TEQSA International
Engagement Strategy
2016-2020
TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020 (Version 1, February 2017)
FOREWORD
TEQSA plays a vital role in the global quality assurance and regulation of Australia’s higher education sector –
protecting the reputation of this growing, vibrant sector while safeguarding the student experience.
Australia is the third most popular destination for international students, attracting around 645,000 of the
world’s international students, thus making it our third largest export and therefore an area of crucial national
importance, as signalled by the National Strategy for International Education. The largest single group of
international students are those in higher education.
We continue to work hard to enhance Australia’s international competitiveness in higher education regardless
of location of delivery, as defined in the TEQSA Act. TEQSA’s new International Engagement Strategy is a fouryear plan which underpins a key objective in our Corporate Plan and is aligned with the National Strategy.
The principal objectives of TEQSA’s International Engagement strategy are:
„„
quality assuring Australian cross border higher education
„„
supporting Australian cross border higher education activity and innovation
„„
building networks and collaborating to ensure quality
This strategy will see us promote the fundamental role, importance and effectiveness of Australia’s quality
assurance and regulatory system while helping to maintain the high quality reputation of Australian higher
education both here and overseas.
Australia’s strong reputation in the global higher education sector – as well as our arrangements for quality
assurance and regulation – helps us to work closely with partner agencies in other countries to facilitate
cross border arrangements and promote confidence in the quality of what is being offered. This network of
partnerships allows for cooperation and sharing of information about providers and aims to minimise the
regulatory burden by avoiding duplication.
We look forward to working with the Australian higher education sector in the achievement of the objectives of
our International Engagement Strategy.
Professor Nicholas Saunders AO
Chief Commissioner
Anthony McClaran
Chief Executive Officer, TEQSA
TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
1
1.INTRODUCTION
TEQSA operates in a global context to build and support:
„„
the quality and reputation of Australian cross border higher education
„„
Australian cross-border higher education activity and innovation
„„
the promotion of collaborative networks of Quality Assurance Agencies
In order to protect the reputation of Australian higher education and the interests of students, TEQSA will over
the next four years progressively broaden its consideration of quality assurance and strive to develop effective
and innovative approaches to the quality assurance of cross border higher education.
TEQSA’s role is to assure that quality standards (the Threshold Standards) are being met by all registered
higher education providers offering Australian higher education qualifications. The objects of the TEQSA Act
2011 include protection and enhancement of Australia’s international competitiveness in the higher education
sector regardless of the location of delivery. This includes any Australian Higher Education Provider’s cross
border higher education activities which result in an Australian qualification being awarded.
TEQSA’s International Engagement Strategy underpins a key objective in TEQSA’s Corporate Plan:
Promote the role, importance and effectiveness of Australia’s quality assurance
and regulatory system in maintaining the reputation of Australian higher
education nationally and internationally.
In supporting this objective, the Corporate Plan states that the Agency in 2016-17 will:
Strengthen and develop the quality assurance of and support for cross-border
Australian higher education by enhancing TEQSA’s network of key overseas
regulatory agencies.
It is anticipated that the Strategy will evolve further as TEQSA deepens its expertise in cross border higher
education.
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TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
2.CONTEXT
The Australian Government is committed to growing the capacity and economic sustainability of Australian
Higher Education’s international and cross border activities. In recent years the Government has been
successful in signing free trade agreements to further underpin the nation’s economic prosperity, including
those with China, Korea and Japan. These agreements play a key role in encouraging access to new markets
and regions for Australian Higher Education Providers.
The Australian Government has recently published its first National Strategy for International Education 2025.
In particular ‘Goal Three’ of this strategy includes:
GOAL 3:
Providing effective quality assurance and regulation
Australia will support our education system with a robust quality assurance and
regulatory environment with a focus on continual improvement.
Action 3.1:
Maintaining strong quality
assurance systems
Action 3.2:
Ensuring strong student
protection
Further, the Strategy also includes benchmarking against international standards and the quality of the student
experience.
