ASQA’s regulatory risk priorities for 2024-25 focus on safeguarding the quality of education for international students and maintaining the sector’s integrity.
Addressing Non-Genuine Providers
ASQA’s latest environmental scan revealed concerning trends among some CRICOS providers, including:
- Visa fraud by not enforcing class attendance or progression requirements.
- Academic cheating to quickly meet assessment standards.
These unscrupulous practices not only degrade the quality of education but also place international students at risk. Eliminating these non-genuine providers is now a top priority for ASQA.
ASQA’s Strategy to Maintain Standards
Recent legislative changes have empowered ASQA to take more robust actions to maintain the quality and integrity of the VET sector. These include:
- Investing in the Integrity Unit to enhance training quality for international students.
- Establishing a tip-off line to detect and address illegal activities by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).
- Upgrading digital and data systems to support regulatory actions.
The Integrity Unit plays a crucial role in identifying and shutting down ‘ghost colleges’—institutions that do not require student attendance and issue fraudulent qualifications. ASQA’s proactive measures include compliance blitzes, unannounced site visits, monitoring student visa conditions, and issuing penalties for non-compliance.
Key Areas of Focus
To ensure compliance and uphold educational standards, RTOs must focus on several critical areas:
- Fit and Proper Person requirements to ensure responsible management.
- Student attendance and delivery locations to verify legitimate operations.
- Student recruitment practices and agent management to prevent unethical behaviour.
- Financial viability and marketing practices to ensure transparency and honesty.
Staying Proactive and Vigilant
Given the increasing risks posed by non-genuine CRICOS providers, it is essential for RTOs to remain vigilant and proactive. By understanding ASQA’s regulatory priorities for 2024-25 and implementing robust compliance measures, RTOs can protect their integrity and continue providing high-quality education to international students.
For more insights on navigating these challenges, read Navigating Education Reforms in Australia and Their Impact on CRICOS RTOs.
