Improving reviews – can the centre hold? 

Jennifer Weir, Centre for Higher Education Quality, Monash University

Denyse Webbstock, Quality Promotion Unit, University of Natal

Jill Dixon, Centre for Higher Education Quality, Monash University

ATN Evaluations and Assessment Conference

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 2

Outline

• Brief background to Reviews (Monash, UN)

• Philosophy• Role of the centre and support for

reviews• Concluding comments

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 3

Background

Multi campus research institutions

Different histories and current context

External quality assurance more recent in SA

HEQC grants self accrediting status

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 4

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 5

PhilosophySimilar - fitness for purpose, ownership, all responsible, self review, improvement, but

Monash devolved approach in vision

Decentralisation Monash Central control UN

Different approach to self review

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 6

Programme self evaluation (5 yr cycle)School self evaluation (5 yr cycle)Faculty self evaluation (5 yr cycle)

Monash University 5-yearly review process

Self-review document

External review

Report

Monash University 5-yearly external process

Unit Head & Dean

University Quality Development Committee

All operational units review on 5-year cycle

5-yearly external institutional review by AUQA

Improvement

University of Natal annual self-review process

Follow up

Feedback

Programme self evaluation(s)

School self-evaluation

Dean

Faculty

Report(s)

Report

5 X School self evaluation reports5 X Dean and Faculty responses

5-yearly external School review organised by QPU

University of Natal 5-yearly external process

5-yearly external institutional review by HEQC

Role of the Centre

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 8

Tension: efficiency vs. ownership

Decentralisation

Monash

Central control

UN

Standardization

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• Enhancing the skills of the self review team

• Monash: review planner, flowchart, guidelines

• Natal: ‘Toolkit’-guides, overheads, CD • Enhance the learning experience • Greater number of people skilled in

process

Response

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 11

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 12

• Two institutions with differing internal & external contexts

• Similar imperative for reviews

• Different approaches

Concluding comments

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 13

Nov-03 25-26 November Jennifer Weir, Jill Dixon, Denyse Webbstock 14

Questions

How do we establish whether each is successful?

What is your experience of the central vs. the devolved?