The National Strategy acknowledges the need for strong quality assurance of Australian higher education
to ensure the quality of the student experience and the reputation of the sector as a whole. As students
become more mobile it is important to maintain the quality and equivalence of their overall educational
experience, within the diversity of international settings. As more and more students access higher education
through diverse modes of delivery in different places around the world, it will be necessary for the quality and
standards of Australian higher education to be monitored and continuously improved to maintain currency in a
rapidly changing environment.
Various Australian state governments are also producing their own International Education Sector strategies
to attract expanding numbers of higher education students and to develop their own approaches to an
Australian higher education experience, either onshore or globally. TEQSA will work with all government and
peak bodies involved in the promotion of the quality of Australian higher education.
As Australia’s national higher education quality assurance regulatory and agency TEQSA is in a strong position
to focus on all aspects of the quality of Australian cross border higher education. The following Strategy
highlights TEQSA’s resource commitments over the next four years.
TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
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3.TEQSA INTERNATIONAL
ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY
TEQSA’s International Engagement Strategy over the next four years encompasses the following foundational
objectives:
„„
Quality assuring Australian cross border higher education
„„
Supporting Australian cross border higher education activity and innovation
„„
Building networks and collaborating to ensure quality
3.1Quality Assurance of Australian cross border
higher education
TEQSA’s role as defined in the TEQSA Act is to protect and quality assure Australian Higher Education.
Over the next four years TEQSA will undertake the following activities:
Activities
Actions
Measures
„„
Develop and maintain
„„
Profiles completed and
„„
International Profiles are
International Profiles in
conjunction with Higher
Education Providers
validated through sector
consultation, and regularly
updated
„„
Details of International
used by TEQSA staff in
assessments of Provider
cross border higher
education
Campuses on National
Register
„„
Establish a comprehensive
data profile of every
Australian Higher Education
Provider’s Cross Border
Higher Education footprint
„„
International offshore data is
validated with Department,
providers and International
Quality Assurance Agencies
„„
Details of International
„„
International Profiles are
used by TEQSA staff in
assessments of Provider
cross border higher
education
Campuses on National
Register
„„
Quality assure every
Australian Higher Education
Provider’s ability to deliver
equivalence of student
experience and outcomes
in all cross border higher
education activities
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„„
Effective tools and
processes developed for
staff conducting Provider
visits offshore
„„
Visits to Provider Cross
Border Higher Education
activities conducted by
TEQSA in conjunction with
partner Quality Assurance
Agencies
TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
„„
Working relationships with
partner Quality Assurance
Agencies
„„
Joint approaches to
assessment of cross border
higher education in-country
is piloted with partner
Quality Assurance Agencies
3.2Supporting Australian Cross Border Higher Education
activity and innovation
TEQSA is responsible for the quality assurance of Australian Higher Education globally. Innovative approaches
to higher education reflect the diversity of Australian Higher Education Providers. Over the next four years,
TEQSA will continue to develop its quality assurance processes to support providers and students by
undertaking the following activities:
Activities
Actions
Measures
„„
Support
„„
Further guidance materials
„„
Involvement in discussions at all
Australian
providers to
quality assure
their cross
border higher
education
activities
developed by TEQSA to support
a range of cross border higher
education activities
levels of government
„„
Tools developed to support cross
border activity
„„
Broaden understanding of cross
border higher education and quality
assurance among TEQSA staff
„„
Work with partner Quality
Assurance Agencies to reduce
regulatory burden on cross border
higher education activity.
