In the ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) annual report 2016_2017 it is noted that ASQA has cancelled or refused to renew the registration of around 500 providers since 2011.
2017 has seen an 81 % increase in the number of cancellations, from 69 in 2015–16 to 125 in 2016–17. More detailed information can be found on the ASQA website with a specific break down of its decisions for the year, 2017, as follows:
· Cancellation (125)
· Condition/s (77)
· Other sanctions (14)
· Renewal rejection (16)
· Suspension (16)
What is this data telling us?
DATA and REPORTING
In 2016–17, there has also been an increase of more than 270 % in suspensions (from 15 in 2015–16 to 56 in 2016–17).
'These suspensions were largely a result of providers’ (aka RTO’s) non-compliance with reporting requirements and financial obligations' as stipulated in the National Vocational Standards for RTO’s.
Each registered training organisation (RTO) is required to submit data of its Total VET Activity (TVA) conducted in the previous calendar year and a declaration on its compliance with the Standards for RTOs each year. The deadline to provide each was 31 March 2017. In Oct 2017, 8 if these included an outcome of the RTO’s Registration was cancelled for not reporting annual declaration on compliance alone. Just knowing and understanding the standards and the obligations of being an RTO can have a significant impact on whether the RTO is in business or not.
CAPABILITY of VET trainers and assessors
ASQA have identified, in the ASQA Regulatory Strategy for 2017_18, that Trainer and Assessor capability “is a significant issue as the quality of assessment that trainers and assessors deliver directly affects the quality of VET outcomes”. This statement has 2 issues in it:
the capability of the VET workforce, but also
the understanding of quality assessment.
To action these concerns there is the endorsement of the new TAE package in Feb 2016 which also included enhancements of a mandatory unit on designing and developing assessment tools, and a requirement for independent validation of the RTO’s assessment system, tools, processes and outcomes and the increase in scrutiny of providers seeking the TAE on scope of registration.
UNDULY SHORT TRAINING
ASQA provided a strategic review report of course duration in which “More than a quarter of the 11,677 advertisements reviewed on ASQA-regulated RTOs’ websites that advertised duration for training package qualifications have a course duration below the minimum of the Australian Quality Framework (AQF) volume of learning range.” This report also noted that from the committee’s reviews of other countries identified that the use of external expertise during assessment, validation or moderation processes regulated the quality outcomes and the specific duration of training program ensured learners were achieving the learning outcomes specified in the standards. On ASQA’s FAQ page there is a number of questions and answers regarding measurement of the amount of training and short course issues.
The AQF provides a guide to the volume of learning, which describes how long a learner* would take to develop all the required skills and knowledge. The amount of training provided by an RTO is part of the overall volume of learning and relates primarily to formal activities including classes and other activities as well as workplace learning.
These activities can include:
all teaching and learning activities such as guided learning (classes, lectures, tutorials, online or self-paced study),
individual study,
research,
learning activities in the workplace and
assessment activities.
All RTO’s are required to comply with the AQF in applying the volume of learning. This is to be included in the development and implementation of training and assessment strategies that are consistent with the AQF.
* who does not hold any of the competencies identified in the relevant units of competency or modules
What’s to come
ASQA has provided a Regulatory Strategy for 2017_18 which identify its target areas as well as its predictions for the next year. The next 12 months will see ASQA targeting international education and the capability of trainers and assessors working in VET particularly - increased scrutiny on TAE training products and provide further education for providers to promote quality assessment practice.
ASQA are also predicting the following, with an assumption of a high likelihood of RTOs failing to meet the following standards:
·providing an adequate amount of training
·developing appropriate and compliant training and assessment strategies
·developing appropriate and compliant assessment tools and materials, and
·demonstrating how validation has contributed to training and assessment.
Will your RTO be one of them? What action are you taking to ensure that your RTO is producing quality outcomes and competent students?
