Academic Unit Reviews

The broad aims for unit reviews are:

• evaluate the quality and effectiveness of academic strategy, operations and outcomes, including research, learning and teaching, entrepreneurship and innovation, and external engagement and impact;
• assess School’s/Unit’s standing, nationally and internationally, in relation to appropriate benchmarking;
• evaluate School’s/Unit’s ability to sustain and enhance general operations, and if applicable, educational and research operations in the context of the University’s strategic goals, its resources and internal and external opportunities;
• evaluate quality of School/Unit governance, management and enhancement processes, including approaches to working with students as partners and to external engagement;
• assess School’s/Unit’s progress since the previous review, with reference to the outcomes of the implementation plan in response to the recommendations of that review;
• identify and give recognition to best practice and successful outcomes;
• identify strategic and operational opportunities, and priorities for enhancement, including for research performance and academic portfolio refresh and development;
• assist in identifying areas where resources and support might be needed to optimise future performance.

Each academic unit is to be reviewed at least once every seven years.

A seven-year schedule of reviews is developed in consultation with the Executive Deans and approved by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning). 

The Academic Unit Reviews Process map provides a high level overview of the complete process.

Reviews in progress

While the use of standard Terms of Reference is recommended, the Executive Dean can provide a modified or alternative version. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) will approve the final Terms of Reference for the review.

The academic unit review is conducted by a Review Panel, which is established with the aim of responding to the self evaluation report.

The 5-member Review Panel would typically comprise:

International panel members can only be included if travel and accommodation costs are met by the faculty or academic unit. Executive Deans will nominate prospective external panel members for consideration and approval by the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning).

An internal team appointed by the Executive Dean after consultation with the academic unit, undertakes a self-evaluation process commencing no less than seven months prior to the Review Panel convening. The outcome of the process is the preparation of a Self Evaluation Report (SER) for submission to the Review Panel 6 weeks prior to the Panel convening.

Invitations to provide submissions to the Review Panel are made to internal and external stakeholders. The faculty/unit, in consultation with Education Quality, develops a list of relevant stakeholders inclusive of students and representatives from both industry and professional groups. Education Quality engages stakeholders for invitation of written submissions, and may also invite some of the stakeholders to an interview with the Review Panel.

The Review Panel commences drafting the Review Report during the final session, with a particular focus on developing the recommendations. At the conclusion, the Panel delivers an oral briefing of their recommendations and commendations to review participants and stakeholders. Supported by Education Quality, a draft set of written recommendations is finalised with the Convenor in the week following the Review Panel's final session, with the final Review Report submitted to the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning).

On receipt of the final Review Report, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) will provide an opportunity for the relevant Executive Dean(s) to review and respond to the report and its recommendations. Following this consultation, the Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) presents the Report to Academic Board. Recommendations requiring discussion of resource matters (eg. staff, financial and physical) will be considered by Vice-Chancellor's Executive in the first instance.

Academic Board or the Vice-Chancellor's Executive, where appropriate, is responsible for endorsing the final recommendations (to the extent that they fall within its Terms of Reference), and recommending their approval to the Vice-Chancellor and President. Approved recommendations are available from the review recommendations and implementation plan page.

Responsibility for the development, execution, and monitoring of Implementation Plans is as follows:

• For school and other academic unit reviews - responsibility rests with the Executive Dean, with carriage assigned to an Implementation Working Group chaired by the Head of School/Unit. Membership of the Working Group will be approved by the Executive Dean in consultation with staff and stakeholders and include student representation.
• A finalised Implementation Plan will be provided to Education Quality within six weeks of Academic Board’s consideration of the Review Report. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) will provide the Implementation Plan to the next available meeting of Academic Board.
• The Executive Dean will submit updates on the progress of the actions described in the Implementation Plan to Education Quality. These updates will be required after another four months and then a further eight months following the initial implementation plan. The Pro Vice-Chancellor (Student Learning) will provide progress reports on Implementation Plans to the next available meeting of Academic Board.

Implementation plans and progress reports are available from the recommendations and implementation plans page. For details regarding the process for development, execution and monitoring of implementation plans, please view the process map.