Operating as a Higher Education institution in the Australian External Territories

The National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes, which have been designed to ensure consistent criteria and standards for the assessment of applications for proposed universities and higher education courses, have been adopted by the Commonwealth, State and mainland Territory (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) governments of Australia. The protocols are a key element in Australia's national quality assurance framework for higher education.  Under these Protocols, the Commonwealth is responsible for approving higher education operations in the Australian external Territories.

Chapter 6   of the Higher Education Support Act 2003 provides for approval of higher education providers as self-accrediting entities and for accreditation of courses of study in the Australian external Territories. It protects the use of the title university and provides that any person who is not accredited may be guilty of an offence if they operate as a university or other provider, offer higher education awards or describe themselves as universities in an external Territory.

Matters relating to the provision of higher education in the external territories are also dealt with in the Higher Education in External Territories (HEET) Guidelines  . The HEET Guidelines set out processes and requirements for higher education providers intending to operate in an Australian external Territory.

The Minister for Education is responsible for protecting the use of the term 'university', for approving applicants as Australian or overseas self-accrediting entities and for accrediting courses for delivery in an Australian external Territory.

The Higher Education Group in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR or the Department) provides the support to assist the Minister in the role of approval/accrediting authority. For further information about accreditation or the registration of a company or business name in the Australian external Territories using the word university, contact:

Private Providers Unit (Location 022)
Quality Branch,
Higher Education Group,
Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations,
GPO Box 9880, Canberra City, ACT 2601

highered@deewr.gov.au

A body seeking to operate in the external Territories as an Australian or overseas self-accrediting entity or to offer courses leading to higher education awards in an Australian external Territory should in the first instance contact the Director of the Private Providers Unit at the address above. The HEET Guidelines set out in detail the information which an applicant must provide, the criteria for approval of an institution or accreditation of a course, the role of the Assessment Committee (if it is convened by the Minister) and the matters the Minister must take into account in deciding whether to approve a self-accrediting entity or accredit a course.

It is suggested that any organisation considering seeking approval or accreditation to operate as an Australian or overseas self-accrediting entity or to offer courses leading to higher education awards in an Australian external Territory should in the first instance write to DEEWR at the address above. After discussing the application process with DEEWR, it should then (if it decides to proceed) provide the Department with a detailed written application addressing comprehensively each criterion for approval or accreditation set out in the HEET Guidelines and the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes. The criteria include an assessment of the resources, financial capacity and organisational infrastructure to support the application. The general educational practices and standards of the provider, and the adequacy of processes for monitoring the operation of the educational programme, will also be considered. The application must be accompanied by the set fees.  An application form is available from the address given above.

Approval and accreditation processes are based on the principle of assurance of academic quality through independent peer review. Leading academics and practitioners, meeting as an assessment committee, participate in an evaluation of a proposed self-accrediting entity or course of study in order to provide a report of its comments and findings, and make recommendations to the Minister about approval or accreditation. This process provides assurance to the public that proposed higher education awards in the external Territories are consistent with national standards.

The Minister will consider the assessment committee’s report in making a determination whether to grant approval or accreditation. Approval/accreditation may be given subject to such conditions as the Minister may determine. This will remain in force for the period the Minister determines, which will generally be a period of five years. Approval/accreditation may be amended or revoked by the Minister if a condition of the approval has been breached or, following a reassessment of the approval, the Minister is satisfied that the entity or course does not continue to meet the requirements of the National Protocols.

The applicant will be required to pay the cost of assessing an application for approval or accreditation, as set out in the HEET Guidelines.  For further information, please contact the Director of the Private Providers Unit.

An applicant may apply to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for a review of the Minister’s decision in relation to an application for approval or accreditation. The application for review must be made within 28 days after notice of the decision is given.