„„
Develop
approaches
to the quality
assurance
of new and
innovative
course and
learning
options
„„
Build
approaches
to joint
assessment
with Quality
Assurance
Agencies
globally to
promote
streamlined
approaches
to quality
assurance and
regulation
„„
Further guidance materials
„„
Guidance materials and toolkits
progressively developed by TEQSA
to support a range of cross border
higher education quality assurance
activities
developed and piloted
„„
Guidance for staff developed and
piloted
„„
Participation in Quality Beyond
„„
Successful QBBG Meeting in
Boundaries Group (QBBG)
Melbourne, October 2016
„„
Re-signing of MOCs based on
„„
Regular communication and policy
QACHE Principles of Cross Border
Higher Education
and quality assurance discussions
with MOC partners
„„
Development of significant working
„„
Projects and activities with partner
relationships, and building trust
and confidence with International
Quality Assurance Agencies
„„
Active participation with other
international quality assurance
agencies in streamlining cross
border regulation and quality
assurance activities to reduce
regulatory burden on providers
quality assurance agencies
undertaken
„„
Lead in pilots of streamlining and
joint quality assurance activities
with other quality assurance
agencies aiming to reduce
regulatory burden on providers
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3.3 Build networks and collaborate to ensure quality
Staff at TEQSA are well positioned to share their expertise in the regulation and quality assurance of higher
education. Dissemination of good practice and exploration of global approaches to quality assurance will
strengthen relevant quality frameworks for Australian Higher Education.
Activities:
Actions
Measures
„„
Lead in global
„„
TEQSA staff involved in ongoing
„„
Staff exchanges with partner
discussions
and debate
about quality
assurance,
regulation and
risk in higher
education
policy discussions and debate with:
»»CHEA/INQAAHE/APQN/QBB
»»IEAA/AIEC
»»APEC
»»International Quality Assurance
Agencies
„„
TEQSA staff working with
Australian Government bodies:
»»Liaison with Department of
Education international staff
including in country Education
Counsellors
»»Liaison with DFAT and
other relevant Government
departments and agencies
Quality Assurance Agencies
„„
Invitations and presentations at
International Higher Education
Forums
„„
Advice to Australian Department
of Education staff and in country
Education Counsellors
„„
Representation on, and
engagement with, peak bodies and
in industry forums
„„
Leadership, management and
participation in a range of global
quality assurance projects
„„
Pilot of streamlined regulatory
approaches to the quality
assurance of Australian Higher
Education Providers operating
in a global higher education
environment
„„
Hosting delegation visits of the
international higher education
community
„„
Staff participation in transnational
conferences and forums
„„
Dissemination of information
regarding the introduction of the
new Higher Education Standards, 1
January 2017.
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TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
„„
Presentations and discussions
with international quality assurance
agencies and other interested
international bodies.
Activities:
Actions
Measures
„„
Active
„„
Undertake a self-assessment of
„„
Regular presentations to staff on
participation in
global quality
assurance
capability
building
activities
TEQSA performance against the
INQAAHE Guidelines of Good
Practice
international activities via Learning
Committee
„„
Build capacity through staff
„„
Lead APEC Quality Assurance in
exchange and exposure to
international quality assurance
agencies’ activities
Online Education Project
„„
Regular contributions to
conferences, forums and seminars
and working groups on quality
assurance of global and Australian
Higher Education
„„
Strengthen
relations with
international
quality
assurance
agencies and
bodies
„„
Develop and deepen relationships
with partner quality assurance
agencies in countries where
Australian Higher Education
Providers are operating.
„„
TEQSA to remain committed and
leading member of INQAAHE,
APQN and CHEA/CIQG
„„
Recognition under INQAAHE’s
Guidelines of Good Practice
„„
Number of MOCs active and
utilised:
»»Papers
»»discussions on providers
»»staff exchanges
»»other activities
-Participation with international
quality assurance agencies on
a range of activities, including
regular teleconferences and
meetings
»»joint projects
»»Signatory to CHEA/CIQG
Memorandum of Affiliation
TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020
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4ACRONYMS
TEQSA – Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
QBBG – Quality Beyond Boundaries Group
MOC – Memorandum of Cooperation
QACHE – Quality Assurance of Cross Border Higher Education
CHEA – Council for Higher Education Accreditation
CIQG – CHEA International Quality Group
INQAAHE – International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education
APQN – Asia Pacific Quality Network
IEAA – International Education Association of Australia
AIEC – Australian International Education Conference
APEC – Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation
DFAT – Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
5 REPORT AND REVIEW
The International Engagement Strategy will be reviewed annually over the life of the plan, and a report
presented to the Senior Management Team for endorsement. The annual review will then be presented to the
Commision for final endorsement.
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TEQSA International Engagement Strategy 2016-2020