The Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) has praised The University of Queensland for outstanding leadership and excellent quality performance in an audit report released today (October 1, 2003).
The audit panel agreed that the claim made by the University in its internal audit, that “UQ has an embedded culture of quality at the institution-wide and individual level”, was a justified claim.
AUQA praised UQ’s self-review – as outlined in its 2003 Performance Portfolio publication – and found its quality processes to be of a very high standard.
The overwhelmingly positive report, based on an audit panel visit conducted in June this year, concluded that “UQ benefits from strong leadership which sets a clear strategic direction that is well-defined, widely-communicated and broadly embraced”.
“The (audit) panel highly commends the University for the efficient and responsive manner in which this visit was managed, and more generally the openness of the overall approach to the audit,” the report said.
UQ Vice-Chancellor Professor John Hay said the report was a strong endorsement of the University’s excellent management practices which focused on continuous improvement.
“The AUQA report reflects very well on staff, students and graduates who have all contributed magnificently to the culture of excellence at UQ,” Professor Hay said.
AUQA – which has carried out a number of audits of Australian universities in the past two years – concluded that UQ was monitoring itself effectively on a continuous basis. The panel, which was chaired by Professor Adrian Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of New South Wales, conducted interviews with more than 300 staff, students and other University stakeholders from June 1-5.
AUQA panelists also commended UQ’s 35-member Senate, describing it as “reflective and engaged”. It praised the positive relationship which existed between the Senate, the University Executive and the wider UQ community.
The AUQA report contained 19 commendations which especially singled out the University’s outstanding strategic management, teaching and learning processes and strong support for researchers.
It noted that UQ’s excellence in research “is not achieved at the expense of teaching”.
The University’s Teaching and Learning Enhancement plan was praised as “a live document, acted upon and regularly updated”.
Significantly, the auditors prefaced its recommendations for action by acknowledging that the University had already identified most of the areas which required action.
Recent organisational change at UQ – involving rationalising the number of schools at UQ and the reorganisation of faculties – had been handled well, the panel found.
Other key areas of commendation included:
• Strategy, planning and management: The report commended UQ’s method of prioritising, or “top-slicing”, its budget to support strategic priorities. It also found the University’s devolved method of operation to be effective.
• Teaching and learning: The University’s quality processes for monitoring and enhancing teaching and learning of students was praised. AUQA further commended the University’s ongoing school review process.
• Research and research training: UQ’s strong support for higher degree students, managed by the Graduate School, and for early-career researchers, was commended.
• International activities: Several aspects of the University’s international student recruitment activities were commended, including the rigorous process involved in appointing overseas agents.
• Community partnerships: UQ’s outreach work with schools, particularly its “Bright Minds” project which aims to increase students’ interest in science, was singled out for commendation. The University’s “thoughtful and extensive work with the Gatton and Ipswich communities” was also highlighted.
• Administrative and support services: UQ’s excellence was also noted in the provision of a highly professional Cybrary, a range of IT services and effective student support services.
Acknowledging the role students at UQ play on committees and panels, AUQA encouraged the University to provide them with additional support. Panelists also agreed that UQ should further develop its student experience survey.
Noting that the University was successful in reaching its strategic objectives, the panel recommended that UQ continue its work in creating a research-based culture which enhanced teaching and learning.
Congratulating UQ on exceptional research outcomes, it encouraged it to continue to develop the relationship between research centres and schools.
• The AUQA audit panel consisted of Emeritus Professor Mairead Browne; Professor John Gavin, Executive Director, New Zealand Cancer Control Trust; Professor Adrian Lee, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education), University of New South Wales; Professor Colin Macleod, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Research and Innovation), University of Western Australia and Dr David Woodhouse, Executive Director, AUQA.
