Professions Australia and Universities Australia, the national peak body of the 39 public universities, have signed the Joint Statement of Principles for Higher-Education Course Accreditation by Professional Organisations, a landmark agreement that will deliver greater clarity on the respective roles of universities and professional accreditation bodies to ensure graduates are best qualified for the professions they seek to enter.
Front L-R: Michael Catchpole, Prof Barney Glover
The formal signing took place at Universities Australia’s flagship annual conference, which brought together more than 800 senior leaders from the university sector, business, policy and politics. Our President Michael Catchpole and Chair of Universities Australia, Professor Barney Glover, signed the Joint Statement which streamlines and improves consistency in the professional accreditation of university courses – essential to ensuring that graduates from professional degrees are ready for entry into the workforce. The agreement clearly defines the role of professional accreditation and the respective responsibilities of universities and professional accreditation bodies.
Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said that the agreement between the two peak bodies would benefit both students and professionals. “Enhancing national consistency in accreditation standards and processes at the discipline level will help to improve graduate mobility between States,” she said. “Professional employers around the country will be able to be even more confident that all graduates meet their standards.”
Professions Australia (aka Australian Council of Professions – ACoP) Chief Executive Officer Liz Lang said that the Joint Statement will further improve the competencies and job-readiness of graduates for entry into professional practice. “Universities and professional accreditation bodies will contribute to graduate quality according to their strengths. For the professional accreditation bodies, it is a focus on the capabilities, knowledge, ethics and professional standards needed for entry to the profession – while universities will focus on providing the best, cutting-edge educational design and course delivery. The statement is also an excellent example of how universities and the professions can work together to successfully self-regulate” Ms Lang said.
The members of Professions Australia and Universities Australia place a high priority on pursuing initiatives to enhance quality within the professions and to increase the contribution the professions make to the broader community. While recognising that the overall professional higher education course accreditation process is a wider public good, Universities Australia and Professions Australia acknowledge that the immediate beneficiaries of robust professional accreditation processes are students and professionals.
Download the Joint Statement of Principles for Professional Accreditation here.
Read the joint Universities Australia and Professions Australia Press Release.
For more information on the Joint Statement and how you can use it in your organisation, please contact us on 1300 664 587 or CEO@Professions.org.au!