Ensuring Quality
Educational and research outcomes are closely monitored at all levels - institutional, faculty, department and individual. University performance is assessed against national and international standards and benchmarks through a systematic annual review process.
In learning and teaching, the institution, faculties, departments, accountable officers, and all staff share responsibility for achieving the highest standards. Responsibilities for quality assurance in teaching and learning are inextricably part of, and embedded into, individual and organisational responsibilities.
Staff collectively are responsible for ensuring that the design, development, management, teaching and assessment of their courses and units facilitate effective learning. Individually, performance of staff is planned, appraised and improved through the annual performance development review (PDF) process. Teaching performance is given emphasis in the PDF process as well as in academic staff promotions process and assessed using a range of criteria (including student evaluations of teaching) that demonstrate both productivity and quality in teaching.
The University’s approach to quality assurance of learning and teaching is overseen by the Teaching and Learning Quality Assurance Committee (TALQAC). TALQAC advises the Academic Board on quality assurance policy and processes for teaching and learning in undergraduate and postgraduate award courses and subjects, and is responsible for a program of course reviews. TALQAC has developed guidelines for evaluating teaching and learning outcomes to assist faculties and departments on course self-assessments, and provide information on the Committee's review process.
Quality assurance program
The University has in place a comprehensive, integrated program of quality assurance (QA) that embraces all aspects of the University's strategic vision, Growing Esteem: learning and teaching, research and research training, knowledge transfer, and enablers (support services, systems and infrastructure). This framework is set out in the document Ensuring Accountability
Quality assurance needs to demonstrate that:
- Outcomes are of a high standard and strategic goals are achieved
- Processes are consistent and fair and enable these excellent outcomes
The overall aim is to provide University governance and executive management, as well as unit and program managers with systematic feedback on the performance of the programs for which they are responsible.
It also aims to promote a culture of rigorous self-analysis and review from which continuous improvement initiatives are identified and implemented.
QA processes include:
- national and international benchmarking to demonstrate high standards
- performance monitoring at University, faculty/graduate school and unit level
- self-assessment of performance within faculties and graduate schools as part of business planning processes
- academic reviews of courses, curricula and disciplines and academic department/school audits
- stakeholder feedback through a system program of evaluation