University of Tasmania, Australia

 

Relevant UTAS Ordinances	Ordinance 1: The Role of Council Ordinance 3: Vice-Chancellor Ordinance 13: Academic Senate Ordiinance 99: Academic Structure
Relevant State/Federal Govt. Legislation	University of Tasmania Act 1992
Commencement Date	December 2010
Review Date	December 2013

 

1. Statement of Context
The University of Tasmania is a complex teaching and research organisation operating on multiple sites in Tasmania and interstate. It has an extensive network of partnerships locally, Australia-wide and internationally.

Australian universities are experiencing significant and on-going regulatory, strategic and competitive changes that demand innovative responses and often put significant pressure on the institutions, organisational units and individual staff.

To operate effectively in such an environment, the University of Tasmania must have a systematic approach to quality management to ensure it (i) complies with legislative and regulatory requirements, (ii) achieves its strategic objectives, (iii) meets the expectations of students and other stakeholders, and (iv) maintains and enhances excellence and reputation across all its activities.

2. Objectives

The objectives of this principle are to: 

•                  Outline the UTAS approach to quality

•                  Articulate the principles that underpin the UTAS quality management framework.

3. Approach

The University aspires to best practice in quality management. In seeking to fulfil this aspiration, UTAS has developed a whole-of-institution quality management framework that is:

•                  Grounded in the University’s Mission, Vision, Values and Goals

•                  Underpinned by the University’s legislative framework

•                  Integrates quality assurance and improvement with strategic, operational and financial planning and reporting

•                  Supported by performance management and professional development programs.

The UTAS quality management framework:

•                Ensures that we satisfy the needs and expectations of students and other stakeholders

•                Guarantees that we meet or exceed threshold or minimum requirements in all areas (regulatory, academic and administrative)

•                Enables us to implement our aspiration to achieve excellence in all that we do

•                Embodies our commitment to reflective practice and continuous improvement.

The UTAS quality management framework is detailed in the Quality Management Policy.

4. Principles

Quality management at the University of Tasmania is:

•                Aligned with and responsive to national and state legislative and regulatory requirements 

•                Aligned with the University’s strategic objectives 

•                Aligned with planning, budgeting and risk management systems

•                Student and stakeholder focused

•                Based on a commitment to continuous improvement 

•                Systematic and internally consistent 

•                Applied across all activities and organisational units

•                Underpinned by sound leadership and constancy of purpose

•                Based on an ethos of subsidiarity, or devolved responsibility, with all staff expected to participate 

•                Predicated on evidence-based decision making

•                Based on a commitment to mutually beneficial relationships with partners

•                Aligned with UTAS’ environmental, social, cultural and economic goals 

•                Resourced for success

•                Reliant on all staff having access to professional development in quality assurance processes.

5.  Responsibilities

Responsibilities for quality management are specified in the Quality Management Policy.