April 16, 2018

UOW registration renewal approved by TEQSA

Regulator impressed by performance, staff, integrity & indigenous participation

Australia’s higher education regulator has renewed the University of Wollongong’s (UOW) registration as an accredited Australian university, praising the institution for its quality assurance performance, its staff, and its commitment to Indigenous participation.

The Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) officially released its registration renewal assessment on Friday, 13 April, confirming UOW’s accreditation for the maximum allowable period of seven years to 2025 - without conditions.

The renewal is the culmination of two years’ work by staff across the University preparing for TEQSA’s comprehensive review and assessment process which covered almost every aspect of the institution’s activities - from teaching, learning and research through to governance, administration and student support services.

UOW is one of the first Australian universities to complete an assessment under the new higher education standards, which were established in 2015 and came into effect in 2017.
In handing down its decision, TEQSA said the University demonstrated “strong performance and reputation as a provider of high quality teaching and learning” along with “a strong research culture, led by appropriately qualified and experienced staff, resulting in a strong record of research activity in all faculties”.

The higher education regulator also acknowledged the University’s commitment to “maintaining academic and research integrity” and to increasing participation of Indigenous students in higher education, making particular reference to UOW’s well-targeted student support services for being responsive to individual student needs.

TEQSA noted UOW’s “robust quality assurance processes that ensure education quality is maintained in partnerships with onshore and offshore entities” as well as its high standards of record keeping.

UOW Vice-Chancellor, Professor Paul Wellings CBE, praised and thanked University staff for their massive effort pulling together documentation for their first assessment under the new standards and achieving such success.

“Our accrediting authority’s comments affirm the work UOW academics do every day providing quality education characterised by a personalised approach to students and conducting high-impact research – all done with a steadfast commitment to academic and research integrity.

“Acknowledgement of our robust policies, procedures and record keeping recognises the contribution our professional staff make to ensuring UOW is a well-governed public institution in which our Australian and international students and partners can have confidence,” Professor Wellings said.

TEQSA’s renewal decision is available on the National Register at www.teqsa.gov.au/national-register.