TEQSA releases a first public report on where the risks are in higher education

After six years of reviewing HE providers the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency reports the not especially surprising finding that universities are low-risk on nearly all measures, but private providers, not so much.

On major indicators universities generally accounted for half or more institution considered safe, although having any publicly funded HE institution in moderate/high risk categories does not strike CMM as good.

Last year 88 per cent of universities were rated as low risk for students and the financial position of 83 per cent was considered low risk. In contrast, 77 per cent of private providers were assessed as moderate or high risk for students and the financial position of 56 per cent of them was scored high risk.

The same patterns apply generally across all 11 indicators.

But while universities are strong on finances and staffing all is not entirely well. TEQSA reports universities rated moderate risk on graduate satisfaction are growing, from 12 per cent in 2016 to 40 per cent last year.