Bang on time as promised TEQSA announces the first HE institutions elevated under the new Higher Education Standards (CMM June 25)

On the first day the new standards apply the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency announced the results of applications.

Avondale steps up: What was Avondale University College becomes a university, the first since the SA Government legislated Torrens U in 2013.

Avondale’s elevation was widely expected with TEQSA chair Peter Coaldrake saying yesterday it, “recognises Avondale’s commitment to student outcomes, its significant research progress and contributions to the communities it serves.”

Avondale U describes itself as “an entity of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in the South Pacific” which “welcomes a growing number of students of other faith traditions.”  It teaches business, education, humanities, nursing and science and offers a ministry and theology programme designed for work in Seventh Day Adventist and “other Christian denominational churches.”

The university nominates “lifestyle medicine and health,” “Christian education,” “spirituality and worship” and “the scholarship of teaching and learning” as core research areas.

Their academic achievement is critical to Avondale U’s future. The new higher education standards set research minimums for universities to keep the title, (CMM April 15).

Avondale U has around 1200 students in 2019 at campuses on the NSW central coast and in Sydney.

Three new university colleges: One is the long-established National Institute of Dramatic Art, across the road from UNSW in Sydney’s east.

Another is the Australian Film, Television and Radio School a couple of kms from NIDA – no ambiguity about what is taught there.

And the third is the Moore Theological College, which states its vision is, “to see God glorified by men and women living for and proclaiming Jesus Christ.”  Also pretty clear.