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TEQSA Chief Commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake . Picture : Lyndon Mechielsen / News Corp Australia
Avondale calling
TEQSA approves Australia ’ s first new university in nearly a decade .
By Wade Zaglas
Australian higher education students will be afforded more choice after one new university and three university colleges were approved by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority ( TEQSA ).
The NSW-based Avondale University College will be Australia ’ s first new university in nearly 10 years , while three other university colleges – The National Institute of Dramatic Arts ( NIDA ), the Australian Film , Television and Radio School ( AFTRS ) and Moore Theological College – also gained TEQSA accreditation under a new category established as part of the revised Higher Education Standards Framework ( Threshold Standards ) 2021 .
Education minister Alan Tudge said the new reforms will help to deliver outcomes for students , industry and the Australian community at large .
“ It ’ s an outstanding accomplishment to be registered as an Australian university and I look forward to seeing the valuable contribution Avondale will make to student outcomes , research quality and the greater community ,” Tudge said .
“ Along with our new category standards , we ’ ve now rationalised the number of higher education provider categories from six to four and have put in place stronger research requirements for Australian universities to make sure their research meets our world standards .
“ These new changes will support greater diversity within the sector , especially out in the regional markets and in specialised fields .”
TEQSA ’ s chief commissioner Professor Peter Coaldrake said the new higher education standards framework “ would simplify and enhance the categorisation of higher education providers , ensuring the category standards remain fit for purpose ”.
“ Australia has a strong higher education sector and these reforms will support greater provider diversity , with a focus on embedding excellence across Australia ’ s evolving higher education landscape ,” he said .
“ The reforms include the new university college category , which recognises high-quality institutions and provides them with new opportunities to develop course offerings that meet the future needs of students , employers , industry and communities . The updated standards also include augmented research requirements for universities .”
While the new framework allows for more flexibility and diversity in the sector , Coaldrake emphasised that TEQSA had undergone a thorough approach in guaranteeing the revised category standards were fairly applied and consistent .
“ TEQSA congratulates Avondale for achieving the requirements for registration as an Australian University under the Higher Education Standards Framework ,” he said .
“ Our decision recognises Avondale ’ s commitment to student outcomes , its significant research progress and Avondale ’ s contributions to the communities it serves .
“ TEQSA also congratulates NIDA , AFTRS and Moore Theological College for being the first three providers to be registered in the new University College category .
“ Each of these providers demonstrated to TEQSA that they offer high-quality higher education and meet the standards for registration as University Colleges .”
Independent Higher Education Australia ( IHEA ) welcomed the announcement of Australia ’ s newest university and university colleges .
“ Avondale has been delivering highquality teaching and research in Australia for 124 years and today ’ s announcement is significant recognition of their value in the Australian tertiary sector . Avondale University College is a founding member of IHEA , and Provost Professor Kerri-Lee Krause currently serves on the IHEA Board ,” IHEA CEO Simon Finn said .
“ Moore Theological College has been admitted to the category of university college in recognition of 150 years of delivering high quality teaching and research in Divinity and Theology . Achieving university college status is a great outcome for Moore as they become one of only three foundation entrants to the newly designed university college category .”
Finn emphasised that the accreditation of both Avondale and Moore “ contributes significantly to the growing respect and recognition of independent higher education in the Australian community ”. He highlighted the fact that independent higher education providers are recognised for the high scores they receive in students ’ teaching and learning experiences in the Quality Indicators of Learning and Teaching ( QILT ) surveys .
Chief executive of the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia ( ITECA ) Troy Williams similarly welcomed the revised framework and the recognition it gave the independent sector .
“ Australia ’ s independent higher education sector has a well-deserved reputation for excellence . It ’ s great to see this recognised with the transition of Avondale University College to the nation ’ s latest new university and the creation of three new university colleges ,” he said .
“ ITECA continues to work with our members in the higher education sector to support their growth and , through this , expand their offering to students .
“ We congratulate the leadership of these institutions , and their staff , for their accomplishments , which are a fine example of what can be achieved by the independent higher education sector .” ■
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