Australia’s tertiary regulator has recognised Moore Theological College by registering it in the new “university college” category.
The chief commissioner of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), Professor Peter Coaldrake, says the category “recognises high-quality institutions and provides them with new opportunities to develop course offerings that meet the future needs of students, employers, industry and communities. The updated standards also include augmented research requirements for universities”.
Moore College is one of the first providers to be registered in the new university college category, along with the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) at Kensington and the Australian Film Television and Radio School (AFTRS) at Moore Park.
“Each of these providers demonstrated to TEQSA that they offer high-quality higher education and meet the standards for registration as university colleges,” Professor Coaldrake said.
Simon Finn, CEO of Independent Higher Education Australia, described the classification for Moore as “recognition of 150 years of delivering high-quality teaching and research in divinity and theology. Achieving university college status is a great outcome for Moore as they are one of only three foundation entrants to the newly designed university college category.”
The registration as a university college runs until a review in 2028.
College principal, the Rev Dr Mark Thompson, said, “The higher education landscape in Australia is changing and there is an appropriate concern to maintain and increase the quality of the education experience for students.
“Moore College is committed to serving our students with an excellent theological education, which equips them well for Christian ministry in a wide variety of contexts. The announcement from TEQSA is an encouragement to keep doing that and to do it even better. We have every reason to thank God for this development.”
