Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015 -- TEQSA Contextual Overview. Version 1.1

The Commonwealth Minister for Education and Training has made new national standards for higher education in Australia -- the "Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015" (HES Framework). The new HES Framework will apply for regulatory purposes from 1 January 2017. From this date, all providers of higher education in or from Australia must meet and continue to meet the requirements of the new HES Framework. The purpose of this overview is to summarise the intent of the new HES Framework in plain language and to outline some key aspects of TEQSA's approach to regulation against the new Standards. A general overview of the regulatory implications of application of the new HES Framework is given, linked to specific discussion of the seven 'Domains' of the Standards within the HES Framework. The application guides and guidance notes will provide further information on TEQSA's requirements for regulatory assessments and TEQSA's differentiated model of assessment (known as 'core+'), as well as TEQSA's interpretations of the Standards within the HES Framework.