The International College of Management, Sydney (ICMS) has been granted Self-Accrediting Authority (SAA) status by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), marking a major milestone in the college’s path toward becoming a University College.
The decision gives ICMS the power to accredit its own courses in the fields of management, commerce, and hospitality, placing it among a select group of Australian institutions with that level of academic autonomy.
ICMS is now the third provider in Australia to receive SAA status in the management and commerce field, and the only provider with this status in the narrower field of food and hospitality.
“This is not just a milestone—it’s a moment that reflects the vision, integrity and purpose of everyone at ICMS,” said Rowan Courtney-O’Connor, President and Managing Director.
The announcement caps a 13-year effort by ICMS to reach this point. Founder Darryl Courtney-O’Connor described the achievement as “incredible,” likening it to scaling the Hillary Step on the ascent of Mount Everest—a final and formidable challenge before reaching the summit.
“The path to this point has been full of ups and downs, but we’ve climbed higher than ever,” he said.
The SAA recognition was made possible by the work of the college’s Academic and Quality Assurance teams, along with years of contributions from staff and advisors. Leadership noted that the achievement reflects not just regulatory success, but the maturity and depth of ICMS’s academic systems and governance.
Established in 1996, ICMS offers industry-focused degrees to over 2,000 students from more than 50 countries. It operates campuses in Sydney’s CBD and on the Northern Beaches, where it maintains strong ties with the local community, including through its longstanding partnership with the Manly Business Chamber.
While known for its strength in business and hospitality education, ICMS also offers postgraduate programs, pathway courses, and Study Abroad options. Its academic offerings are supported by more than 1,000 industry partners and a strong focus on the Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT).
The new self-accrediting status strengthens ICMS’s reputation as a leading private higher education provider and positions it one step closer to achieving formal recognition as a University College—a designation it has long pursued.
