Accreditation summary template

National summary statement about the accreditation process

The accreditation process involves a rigorous assessment of an initial teacher education (ITE) program against a set of nationally agreed standards. Accreditation standards and procedures are designed to ensure that all graduates of ITE meet the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers at the Graduate career stage. This ensures the program is of high quality and prepares pre-service teachers for the teaching profession. The process also includes an assessment of a provider’s quality assurance and continuous improvement mechanisms, as well as ensuring that the provider has a nationally endorsed teaching performance assessment which all graduates must successfully complete.

In Queensland, each program is assessed by a panel of nationally trained assessors that includes school leaders, employers, practising teachers and higher education representatives. A mandatory site visit involving forums with school partners, graduates, ITE students and the teaching staff of the ITE program is embedded in Queensland reaccreditation processes. Panels make a recommendation to the QCT’s Professional Standards Committee, which holds responsibility for granting accreditation and determines the length of the accreditation period. A maximum of five years accreditation may be granted.

More information on the accreditation process may be found at: www.aitsl.edu.au/deliver-ite-programs/standards-and-procedures.

Jurisdiction QLD
Provider University of the Sunshine Coast
Program title Master of Teaching (Primary)
Program type Postgraduate
Program duration in equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) 2 years
Minimum program duration 2 years
Stage of schooling Primary
Mode(s) of delivery On Campus / Online
Campus location(s) Sunshine Coast
Date of current accreditation 7/10/2022
Accreditation outcome* Five-year accreditation period was approved
Accreditation expiry date (optional) 31/12/2027
Quality assurance processes in place

Quality assurance data collection processes include, but are not limited to:

  • Quality Teacher Performance Assessment (QTPA) data
  • QPERF cohort data
  • QPERF supervisor teacher comments
  • Attrition, retention and progression data
  • Student feedback on Coast to Country experience
  • QILT data
  • LANTITE
  • Employer satisfaction survey

Program description and rationale

To graduate with a Master of Teaching (Primary) students are required to complete 17 units, including curriculum knowledge, pedagogical content knowledge and effective classroom teaching in their area of specialisation. Students will be eligible to enter the program if they satisfy discipline knowledge requirements in an undergraduate degree from a recognised institution.

The Master of Teaching (Primary) includes 60 days of supervised professional experience in primary schools.

For further information including entry requirements and career opportunities, please visit: Master of Teaching (Primary).

University of the Sunshine Coast graduates have successfully passed the national literacy and numeracy test (LANTITE), the final Queensland Professional Experience Reporting Framework (QPERF); and the Quality Teaching Performance Assessment (QTPA).  

* Nationally accredited ITE programs delivered in Queensland are subject to ongoing monitoring, including:

  • submission of an annual report on the operation of the program
  • prior approval of any significant changes to the program
  • employment of only registered teachers to supervise or assess the work of a preservice teacher in a prescribed school.