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Quality audit approaching
30 September 2006
This week there was a preliminary visit by panel members of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA), ahead of the full panel audit of the University on 29 October to 2 November.
AUQA examines every aspect of the University’s functioning, including not only the work we conduct at Sippy Downs, but also at Noosa, and Fiji and Malaysia.
In recent months a portfolio has been prepared, summarising the work and accomplishments of the University. An enormous amount of paperwork is prepared for the AUQA panel. The panel can then ask further questions and request more documents to ensure they scrutinise as much of the detail of the University as they can, before the visit itself.
Following the initial discussions this week, the visit later in October will involve: the senior executive, University Council members, chairs of major committees, key external stakeholders, Deans, Directors, Innovation Centre personnel, academic staff, and students.
No area of the University will escape scrutiny. It will be the most thorough investigation of the University to date.
In the months leading up to January AUQA will prepare a report on the University with ‘commendations’, or things we have done well; ‘affirmations’, or things that we are on track to complete to improve operations; and finally ‘recommendations’, where the panel itself suggests areas that we could improve.
These audit visits are important for every university, as the outcomes become publicly available information internationally.
I am extremely optimistic that the University’s remarkable decade of progress will be acknowledged by AUQA in their final report.
Professor Paul Thomas is Vice-Chancellor of University of the Sunshine Coast