The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) has not had a significant review since it was legislated almost 15 years ago. The tertiary education sector in Australia has changed over that time and faces new challenges that did not exist when the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) was established.
The consultation paper invites views about the future regulation of Australian higher education and on potential changes to the TEQSA Act to allow TEQSA to step in and act when it's justified in the public interest. Modernising and strengthening TEQSA's powers will allow it to take timely and appropriate actions to ensure universities are meeting the standards students, staff and the community expect.
The consultation paper also focuses on opportunities to streamline regulation for universities and other higher education providers, so they can focus on teaching and learning, and ways to support a joined up tertiary system, helping more Australians get the skills and qualifications they need.
The department will be consulting widely to capture the perspectives of a diverse sector. Students, staff, and members of the community are strongly encouraged to provide feedback on their experiences of higher education.
Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP said:
I encourage all higher education students, staff, providers, and the wider community to have their say.
At the moment TEQSA has a sledgehammer and a feather, and not much in between.
There is a good argument that TEQSA needs better tools to be able to step in and act when it's justified in the public interest.
And to be able to respond to systemic risks, not just the compliance of individual providers.
