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Rise in RTOs seeking registration as higher education providers
Since the demise of the infamous VET FEE-HELP scheme, there has been a spike in vocational colleges applying to become higher education institutions.
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I am currently doing a crash course in just-for-profit education.
My university has recently linked up with a private provider to operate a new campus.
The private provider is now offering duplicates of our units and courses. They have been given access to our unit web pages and told to help themselves to all our teaching material. We do not get access to their unit web pages.
The private provider employs casual teachers at a significantly lower rate than we pay. They are told to read our lectures to the students, and not to deviate from our notes.
We have no say in who they employ, and it is apparent that some of the teachers have little idea of the subject matter nor ability to teach. We also have no opportunity to advise the students about their course or units.
Some students have come to me trying to transfer to the proper university. Despite being their the course advisor, I am not allowed to approve their applications. When I approached the provider to organise the transfer, they were well sort of co-operative.