Claims extracted
23
sentences that state something as happening or true
Uncertain
4%
1 of 23 hedged
("reportedly", "may", "according to")
Leaning
not political
takes no side on a contested political question
Publisher signals
68/100
ABC News (AU)'s corrections and
hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.
Outlets on this story
1
Education
Same framing elsewhere
1
articles that frame the event the way this one does
In short:
The University of Newcastle has settled a class action which alleged it engaged in misleading and deceptive conduct for running a degree without industry accreditation.
asserted
it → settle → accreditation
The 163 plaintiffs who studied a Bachelor of Medical Engineering (honors) were awarded $7.55 million in the court settlement .
asserted
who → study → settlement
Students from the University of Newcastle have claimed victory in a class action lawsuit against the university, which will see 163 students receive a share of the $7.55 million settlement.
asserted
students → claim → settlement
Students who undertook a Bachelor of Medical Engineering (honors) in 2018 and 2019 took the university to New South Wales Supreme Court claiming they had engaged in misleading conduct by suggesting the course was accredited.
asserted
course → undertake → conduct
Lead plaintiff Andreas Sklavos, who launched the class action in February last year, said he was relieved the university had settled during mediation after "years of disappointment and stress".
asserted
university → launch → disappointment
The 28-year-old undertook an extra year of study to become accredited with Engineering Australia and was left with a $55,000 HECS debt.
asserted
old → undertake → debt
Outside court, Mr Sklavos spoke about the impact the lack of accreditation had on students' lives.
asserted
lack → speak → lives
"[It] feels very good.
asserted
It → feel → ?
I'm glad that they recognised everything and that they were apologising for what has happened and putting their best foot forward moving forward."
asserted
what → recognise → foot
The University of Newcastle has since achieved full accreditation for the course, with accreditation retrospectively applied to students who commenced the program from 2020.
asserted
who → achieve → 2020
In court the university acknowledged that accreditation for the course was not a prerequisite but may be important for some students.
uncertain
accreditation → acknowledge → students
In a statement, the university said they were "offering support and assistance to students who commenced the program prior to 2020 to pursue professional accreditation".
asserted
who → say → accreditation
The class action involved students from 2018 and 2019 who believed the degree was accredited by the professional body and they would be able to work abroad.
asserted
they → involve → body
However, an email in 2020 from the University of Newcastle revealed that wasn't the case.
asserted
that → reveal → Newcastle
"An error was made in the information posted on the website about professional recognition," it said.
asserted
it → make → recognition
The University of Newcastle originally denied negligence and defended running unaccredited degrees claiming the website spelled out the university was "seeking" accreditation from Engineering Australia.
asserted
university → deny → Australia
The multi-million-dollar settlement comes after a string of class actions against universities where students have claimed damages for unaccredited degrees.
asserted
students → come → degrees
Duke Myrteza from Australian Law Partners represented the students and said the result was a great outcome.
He said he was "very happy for the students now the matter has been resolved".
asserted
matter → represent → students
The firm achieved a separate settlement for students from James Cook University in 2023, alleging their financial services major was unaccredited.
asserted
major → achieve → 2023
Australian Law Partners are currently engaged in two separate class actions alleging unaccredited courses against Western Sydney University and the International College of Management Sydney.
asserted
Partners → engage → Sydney
"There are a number of standards that universities must uphold in terms of what online material they promote degrees or other courses by and certainly the recent litigation underlines the importance that universities comply with those standards so students aren't misled."
asserted
students → be → standards
Mr Sklavos said he is now ready to step forward in his career after feeling like he was falling behind his peers but warned students to be vigilant when choosing a degree.
asserted
he → say → degree
"My warning to anyone looking at undertaking higher education would be to check that the courses they're choosing are accredited by a recognised body."
asserted
they → look → body
The Aporia