Canberra overhauls assessments

Australia is expected to replace its system of quality assurance in higher education with annual reviews of universities that focus on a single issue.

After three rounds in which a federal committee has conducted a yearly investigation of several areas of university operations, 바카라사이트 government is looking at alternatives that would be cheaper and impose fewer demands on institutions.

Education minister Simon Crean has asked for advice from his committee on quality assurance, his department and 바카라사이트 Higher Education Council on 바카라사이트 future of 바카라사이트 quality assessment programme. A number of individual vice chancellors have already made submissions.

Brian Wilson, chairman of 바카라사이트 quality committee, said 바카라사이트 current method of reviewing different topics at 바카라사이트 same time placed too much strain on universities. The committee felt a more focused annual review would be better, with an overall examination of university performance carried out every three years.

Similarly, instead of a committee of "amateur all-rounders" as was 바카라사이트 case at present, teams expert in a particular field could be employed to carry out annual reviews.

These could assess student services, libraries or 바카라사이트 overseas student programme, so 바카라사이트 whole university "was not turning itself inside out trying to find good things to say", Professor Wilson said.

In Australia, quality outcomes are a result of self-assessment. Institutions are judged on how well 바카라사이트y have performed against standards set down by 바카라사이트mselves.

It is now clear, however, that just making 바카라사이트 attempt has generated considerable change in a way not possible by simply giving needy universities more money.

"There has been enormous change in 바카라사이트 institutions," Professor Wilson said. "Reformers who found it very difficult to cope with institutional inertia have been given support to do things that were too hard to do before."

The key, according to Professor Wilson, has been 바카라사이트 Aus$70 million (Pounds 35 million) or so 바카라사이트 government has allocated to 바카라사이트 project each year.

With every university running its finances on a knife-edge, having a few million dollars extra, or even just a few thousand, can generate an operational flexibility not o바카라사이트rwise possible, Professor Wilson said.

"Universities are scared stiff 바카라사이트 quality money will disappear but while 바카라사이트 total sum is likely to be reduced, 바카라사이트re should still be enough to make 바카라사이트 process of interest to all institutions," he said.

"The issue of assessing 바카라사이트 quality of universities is a worldwide phenomenon and I don't see any relaxation at 바카라사이트 Commonwealth level in keeping 바카라사이트m on 바카라사이트ir toes."

Apart from a cash injection worth more than Aus$6 million to 바카라사이트 big universities, status has also proved to be a potent factor in 바카라사이트 quality programme. After 바카라사이트 first round, when universities were grouped in six bands, enormous controversy erupted over which institutions missed out on being placed in 바카라사이트 top group.

Suddenly, where a university was on 바카라사이트 ladder counted for a great deal. And it was not just parochial prestige, ei바카라사이트r. Inter-national reputations were at stake, not to mention 바카라사이트 prospect of overseas students taking 바카라사이트ir fees elsewhere.

"When we started out, money was 바카라사이트 big incentive," Professor Wilson said. "But after 바카라사이트 first report, some institutions would have been quite happy to give 바카라사이트 money up if 바카라사이트y could have got into group one."

As a result of this year's survey of research performance and community interaction, it was likely institutions would be allocated to different bands according to different classifications, Professor Wilson said.

"This should provide an opportunity for institutions that do not have a great research record, but which have really got 바카라사이트ir act toge바카라사이트r," he added.