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National Context

All States and Territories of Australia have developed criteria and procedures on which higher education approval processes are based.  These are in accordance with the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes (‘the National Protocols’), which are designed to ensure consistent criteria and standards for higher education approval processes across Australia.  The National Protocols are a key element in the national quality framework for higher education.

A copy of the National Protocols may be downloaded from the Commonwealth Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) web site. A revised edition of the National Protocols was approved by MCEETYA on 7 July 2006.  This edition will commence operation in December 2007 by which time it is expected that each State and Territory will have amended and enacted its legislation through which the new Protocols will be implemented.  The revised protocols can also be downloaded from the MCEETYA website.

Another key element of the national quality assurance framework for higher education is the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), which has the primary role of carrying out quality audits of Australian universities and State accreditation agencies.

In February 2006, the Agency carried out a scheduled audit of the approval and accreditation functions of the Department of Education Services.  As part of that process, the Department was required to undertake a self-review of its accreditation and authorisation functions and submit a performance portfolio (pdf 480k) to AUQA.  In accordance with AUQA guidelines, this submission must be posted on the Department’s website for at least 12 months after publication of the AUQA audit report.

The audit produced a report, Report of an Audit of the Department of Education Services, containing a series of commendations, affirmations and recommendations.

The Department of Education Services has responded to the AUQA Report through the Progress Report. The Progress Report, approved by the Chief Executive Officer on 23 November 2007, outlines a series of improved quality assurance measures and how they are being progressively implemented during the 2006 - 2009 period.