|
On 2 July, English Australia sent an update to member colleges regarding an announcement sent out through PRISMS regarding the commencement of ASQA and TEQSA as delegated authorities under ESOS.
Whilst this notice was primarily intended to notify providers of the handover of ESOS responsibilities from DIISRTE to ASQA/TEQSA, 1 July was also the date when TEQSA took responsibility for Foundation Programs and certain ELICOS providers.
“ASQA will have responsibility for regulating ELICOS courses delivered by an RTO and a ‘stand-alone’ ELICOS provider except:
- where delivered in the capacity of a school, in which case the relevant state body will be the designated authority or
- a higher education provider or where delivered in a pathway arrangement* with at least one higher education provider, in which case TEQSA will be the regulator.
* (pathway arrangement: under which an overseas student, who completes an ELICOS program with the provider, meets the minimum English proficiency requirements for entry with the higher education provider to study a higher education course or Foundation program).”
Last Thursday, English Australia’s Executive Director Sue Blundell, along with two Council members Ann Wright and Nicola Gray, met with three staff from TEQSA (including Chief Commissioner Carol Nicoll) and two staff from ASQA (including Chief Commissioner Chris Robinson.
The primary purpose of the meeting was to bring clarity to the process for regulating the ELICOS sector and to the information that is made available to ELICOS providers.
The meeting was very productive and was the first of what will now be regular meetings of English Australia, ASQA and TEQSA to discuss specific ELICOS sector issues and to drive consistency across the regulatory activities of both agencies as they apply to the ELICOS sector. ACPET will also be invited to attend future meetings.
The next step will be for ASQA and TEQSA to send a joint letter to each CRICOS registered ELICOS provider, seeking further information on any pathways to higher education that you may have, and to confirm who will be your regulator for ELICOS purposes.
Member colleges should not hesitate to contact the Secretariat if they experience any issues in their dealings with either ASQA or TEQSA.
|
