In May 2013, the Government commissioned an independent review looking at ways to reduce the regulatory burden on higher education providers. This came about predominantly in response to concerns being raised by the sector about the effectiveness of Australia's higher education regulatory framework. Of particular focus is the role of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) as the responsible body for compliance and monitoring of the quality of Australia's higher education sector.
Whilst the report concluded that having one body responsible for compliance and monitoring such as TEQSA was crucial to maintaining quality of education, the report identified eleven key recommendations to address the key issue of reducing regulatory burden. These have been summarised below:
Key Recommendations:
- Reduce the role of TEQSA to focus on its core activities as a regulator – concentrate on new provider registration and course accreditation.
- Establish mechanisms for TEQSA to consult with stakeholders and receive sector advice.
- TEQSA need to segregate the sector into different types of providers and apply regulatory oversight based on risk assessment – i.e. one size does not fit all.
- TEQSA review how existing regulatory processes could be utilised to streamline re registration processes for well established providers.
- Improve timeliness in delivering TEQSA's key activities of initial provider registration and course accreditation.
- Establish MOUs and letters of arrangement with other regulatory bodies to reduce duplication of effort – key areas of duplication include: Financial viability assessments, risk assessments and consultation forums.
- Government needs to better align the work of existing players in the sector.
- Government must reduce the amount of duplication between the four key Acts – HESA 2003, ESOS Act 2000, National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.
- Align activities between ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) and TEQSA through a more collaborative working relationship.
- Government to immediately engage with TEQSA to agree and reduce duplication of effort.
- Government to formalise and strengthen the role of NAGHEDI (National Advisory Group on Higher Education Data and Information) as the data collection body for TEQSA.
The Moore Stephens Education Focus Group will continue to work with the sector and the relevant government agencies to address the regulatory and operational risks currently faced by higher education providers.
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