The Sydney based institute has been upgraded to 'University College' status placing it alongside NIDA, AFTRS and ACAP.
Excelsia College in Sydney is celebrating TEQSA’s decision this month to approve its registration as a ‘University College’.
The TEQSA Commission gave Excelsia the green light on November 6th, upgrading the college from its previous ‘Institute of Higher Education’ status.
TEQSA (the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) is the national authority overseeing the regulation and quality assurance of higher education providers in Australia.
University Colleges sit just below the ‘Australian University’ category, and Excelsia’s new classification places it alongside other prestigious institutions such as:
- The National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA)
- The Australian College of Applied Professions
- The Australian Film, Television and Radio School (AFTRS)
Meeting High Standards
To gain University College status, institutions need to meet some stringent requirements, including:
- competent governance oversight,
- robust processes for the quality assurance of its courses,
- strong civic responsibility,
- ongoing commitment to fostering a scholarly, productive and safe environment for students and staff,
- and diligence in the development, review and improvement of its policies and procedures.
40 Years in Education
Excelsia was birthed by Wesley Mission in 1983 as the Wesley Institute. It began offering higher education in 1991, and was renamed Excelsia College in 2015. Today it offers higher education programs in business, creative and performing arts, education and counselling.
The University College category in which it now sits, was established in July 2021, and currently has nine providers offering a diverse range of courses in fields such as education, creative arts, health and society & culture.
TEQSA’s acting chief commissioner Adrienne Nieuwenhuis congratulated Excelsia on achieving its registration.
“The University College category recognises mature providers with strong academic processes and student outcomes, and who engage with industry, the professions and the community,” she said.