Media Release

K3604 23 April 1999

Norfolk Island based private distance education provider, Greenwich University, will be the subject of a rigorous academic and financial review, the Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs, Dr David Kemp announced today.

Greenwich University, established last year under an act of the Norfolk Island Assembly, has applied to the Ministerial Council on Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) for listing on the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

Listing of a university on the AQF signals that the State and Territory governments, which are represented on MCEETYA, vouch for the qualifications issued by these institutions. As a policy instrument, the AQF guarantees the quality of Australian education and training.

Dr Kemp told the Council that the Commonwealth Government had established a committee and has invited representatives from the States and the Australian Vice Chancellors’ Committee (AVCC) to participate in a rigorous review of Greenwich’s financial and academic credentials.

"Once the review is completed the committee will provide advice to MCEETYA members on whether Greenwich should be listed on the AQF," said Dr Kemp.

"While universities are established under State and Territory legislation whose legislative requirements vary, MCEETYA’s decision today to accept a Commonwealth recommendation to examine the broader issue of a common protocol for the accreditation of higher education institutions will help advance the quality process."

The council has endorsed the Commonwealth Government’s approach to Greenwich University and the broader issue of guaranteeing the quality of Australian universities.

"Education and training is a major Australian export industry, it is critical that its quality be protected," said Dr Kemp.

Media contact: Samantha Herron 0412 639 754 or 02 6277 7460

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