Strategy, quality and planning
Strategy, quality improvement and planning are crucial to defining the University’s vision, direction and goals. This process facilitates decision-making to enable the best allocation of resources to achieve USC’s vision.
Vision
The University of the Sunshine Coast is regionally relevant and recognised, nationally and internationally, for excellence in teaching, research and engagement.
Future directions
As one of the fastest growing universities in Australia, USC projects it will reach a student population of 12,000 by 2015.
An important strategy for growth is the expansion of USC’s footprint from the immediate Sunshine Coast to service the coastal region from north of Brisbane to Bundaberg.
New directions in research have focused USC’s efforts on building a research profile that is internationally, nationally and locally significant in the fields of sustainability and genecology.
The University continues to place an emphasis on quality and has achieved top national ratings for teaching quality and graduate satisfaction and strong performance in national awards for university teaching. USC has consistently been the only public university in Queensland to earn five stars for teaching quality and graduate satisfaction in the Good Universities Guide.*
The University is also a member of the newly formed Regional Universities Network.
University plans
The Strategic Plan is the University’s highest-level planning document, along with the Campus Master Plan. The role of the strategic plan is to articulate the broad goals and aims of the University over the next five years.
Specific strategies complementing the Strategic Plan are set out in four top level plans, which apply University-wide and drive resource allocations through the budget process.
Supporting strategies guide the University’s involvement in international activities and regional engagement. Operational plans for individual cost centres support initiatives outlined in both the strategic and top level plans.
The following top level plans complement and augment the Strategic Plan:
- Teaching, Learning and Graduate Outcomes Plan
- Build Research Productivity and Output Plan
- Develop USC for a Sustainable Future Plan
- Enable Access to the USC Experience Plan
The following support plans articulate the strategies which the University needs to implement to enable our students to succeed in achieving their potential:
- Indigenous Employment and Career Development Strategy 2010–2012
- Reconciliation Action Plan 2012–2014
- Student Retention Plan 2011–2013
- Disability Action Plan 2011–2013
Quality improvement
The University has formalised a quality system to ensure continual quality improvement and achievement of its plans and goals.
* The ratings awarded by the Good Universities Guide uses information obtained from the Department of Education, Science and Training, the University, and results from the national Graduate Destination Survey.