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Please note this explanatory guide applies to the National Code 2017 and will not apply after 1 January 2018. Factsheets on the National Code 2018 are available here.
Frequently asked questions on this page:
The staff of registered providers are suitably qualified or experienced in relation to the functions they perform for students. The educational resources of registered providers support the delivery of courses to students. The premises of registered providers, including the floor space available for each student, support students to achieve their course outcomes.
This standard ensures providers have suitable staff, educational resources and premises to educate overseas students. The provision of staff and services are to accord with existing quality assurance frameworks that apply to the course or, where none exist, providers must have appropriate policies and procedures of their own.
Key requirements
Compliance tips
For a provider to show it is complying with Standard 14, it may need some of the following as evidence:
14.1
The registered provider must have and implement policies and procedures to ensure its staffing resources are adequate and have the capabilities as required by the quality assurance framework applying to the course. Where the course provided by the registered provider is not subject to an appropriate quality assurance framework, the registered provider must have and implement appropriate documented policies and processes for the recruitment, induction, performance assessment and ongoing development of members of staff involved with the recruitment or delivery of education or client services to students.
14.2
The registered provider must have adequate education resources, including facilities, equipment, learning and library resources and premises as required by the quality assurance framework applying to the course. Where the course provided by the registered provider is not subject to an appropriate quality assurance framework, the registered provider must ensure it has adequate education resources, including facilities, equipment, learning and library resources, and premises, including ownership or tenancy arrangements for the premises, as are needed to deliver the registered course to the students enrolled with the registered provider.
14.3
The registered provider must notify the designated authority and the students enrolled with the registered provider of any intention to relocate premises (including the head office and campus locations) at least 20 working days before the relocation.
Q
What are the quality assurance frameworks applying to courses in the different sectors?
A
Schools: The schools sector includes government and non-government institutions. Non-government schools must meet the criteria established by legislation in the relevant state or territory in order to be registered. Registration requirements can vary across states and territories, but all requirements focus on the essential elements of appropriate facilities, teaching staff, courses of study and numbers of students.
A statutory body in each state and territory has responsibility for issuing and assuring the quality of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) school qualification. The AQF was developed through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) process and is a key national policy instrument to protect the quality of Australian education and training.
English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS):
Vocational Education and Training (VET): VET quality arrangements are known as the National Training Framework, which comprise the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF) and endorsed national industry Training Packages.
The AQTF has national standards for the registration and auditing of training organisations and accreditation of courses. They apply to all training organisations delivering and assessing nationally recognised training, and issuing national qualifications and to registering/course accrediting bodies that audit and register these training organisations.
Higher education: Courses leading to Australian higher education qualifications can be offered by both self-accrediting and non self-accrediting institutions. Non self-accrediting institutions must have their courses approved by state and territory accrediting authorities. The National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes (National Protocols) and supporting legislation are a key element of the national quality assurance framework for higher education. The sector is also protected by independent audits of self-accrediting institutions and accrediting authorities by the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA).
The revised National Protocols are due to be implemented from 31 December 2007 pending legislative change in the Commonwealth and all the states and territories. The current set of National Protocols remain in force until then.
What is meant by ‘adequate resources’ in 14.2?
The provider must have and maintain such educational resources, including facilities, equipment and learning and library resources, as are needed to deliver the registered courses to overseas students enrolled with the provider. The resources will assist the overseas student to achieve a satisfactory outcome in the course in which he or she is enrolled.
Providers must have the facilities to deliver the courses they offer. This includes staff, facilities equipment, training and assessment materials required to provide the training. It also includes assessment services within the provider’s scope of registration and scale of operations to accommodate student numbers, student needs, delivery methods and assessment requirements.
The facilities and resources needed for particular courses are a matter of judgement for providers, with reference to the quality assurance framework and the requirements of designated authorities.
A provider may show that it has ‘adequate’ resources in a number of ways, such as:
Under Standard 14.2, is it mandatory for RTO’s to have library resources for students? Standard 14.2 states the registered provider should have adequate training facilities including library resources as required by the quality assurance framework. The training packages we deliver do not require a library as a part of the resources for the students. Must we get one to be compliant?
(Applies only to Victorian providers) The Victorian Qualifications Authority states that if the delivery relates to a VET qualification, the AQTF 2007 Essential Standards for Registration requires staff, facilities, equipment and training and assessment materials to be consistent with the requirements of the Training Package or accredited course.
The AQTF Essential Standards also apply to the RTO’s training and assessment strategies and require the RTO to ensure learners receive training, assessment and support services that meet their individual needs.
There is no fixed requirement for library resources under the Essential Standards. It depends on the specific qualifications being delivered and whether the Essential Standards are being met in an appropriate fashion. Anyone auditing the RTO would expect to see appropriate and adequate resources for delivery of the qualifications and be available to the students.
The key words under the National Code Standard 14.2 are ‘as required by the quality assurance framework applying to the course’. If the RTO meets the above requirements then they would be meeting the requirements of the National Code 2007.
Could you please provide any reference/s in the ESOS Act that stipulate how many 'square metres per student' is required?
The National Code 2001 Section C paragraph 18 stipulated an amount for student space and facilities. While the National Code 2007 no longer states the details of what is required, providers must still ensure that their resources and premises are sufficient to support students to achieve their course outcomes.
Providers must comply with Standard 14.2 of the National Code 2007. The National Code Explanatory Guide has further details.
Standard
National Code
ESOS Act
Other
14
Part C
For further information about this Standard, please visit the Australian Education International, the Department of Education and Department of Immigration and Border Protection websites.