COPHE made this submission to the Department of Education and Training on proposed changes to the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007.

COPHE endorses the Admissions Transparency Implementation Working Group’s (IWG) process but at this stage, as a peak representative body for private providers, cannot endorse the Plan itself.

In response to ‘Driving Innovation, Fairness and Excellence in Australian Higher Education’, COPHE agrees that “a strong higher education system benefits everyone” (P2 ) but to do this, it must meet the needs of all its students, including those in the private sector.

COPHE welcomes the opportunity to participate in this inquiry as there are constraints on competition arising from inconsistencies in public policy in the higher education sector that have been identified but not yet addressed.

COPHE endorses all of the Principles set out in the Discussion Paper with the exception of the proposal (at Principle 7) that a single online platform be created to provide a guide to admissions policies. This may impede other, possibly more elegant ways, of providing admissions transparency.

COPHE broadly supported the changes, clarifications and simplifications, with one main exception. It also noted progress on the IEAA DET on the agent project to develop a Code of Ethics and a national accreditation and registration scheme for education agents.

Submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015 and the Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015.

We welcome the Review of Research Policy and Funding Arrangements for Higher Education and the opportunity to make a submission. The Review of Research Policy and Funding for Higher Education should take into account all opportunities for encouraging quality research and research training in the sector and not ignore capacity and opportunity in the private sector.

Points submitted in August via set template re:proposed Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015 and Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment (Streamlining Regulation) Bill 2015.

The private sector in higher education is recognized for the quality of student outcomes from a diverse range of smaller institutions that focus on the quality of teaching. The diversity is also evident in the provision of international education. For COPHE, seeking policy that encourages all students to be global citizens is a priority.