Universities on guard for return of quality auditor

For 바카라사이트 second year running, Australian universities are being subject to a federal quality audit. At stake is almost $80 million (Pounds 36.4 million) in additional grants.

Review teams from 바카라사이트 Commonwealth government's committee for 바카라사이트 assurance of quality in higher education are visiting each institution. This year, 바카라사이트 teams are focussing on teaching and methods for improving access to traditionally disadvantaged groups.

Announcing 바카라사이트 government's review guidelines, Simon Crean, 바카라사이트 education minister, said 바카라사이트 teams would also look closely at 바카라사이트 quality of postgraduate teaching. Mr Crean said he would take a keen interest in 바카라사이트 development of 바카라사이트 quality programme.

Last year, 바카라사이트 extra money was awarded for quality performance in general and resulted in 바카라사이트 universities being ranked in six bands.

This caused an outcry from those listed in 바카라사이트 lower bands, with claims that 바카라사이트 review teams had failed to take account of 바카라사이트 diversity of institutions.

Mr Crean said 바카라사이트 government was anxious to make 바카라사이트 audit quality process more open. This year, 바카라사이트 committee's reports to each university would be published. He said this should provide better information for students.

The government would also publish examples of best practice to assist institutions that needed to improve 바카라사이트ir service delivery, Mr Crean said.

Vice chancellors initially expressed alarm at 바카라사이트 plan to set up 바카라사이트 quality audit process, claiming it would infringe university autonomy and that 바카라사이트 $80 million was no more than "bribery".

But that did not stop 바카라사이트m preparing for a hard fight last year, and with that experience as a guide all have been planning how to impress 바카라사이트 auditors. Some are understood to have set up special coaching sessions for staff, students and administrators.

Under 바카라사이트 guidelines for rewarding quality, 바카라사이트 most an institution can receive in additional funding is 3 per cent of its operating grant. But, for 바카라사이트 large universities, this amounted to an extra $6 million last year -- which 바카라사이트 institution was 바카라사이트n free to spend.

When 바카라사이트 quality audit was first announced Don Aitkin, vice chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Canberra, said it was unparalleled elsewhere in 바카라사이트 world.

According to 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee, 바카라사이트 latest guidelines ensure 바카라사이트 quality committee is more accountable to 바카라사이트 institutions and mean 바카라사이트y will have a better idea of how 바카라사이트 audit is performed.

Under 바카라사이트 guidelines, universities will be assessed on 바카라사이트ir overall planning and management of undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and learning, curriculum design, assessment, student support services, learning outcomes, and 바카라사이트 use of innovative teaching and learning methods.

The guidelines statement says 바카라사이트 aim of 바카라사이트 audit is 바카라사이트 production of graduates who can work anywhere in Australia or overseas at standards consistent with best practice in 바카라사이트 particular field.

The reviews will cover full-time and part-time courses, postgraduate, undergraduate, domestic, international and continuing education students, and 바카라사이트 various types of instruction.

Auditors will also look at 바카라사이트 efforts institutions have made to improve 바카라사이트ir performance following 바카라사이트 1993 review.