What is a Quality Audit?

Academic audits of self-accrediting institutions are based on a self-assessment and a site visit. The first audit of the University in 2003 assessed the extent to which the university was 'fit for its purpose' and achieving its missions and objectives, ie. the appropriateness and effectiveness of our QA plans and processes. Particular attention was paid to:

• Demonstrated performance against institutional plans
• QA and improvement plans
• Comparison of standards
• Course and program approval and monitoring
• Research activities and outputs
• Reviews of Schools, organisational units, courses, programs etc., including the rigour of the review mechanisms employed and subsequent follow up
• Communication with stakeholders
• Overseas programs and operations.

The audit held in March/April 2008 focussed on:

• Progress on Cycle 1 audit recommendations;
• Changes to quality systems and processes since Cycle 1;
• Academic standards and outcomes; and
• Two themes - Internationalisation and Student Experience.

How was the Audit Conducted?

The quality audits being done on Australian universities are based on a self-audit and a portfolio developed by the university. The University produced a portfolio of 15,000 words, with supporting documentation. (AUQA has since increased the Portfolio word limit to 20,000 words).

SCU Audit Performance Portfolio 2007

The Panel of independent external auditors read the portfolio, and visited the university (Coffs Harbour and Lismore Campuses) for 3 days to speak with staff, students and stakeholders as a way of checking the claims made in the portfolio. The audit panel, or a sub-group, visited a number of the University's offshore and collaborative arrangements.

AUQA chose auditors from a panel of experts with substantial senior academic and administrative experience in higher education (in Australia and abroad) to undertake the audits. [2008 Auditors*] The audits will endeavour to minimise the additional workload for universities and AUQA will pay particular attention to supporting the diversity of the higher education sector.

After the visit, a report with areas of commendation, affirmation and recommendation is produced. Action taken in response to audit reports will be the responsibility of the governing body of the institution concerned or in the case of State and Territory accreditation authorities, of the relevant Department and Minister. Exceptionally, failure to respond appropriately to reports could lead to funding sanctions by the Commonwealth or regulatory action by the relevant State or Territory Government.

What Audit Model Do the Auditors Use?

The audit model used by AUQA is the ADRI approach. ADRI stands for:

Approach: How does the university characterise itself? What is its vision and mission? How do these relate to its historical development, context and capabilities? What are its major strengths and areas of emphasis?

Deployment: Is the approach being deployed in the best possible manner? According to whom? How does the University know this is the case?

Results: What are the results in relation to each of the University?s stated objectives? Dos the University understand why it achieved these particular results?

Improvement: Does the University know how it can improve? How does it know this?

Audit Outcome

Southern Cross University was audited in March/April 2008 and the report was published in July 2008. The report can be found on the AUQA website at:

www.auqa.edu.au/qualityaudit/universities/.

A 12 month progress report has been submitted by the University to AUQA detailing the progress that has been made on the recommendations in the audit report. The progress report can be found at:

SCU Audit Progress Report 2009

Good Practice Database

A 'Good Practice' is a discrete system or activity that has been verified through the audit process of the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) as adding commendable value for the institution/agency and its stakeholders, and that may be beneficially transferable to other organisational settings. With the kind permission of the institutions and agencies audited, many of these good practices are made publicly available, at no charge, via the AUQA Good Practice Database. Entries into the database are by invitation only, and are derived from commendations in the AUQA audit reports.

The University was invited to submit entries into the database in three areas:

1. CRC and ARC Linkage Grant Success
2. Educational Design and Development for Quality Learning
3. Electronic Library

Good Practice database is available at www.auqa.edu.au/gp/search*

Full schedule of all institutions to be audited and subsequent reports available at www.auqa.edu.au*

Updated: 24 October 2011