Mission and Governance

Learners, employers and partners place trust in an organisation before they place trust in any single program. This standard asks whether it is clear who runs the institution, what it exists to do, and how its decisions are made and checked.

What HCDE expects

• A written mission that says who the institution serves and what it offers, and that the institution actually acts on.
• Legal status and ownership that are documented and can be disclosed to HCDE and, where relevant, to the public.
• A governing body or accountable owner with defined responsibilities, separate from day-to-day management.
• Rules on conflicts of interest that cover owners, governors, managers and staff.
• Honest public information: names, locations, awarding arrangements and approvals are stated accurately and kept current.
• Financial arrangements that let the institution keep its commitments to learners, including a plan for learners if a program is withdrawn.

Evidence reviewers look for

• Registration or incorporation documents and a statement of ownership
• Governance charter, terms of reference and a summary of recent decisions
• Organisation chart showing who is accountable for academic matters
• Conflict-of-interest register and the policy behind it
• Published statements about approvals, partners and awarding arrangements
• Financial summary and arrangements for learners if a program ends (teach-out)

Questions a reviewer may ask

• Who is ultimately accountable for the institution's academic decisions?
• What happens to enrolled learners if a program is withdrawn or the institution closes?
• Where does the institution state who owns it, and is that statement complete?