in focus 10 may 2010
National Monday Update Issue:
Planning in a vacuum…
This week will see the release of the Commonwealth’s budget for 2010/2011, a budget in which there are not high hopes for significant investment in the tertiary education sector, certainly not of the kind that will benefit ACPET members.
At a time when the Government is contemplating it’s expenditure for the coming year, ACPET members will be sitting down to consider their own plans and budgets. Unacceptably high levels of uncertainty in the policy environment present unreasonable challenges for even the most experienced Members as they attempt to plan for the coming year.
Regulation and regulators are central to the operation of private tertiary providers and too many questions remain unanswered as we edge slowly toward a strengthened AQTF and national regulators in both VET and Higher Education. Any RTO wishing to accurately measure its compliance against the new AQTF 2010 standards must wait until after June 9 when MCTEE is expected to finally sign off on implementation guides before making judgments with any certainty.
Any Member considering a change in its operations in 2011 cannot be certain where to go to seek the necessary approvals. As negotiations continue on the establishment of a National VET Regulator, there is little likelihood that this body will be in place and operational by 1 January 2011. Optimistic projections suggest an April beginning and, even then, there will remain separate regulatory bodies in Victoria and WA. In parallel the establishment of TEQSA is progressing under separate leadership and ACPET continues to advocate that the two bodies establish and develop in partnership to ensure a seamless regulatory experience for dual sector providers.
Throughout the negotiations on both the strengthened AQTF and establishment of a national regulator ACPET is pushing for appropriate risk based audit and monitoring regimes and clear communications about implementation so that institutions can plan for the future.
ACPET and its members have long supported the establishment of national regulators and streamlined regulation but there is little to suggest that the uncertainty will end soon. In the meantime, members should acquaint themselves with the revised standards in preparation for the release of guidance as to their actual implications.
In the media this week…
Worth a read is Stephen Matchett’s article in this week’s Australian on the role of private higher education providers – Commercial campuses ready to fill gap, The article closed with the following warning to our public universities “Universities that assume students have no alternative to the established public providers, or that private competitors will only offer cheap and nasty courses to second-class students, are warned.”
Meanwhile John Ross in Campus Review picked up ACPET’s criticisms of the substantial damage being done to our international education sector by continued uncertainty and poorly developed policy decisions by our immigration officials
Quality Through Diversity is the theme for this year’s ACPET National Conference in Melbourne. The conference will showcase the best of Australia’s private education and training. The program will focus on informing and supporting members as you lead, manage and grow your business. I encourage you to visit the conference website and register early to assure your place.
Please do not hesitate to contact me (click to email Andrew [dot] Smith [at] acpet [dot] edu [dot] au (Andrew Smith)) to discuss any of the above or to provide your ideas and input into the ongoing development of the Council.