Review - Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research

In the case of Germany, the training organisations do not have to be registered unless they are
undertaking programs for the Federal Employment Agency.
In Ontario, providers who provide training of less than 40 hours or cost less than $1000 for a student
to enrol are not required to be registered with the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
There are some other exceptions such as single skill training (that is, not a whole occupational
outcome), those delivered to a corporate or third party, and a few specific national occupation groups.
For New Zealand, private training organisations are required to be registered if they wish to:
• receive government funding through Vote: Education
• enrol international students
• access standards on the national framework.
In Singapore, any organisation wishing to deliver programs under the WSQ system needs to be
formally recognised as an approved training organisation, and may also need to be registered with the
Ministry of Education if they are delivering school-type programs and issue foreign institutions'
qualifications.
In the England, Wales and Northern Ireland the regulatory arrangements apply to organisations that
operate within, and the qualifications that are accredited into, the qualifications and curriculum
framework (QCF).
In Scotland, the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) Accreditation, which is an autonomous arm
of SQA, has the statutory role of approving awarding bodies, including SQA, to offer specific Scottish
vocational qualifications. It is also responsible for approving centres, such as:
• private training providers whose sole purpose is the delivery of training and the assessment of
candidates
• private and public sector companies who offer training to their employees
• other organisations, including those outside Scotland, who wish to offer SQA qualifications.
In Australia, all VET training organisations need to be registered if they wish to provide educational
services and issue statements of attainment and qualifications in any programs that fall under the
AQF.
Approach
The greatest variation in terms of gate keeping processes is the approach or areas scrutinised for
approval purposes.
The AQTF 2007 Essential Standards for example, focuses on the continuous improvement processes
to be employed, and on teaching learning and assessment services to be provided. The focus on
business processes and viability is not high, even though the conditions of registration are to be met.
On the other hand other systems, such as Ontario’s in relation to private training organisations, have
an approach that is focused more on consumer protection such as:
• insurance (public liability)
• trust account for international student fees
• college administration and record keeping (student contracts, student transcripts, student
complaint procedures, record keeping procedures)
• keeping the ministry informed (substantial changes to approved programs, changes to student
complaint procedures, changes in ownership)
• instructors
• marketing requirements
• admission requirements
Comparisons of international quality assurance in vocational education and training Page 30 of 115