AAPNG Facility For completion by tasked through this October 2017 Recommendation 2 Agree management response to review That the current level of the current level of stipend paid to awardees stipends and other be reviewed to ensure entitlements for consistency across discussion with courses and Tertiary AHC. Education Providers (TEPs) and comparability with the experience and expectations of non-In country Scholarship (ICS) holders. Recommendation Response Explanation Action plan Timeframe Agree to the Appropriate Partners principle of providing identified by partnership Recommendation 3 Agree scholarships at well November 2017 arrangements for performing That future scholarships the 2018 intake. institutions and be targeted at a smaller other workforce number of awardees in a areas that support fewer number TEPs in Australia and PNG each workforce area, while strategic interests pursuing opportunities to and investments. extend to other workforce areas. Recommendation Response Explanation Action plan Timeframe AAPNG Facility will Recommendation 4 Agree Report by March continue to work 2018 That a closer relationship with PNG be developed between Government the ICS program and counterparts to existing PNG quality align Australia assurance and Awards accreditation frameworks assessments with and their administering improved bodies to align TEP accreditation selection and monitoring frameworks. with external quality assurance assessment.
Recommendation 2 That the current level of stipend paid to awardees be reviewed to ensure consistency across courses and Tertiary Education Providers (TEPs) and comparability with the experience and expectations of non-In country Scholarship (ICS) holders. Agree AAPNG Facility tasked through this management response to review the current level of stipends and other entitlements for discussion with AHC. For completion by October 2017 Recommendation Response Explanation Action plan Timeframe Recommendation 3 That future scholarships be targeted at a smaller number of awardees in a fewer number TEPs in each workforce area, while pursuing opportunities to extend to other workforce areas. Agree Agree to the principle of providing scholarships at well performing institutions and other workforce areas that support Australia and PNG strategic interests and investments. Appropriate partnership arrangements for the 2018 intake. Partners identified by November 2017 Recommendation Response Explanation Action plan Timeframe Recommendation 4 That a closer relationship be developed between the ICS program and existing PNG quality assurance and accreditation frameworks and their administering bodies to align TEP selection and monitoring with external quality assurance assessment. Agree AAPNG Facility will continue to work with PNG Government counterparts to align Australia Awards assessments with improved accreditation frameworks. Report by March 2018