Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) has welcomed the release of the final report of the Expert Panel for the Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

The announcement today that Avondale College has been admitted as a University College is an historic event for Avondale College and Australian independent higher education.

IHEA responded to the draft of the contract cheating bill that was released by the Department of Education for public comment. This is part of a series of actions the government is taking in response to the Higher Education Standards Panel’s advice about tackling contract cheating.

Mr Alan Finch, Deputy Vice chancellor, Bond University, has been elected as the new Chair of Independent Higher Education Australia (IHEA) following the retirement of long-term Chair, Dr Don Owers AM. Ms Gabriela Rodriguez, Deputy Group Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Academies Australasia Group, has been elected as the Deputy Chair.

Four urgent reforms are essential to give all Australian students equal access to education and equal opportunities to achieve their educational goals and aspirations.

The review of the Australian Qualifications Framework is examining whether the current AQF is fit for purpose and if not, what areas need reform to make it a more useful framework for the entire education system. It presents an opportunity for the sector to help to develop a clearer, more coherent and modernised AQF.

The Provider Category Standards Review is an opportunity to modernise Australia’s provider categories to be responsive and transparent to the needs of students and the community. IHEA’s submission recognises the quality of independent providers; develops opportunities for innovative University Colleges to be targeted at pedagogical excellence and student demand; and preserves the strength of research excellence at the core of a University title.

Navitas, one of the world’s leading education providers, has joined the membership of the Council of Private Higher Education (COPHE).

Read COPHE’s submission to the Senate Employment and Education Legislation Committee.

Alan Manly, founder and CEO of Group Colleges Australia, has penned a piece in October’s edition of Campus Review, explaining that the levels of student satisfaction are higher at independent providers than in government or publicly owned providers.