations.

• Artificial intelligence
• Assessments and academic integrity
• Welfare and wellbeing
• Forward impact of COVID-19 on Australian higher education - report. In 2021, Wells Advisory was commissioned by TEQSA to undertake an analysis of the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Australia's higher education sector.
• TEQSA's new resource Online delivery - key considerations for providers information on flexible and adaptive delivery of higher education and support for students.
• TEQSA Corporate Plan 2022-26

Good Practice Notes prove exemplars and specific practical advice

• Preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Australian higher education sector
• Addressing contract cheating to safeguard academic integrity
• Improving retention and completion of students in Australian higher education
• Making higher education admissions transparent for prospective students

The University is legislatively required to notify TEQSA within 14 days of events that happen or are likely to happen that may significantly affect the University’s ability to satisfy the Higher Education Standards Framework.

Examples of these events include:

• Failure to comply with the requirements of the legislation under which the University is established, recognised or incorporated
• Failure to comply with any other legislative requirements such as national workplace laws eg large scale underpayment of staff
• Student critical incidents
• Entering into or terminating Third-Party Arrangements (TPA’s)
• Adding a new program or location to a TPA
• Failure of the control and reporting system put in place to monitor TPA delivery
• Changes to senior leadership (Chancellor, VC, COO, DVCA, DVCR, PEO)
• Reputational Issues:
  • adverse findings, decisions or unscheduled compliance audits by another regulator, government department or accreditation body, eg loss of accreditation;
  • allegations or findings of fraud, corruption and/or maladministration, by a member of the governing body or staff member, including any referrals to an anti-corruption body;
  • allegations of research misconduct under the Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research, and any other code of conduct
• Financial viability issues (major changes to capital structure, material growth or decline in revenue or profitability)
• An organisational restructure involving material reduction in staff
• A phishing attack disrupts the University’s IT systems and key services
• Contract cheating incident involving multiple students is discovered

Further information can be found on TEQSA’s material change webpage or in its Material Change Policy.  All material changes are reported to TEQSA by Education Quality.

To report a material change at the University please contact Educational Policy and Compliance within 5 days of the event to enable sufficient time to gather all necessary evidence.