Sydney, Australia
Australia has gained its first Pentecostal higher education institution after Alphacrucis College was granted ‘University College’ status by the national tertiary accrediting body Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
The decision by TEQSA in late January was described by Alphacrucis College President, Professor Stephen Fogarty, as “the fulfilment of a vision that began over 70 years ago”.
A gathering in Alphacrucis College’s Sydney chapel. PICTURE: Courtesy of Alphacrucis College.
Vice President David Perry told Sight the decision will enhance Alphacrucis’ reputation nationally and internationally, as well as allow it to develop new partnerships in schools, industry and vocational training.
“TEQSA itself acknowledges the category is really reserved for superior quality education providers and so, to be recognised in that way does enhance reputation,” Perry said. “I guess we’ve always thought that we had great courses; we’ve always thought that we did a really good job with students and in fact generally our student feedback data bears that out really strongly, but to have the national regulator come out and recognise you with a category status that is reserved for superior quality institutions…[that] will carry some weight.”
Practically, he said that possibly meant greater opportunities for partnerships, with schools, other colleges, churches, and NGOs, and perhaps making Alphacrucis a more attractive option for students. Alphacrucis started as a small Bible college in 1948.
It now has roughly 4,000 students, from campuses across Australia and in Auckland, New Zealand, studying courses in theology, education and business, and hosts six research centres.
Fogarty said in a statement the Alphacrucis College has a vision to become a global Christian university, “transforming neighbourhoods and nations” and the awarding of its higher status meant it was “one step closer towards that goal”.
Perry said there is a strong Pentecostal community in the Pacific region, but no local Pentecostal-specific institution where students could qualify, and anecdotal evidence suggested America had been a popular option up until now.
“Really we see our mission as reaching as many people as we can and [the University status] will create an opportunity for that to happen,” he said.
There are no plans for immediate change for the mission-driven, not- for-profit institution, but Perry said the university status would allow it access to “a totally different funding regime”, with hopes that students would now be able to access Commonwealth-supported places (where the Federal Government funds part of their study).
“That’s something we will be lobbying for,” Perry said.
