Advancing Quality in Higher Education – University Roundtable Discussions
The Government will be holding two roundtable discussions for university representatives to provide a forum for university stakeholders and Government to discuss the proposed suite of performance measurement instruments being developed under the Advancing Quality in Higher Education initiative.
The roundtable discussions will be held in Sydney and Melbourne, details outlined below:
Sydney
Venue: SMC Conference and Function Centre, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney
Date: Monday, 27 February 2012
Time: 10.00 am – 12.30 pm, Registration from 9.30 am
Melbourne
Venue: Rydges Melbourne, 186 Exhibition St, Melbourne
Date: Wednesday, 29 February 2012
Time: 10.00 am – 12.30 pm, Registration from 9.30 am
Spaces are limited so if you are interested in attending please rsvp to AQHE@deewr.gov.au with the number of places and the location you would like to attend.
Advancing Quality in Higher Education
The Government is strongly committed to ensuring that the growth in university enrolments is underpinned by a focus on quality. Advancing Quality in Higher Education outlines the Government’s $1.1 billion commitment to assuring and strengthening the quality of teaching and learning in higher education.
The Government has established the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) to provide quality assurance to underpin a growing and sustainable higher education sector. TEQSA was created in July 2011 and will carry out regulatory activities from January 2012.
Universities will be rewarded for delivering outcomes for students through the Performance Funding arrangements. Facilitation Funding of $453.2 million over four years is tied to agreement on strategies for achieving the university’s teaching and learning mission and agreement to Reward Funding performance targets. Reward Funding of $116.7 million over four years will be available from 2012 for universities that meet their agreed performance targets relating to national participation objectives.
From 2012, the MyUniversity website will support the move to a new more student-centred higher education system and improve transparency. Universities’ performance against the participation indicators to be used for performance funding will be published on the MyUniversity website from 2013 onwards.
The $377 million Structural Adjustment Fund (SAF) will assist universities to improve the quality of teaching and learning by delivering high quality learning experiences for students, expanding course offerings and enhancing pathways to higher education.
From 2012, the Government will promote excellence in university teaching through $50.1 million in project and award funding to be managed by the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).
The Government’s quality agenda will be further strengthened through a new package of initiatives:
- Developing, testing and implementing two new performance measurement tools – the University Experience Survey and an Australian version of the Collegiate Learning Assessment.
- Working with Graduate Careers Australia to review and improve the Australian Graduate Survey.
- Improving transparency through enhancing the MyUniversity website by including additional performance data as it becomes available.
- Providing funding for the Review of Higher Education Access and Outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People.
$10.8 million in Reward Funding has been set aside in 2012, 2013 and 2014 for this package of quality initiatives.
Consultation
The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) will work closely with higher education stakeholders, including universities, business and students during the continued implementation of the quality agenda. In addition to focused consultation and engagement on specific elements of the package, a reference group has been established to provide advice on the implementation of the performance measurement instruments and the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS).
Over the period December 2011 to February 2012 the Department will consult with the higher education sector, business and students on the development of measures for student experience and quality of learning outcomes for use in the MyUniversity website and to inform continuous improvement by universities.
To facilitate discussions the Department has released three Discussion Papers on the proposed performance measurement instruments. The Department is seeking submissions in response to the Discussion Papers. Information on how to make a submission is set out in the Papers.
- Development of Performance Measurement Instruments in Higher Education - exploring the balance of performance measurement instruments, potential uses, deployment methods and participation and selection of students (
PDF 137KB | 
DOCX 85KB)
- Review of the Australian Graduate Survey (AGS) – examines the strategic position of the AGS in its relationship with other survey instruments, administration methods, timeliness and capacity to measure the diversity in student experience ( PDF 632KB | DOCX 586KB)
- Assessment of Generic Skills – will focus on the development of an instrument appropriate for Australian universities in the context of the OECD’s Assessment of Higher Education Learning Outcomes (AHELO) project ( PDF 583KB | DOCX 399KB)
The Department has also released the final report on the development of the University Experience Survey. This report may also be of use for those providing submissions in response to the above discussion papers.
Roundtable forums with the higher education sector, business and students will also be held in February 2012 to enable further discussions and gathering of feedback by the Department.
Information sheets
Advancing Quality in Higher Education information sheets provide more information on the key components of the Government’s quality agenda.