Higher Education
Higher education refers to the provision of courses which lead to a tertiary qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework. These qualifications include a higher education Diploma, higher education Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Master Degree and Doctorate.
The qualifications are delivered by higher education providers, which have undertaken an approval process for registration as a higher education institution and have received accreditation for the delivery of their courses. In the ACT, there are two types of higher education provider – universities , which are self-accrediting institutions, and non self-accrediting higher education institutions.
The ACT Accreditation and Registration Council (ARC) is primarily responsible for the registration of non self-accrediting higher education institutions and the accreditation of their courses within the Australian Capital Territory. These higher education providers operate outside the university sector and cannot self-accredit the courses they offer, but rely on meeting the requirements under the National Protocols for Higher Education and the National Guidelines, which accompany the National Protocols, for registration and accreditation with ACT ARC. A non self-accrediting higher education institution, which seeks to provide higher education courses in the ACT, must seek registration with ACT ARC as a higher education institution and course accreditation for each of the higher education courses it offers.
National Protocols for Higher Education
The National Protocols and Guidelines for Higher Education Approval Processes are important components of the national quality assurance framework for Australian higher education. The National Protocols assure both national and international students and the community that higher education institutions in Australia have met set requirements and criteria under an approval process. The Australian Capital Territory’s Training and Tertiary Education Act 2003 is the government regulation that supports the implementation of the National Protocols and Guidelines.
Registration of Higher Education Providers
Organisations seeking to operate as a higher education institution in the ACT should follow the Registration Process. This process applies to a new institution or for an institution new to higher education delivery. For new institutions, registration and accreditation may also be initiated simultaneously.
Accreditation of Higher Education Courses
Organisations seeking to provide higher education courses in the ACT should follow an Accreditation Process. The National Protocols also allow course accreditation to be initiated at a different time from registration, when an institution is already registered and is seeking accreditation of one or more new, additional courses.
Further Links:
Higher Education Providers in the ACT
Universities:
- The Australian National University
- The University of Canberra
- The Australian Defence Force Academy
- The Signadou campus of the Australian Catholic University
- St Mark’s National Theological Centre (partnered with Charles Sturt University)
Higher Education Providers outside the university sector:
- Canberra Institute of Technology
- NSW College of Law
- Blue Mountains International Hotel Management School Pty Ltd trading as Australian International Hotel School
- Australian Defence College
- Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia
Courses accredited by ACT ARC, for delivery by non self-accrediting higher education providers, are listed in the Higher Education Register
