Institutional Review Framework
Document type: Rule/Policy/Plan/Guidelines/Operating Procedures
Administering entity: Institute Council
Date approved: 02 Apr 09
Latest amendment date: 11 June 09
Approved by: (Academic Board / Principal)
Indicative time for review: Annual
Responsibility for review: Council
1 Purpose
To ensure Top Education Institute continues to improve the overall quality of its performance as a higher education institution and to realise its Vision and Mission.
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2 Scope
This policy applies to all staff of the Institute.
3 Definitions
Benchmarking means comparing processes and outcomes, so as to provide a point of reference for best practice.
4 Principles
This institutional review policy is based on a cyclic framework of continuous improvement.
4.1 Planning
The Institute has a planning framework that includes a five year detailed strategic plan, a detailed business plan, incorporating a five year profit and loss projection, a risk assessment plan and a staff development plan, including budget and expenditure. These plans are all approved by the governing body, the Institute Council.
4.2 Implementation
The implementation of the above plans will be conducted through key policies and procedures approved by Council or the Academic Board. The key policies which cover the above plans are: the Academic Quality Assurance Policy, the Accounting Policy, the Records Management Policy, the Staff Development Policy and the Library Collection Development. All of these policies will be examined in the annual budget allocation and review held by Council.
4.3 Monitoring & Review
4.3.1 Institutional Review
The Council will formally review the overall Institutional Operational Performance every two years. This review will be aligned to the strategic plan. The Council will submit a recommendation report to Top Education Group Pty Ltd. The report may suggest improvements to be completed by the Principal and management; also the report may suggest amendments to the Strategic Plan.
4.3.2 Key Policy Review
Key policies will be monitored by the Council and the review of policies will be a standing agenda item in the final Council meeting for the year. Any changes to policy that result from this Council meeting will be implemented by the Provost and disseminated to staff through staff meetings and published on the website.
4.3.3 Academic Performance Review
The Institute has a Benchmarking Framework used to compare its academic performance against other relevant higher education institutions. Any issues that arise as a result of this benchmarking process will be referred to the Academic Board for appropriate action.
The monitoring of Academic Quality is outlined in the Academic Quality Assurance Framework. It will be conducted through Unit reviews held every two years, Course review will be undertaken every four years, Feedback surveys including: Graduate Destination Survey, Unit Evaluation and Course Evaluation Survey. Data collected from these surveys will be analysed and used in the Unit Reviews and Course Reviews. As stated in the Course and Unit Review Policy a Course Review Committee will submit a report to the Academic Board who will then recommend improvements to be implemented by the Teaching, Learning & Examination committee.
Please refer to the Institutes Benchmarking Framework, the Academic Quality Assurance Framework, and the Course and Unit Review Policy for more information.
4.3.4 Staffing Performance Review
Staff Performance appraisal will be held annually by supervisors. For Academic Staff this will involve an Observation of Teaching and Learning where the achievement of objectives and learning outcomes are measured, areas of strength are acknowledged, and suggested areas for change are identified.
Academic Staff Professional Development will be monitored and reviewed using the individual Staff Professional Development Plan which will be completed as a part of the annual Staff Performance and Review process. In this plan staff identify their professional development goals in consultation with their supervisor.
Please refer to the Staff Selection and Review and the Performance and Review Policy for more information.
4.3.5 Educational Resources and Facilities Review
The Course Evaluation survey instrument contains questions evaluating the library resource collection and other educational resources such as the computers and the facilities. The Course Evaluation is completed by all students before they leave the Institute. Educational Resources and Facilities review will be a standing agenda item at the monthly staff meetings where staff will be able to provide suggestions for improvement. Facilities and Student Services is Strategic Priority 6 of the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan states that there will be constant review and upgrade of the library collection, IT systems and online education resources. At the end of every Academic year the Administration Manager and the Librarian will submit a report based on student and teacher satisfaction with educational resources to the Principal. The Principal will report to Council who will in turn make recommendations for improvement with an implementation schedule.
4.3.6 Student Services Review
The provision of Student Services are also evaluated by the course survey instrument and the provision of student services will also be a standing agenda item at the monthly staff meetings. As for Educational Resources the Student Services Manager will submit an annual report based on student and staff satisfaction of the student services to the Principal. The Principal will present an annual report to Council on the student services provision and Council will make recommendations for improvement with a proposed implementation schedule.
4.4 Improvement
The Institutional Review Framework works on a continuous cycle of improvement. Improvement will therefore be evident in the changes to key policies as a result of the annual policy review. Changes to units and the International Business course will result from the course and unit review procedure and the benchmarking framework, as well as the upgrading of facilities, the increase in library stock and the improvement in student services. Continuous improvement will be monitored by the Institute Council.
5 Related Documents
i. Benchmarking Framework
ii. Academic Quality Assurance Framework
iii. Accounting & Financial Management Policy
iv. Records Management Policy
v. Performance and Review Policy
vi. Staff Individual Development Plan
vii. Staff Recruitment, Review and Promotion Policy
viii. Observation of Teaching & Learning Form
ix. Library Collection Development Policy
x. Strategic Plan
xi. Unit Evaluation Survey
xii. Course Evaluation Survey