Training regulator to target international education

Australia’s vocational education and training (VET) regulator will target international education as part of its regulatory strategy for the next 12 months.

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) will also continue to target the capability of trainers and assessors working in VET.

“International education - delivered in Australia and offshore - is one of Australia’s top service exports,” ASQA Chief Commissioner Mark Paterson said.

“This reflects Australia’s comparative advantage in offering high quality education outcomes and student experience.

“As a result we have seen a strong growth in the number of applications from training providers wanting to be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) during the past 12 months.

“ASQA collaborates with other relevant government agencies that share responsibility for monitoring and managing the international education sector to ensure students continue to receive high quality services and Australia’s reputation as a safe and quality destination is protected.”

Mr Paterson said ASQA would undertake a strategic review of VET and English language education delivery to overseas students. This will be done in collaboration with representatives of students, providers and other government agencies. Further details on the strategic review will be released shortly.

“As with previous strategic reviews, ASQA will publish a report of its findings including recommendations to address any emerging regulatory issues identified,” he said.

ASQA’s continued focus on the capability of trainers and assessors follows on from work commenced in July 2016.

“Despite ASQA’s increased scrutiny of providers offering qualifications from the Training and Education (TAE) training package during the past 12 months and a range of work undertaken by those organisations with shared responsibility for ensuring quality VET outcomes, ASQA’s latest environmental scan identified that stakeholders still hold significant concerns about the capability of trainers and assessors,” Mr Paterson said.

“Over the next 12 months ASQA will maintain the increased scrutiny on TAE training products and provide further education for providers to promote quality assessment practice.”

ASQA’s 2017-18 Regulatory Strategy is available for download below.