Higher education quality and approvals
The Northern Territory Government has overall responsibility for the quality of higher education in the NT, within a national quality framework under the auspices of the Australian Government Department of Education,. Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
National Quality Framework
Elements of the national quality framework are the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) and the National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes, agreed to by the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA). The framework is supported by the MCEETYA owned Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), which is responsible, on a five-yearly cycle, for conducting quality audits of:
- all Australian self-accrediting higher education institutions, including universities
- Commonwealth, State and Territory accreditation authorities (accrediting agencies) in Australia
- Australian non self-accrediting institutions approved as higher education providers under the Commonwealth Higher Education Support Act 2003, HESA, and
- other higher education institutions under contract.
Audit of NT Higher Education approval functions
The AUQA audit of the higher education approval functions of the Department of Employment Education and Training (DEET) was conducted in 2005, and the report published in March 2006. A copy of the audit report may be viewed at AUQA website.
The report contains a summary of findings addressing all matters relating to DEET’s Higher Education Approval Functions, with lists of commendations, affirmations and recommendations.
DEET has made significant progress against a number of the audit report recommendations.
- Progress report (pdf 43Kb)
NT approval arrangements
Existing universities in the Northern Territory are established under Territory legislation. While they have a considerable degree of autonomy, they are accountable to the Northern Territory Government and the public for their operations.
Under the Northern Territory Higher Education Act 2004, the Minister for Employment, Education and Training is the approving authority for the:
- Establishment or recognition of new universities
- Operation of overseas higher education institutions
- Offering of higher education courses by institutions other than universities
- Operation of interstate universities through an agent in the NT.
These approval arrangements ensure that the NT higher education sector achieves and maintains a high quality that is recognised nationally and internationally.
The Northern Territory Higher Education Act 2004 and Higher Education Regulations 2006 commenced on 27 September 2006.
All new universities, and new and existing non-university higher education providers operating in the NT and offering courses leading to Australian higher education qualifications, are subject to these approval arrangements.
Existing non-university higher education providers that wish to continue to provide higher education level courses in the NT after March 2008 must submit their accreditation application and pay the prescribed fee prior to assessment.
Further information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Flow chart (pdf 13Kb)
Useful links
- Higher Education Act 2004
- Higher Education Regulations 2006
- Guidelines for Higher Education approvals
- Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
- Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA)
- National Protocols and Guidelines for Higher Education Approval Processes
Contact
Enquiries and applications for higher education approvals in the NT can be made to:
|
Senior Policy Officer Higher Education Employment and Training Division Department of Employment, Education and Training GPO Box 4821 DARWIN NT 0801 |
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| Phone: | 08 8901 1311 |
| Fax: | 08 8901 1326 |
| Email: | HES.DEET@nt.gov.au |