TEQSA Annual Report 2014-15

This report informs Senator the Hon. Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, the Parliament of Australia, the Australian higher education community and the general public about the performance of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA or the Agency) during the financial year ending 30 June 2015. Prepared according to parliamentary reporting requirements, the report describes TEQSA's achievements against the goals set out in TEQSA's 2014-15 Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) and Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements. It provides information on TEQSA's performance in relation to its stated outcome: [To] contribute to a high-quality higher education sector through streamlined and nationally consistent higher education regulatory arrangements; registration of higher education providers; accreditation of higher education courses; and investigation, quality assurance, and dissemination of higher education standards and performance. The following briefly describes the contents of this report: Section 1: Review by the Chief Commissioner--reflects on the past year, highlighting significant issues TEQSA has faced and initiatives it has undertaken, as well as the Chief Commissioner's perspective on current and future challenges. Section 2: Agency overview--provides information about TEQSA and its governance, its roles and functions, and organisational structure. Section 3: Performance review--reports on how TEQSA performed during the reporting period against its stated outcome (above) and the program framework contained in the 2014-15 Portfolio Budget Statements. Section 4: Management and accountability--provides information on corporate governance, external and internal accountability, human resource management, financial management, purchasing, consultants and contract management, legal services and other activities relevant to the administration of the Agency. Section 5: Financial report--presents audited financial statements for the year ending 30 June 2015. Section 6: Appendices--includes information relating to TEQSA's staffing and its performance in relation to Australian Government environmental, disability, freedom of information and financial management outcomes. Section 7: Indices and references--assists readers to locate and understand information in the annual report. The following are appended: (1) Summary of resources 110; (2) Staffing profile 112; (3) Freedom of information 113; (4) Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance 113; (5) Advertising and market research 113; (6) Workplace health and safety 114; (7) Complaints handling 114; (8) Disability reporting 115; and (9) Setting standards. A compliance index, a list of acronyms, and a glossary of terms are also included.