What does the MOU between TEQSA and ASQA mean for your institution?

The intent of the MoU is to streamline regulatory processes and reduce duplication of administrative tasks for dual sector providers.

This 'harmonisation' as it is being referred to, will be overseen through the establishment of a Joint Oversight Committee (JSOC) and will facilitate inter-agency information sharing.

Ultimately, the JSOC will support the maturation of corporate and academic governance frameworks. This is the big win for the sector.

What do you need to consider?

If you are not a dual sector provider (HE & VET), then there is no impact for you.

But if you are dual sector the impact will likely be significant. In a good way. It may change how your institution renews its registration. Indeed, it will hopefully align renewal dates so that you only go through the process once every 5 to 7 years. Similar benefits will potentially apply for those dual sector providers with CRICOS.

Guidance from the regulators with respect to Threshold Standards and Standards for RTOs will be issued jointly. This will allow providers to align their practices better and reduce duplication and possible confusion in policies, procedures and reporting.

It will also allow for more effective and informed data collection within the institution through its self-assurance practices and stakeholder engagement including surveys.

Financial and Operational Impact

Financially, providers would be better off as they will be able to streamline processes, consolidate operational tasks and internal compliance.

It will mean however, that internal compliance staff will need to be fully across the 2 sectors, rather than specialising in one or the other.

External consultants will necessarily need to be dual actor specialists in order to provide the appropriate perspectives, insights and analysis.

How to Begin the Harmonisation Process

If you are a dual sector provider now is the time to begin the process of harmonising your institution.

First step in the process is to map the Threshold Standards and the Standard for RTOs against each other. Doing this from both directions will identify the greatest alignments and mismatches.

Second step is to do the same bi-directional mapping of your policies and procedures to identify duplications and non-alignments. It might be that some of the things you currently differently for the two sectors can be re-worked into a single compliant process.

Monitor and Record

Right now, the most important thing to do is monitor communications from both regulators and keeping a record of their considerations and varying positions about such matters as corporate governance, academic governance, data security, and the influence of generative artificial intelligence upon your operations.